A sex strike[sex boycott], =non-violent resistance and not a new concept, dates back to at least Aristophanes’ 411 BC comedy “Lysistrata,” the title character attempts to end the Peloponnesian War by calling on women from the warring city states to withhold sex until peace is negotiated. Spike Lee’s film “Chi-Raq” brought the concept to present-day Chicago as a means of drawing attention to the city’s gang violence…Women’s March and other women’s rights organizations suggests women withhold sex from men, because clearly only men desire sex(??) and women acquiesce to their needs out of pity or sense of responsibility.
Wednesday Martin, a writer, billed as a cultural critic for CNN’s opinion section suggested that women should consider withholding “service sex” from their partners to influence them to vote for “women’s equality” in 2018 midterm elections, siting that women, now more than ever, need to reclaim the power they wield through sexual intercourse to force men to confront gender inequality. Martin posits, this will eventually lead to a more equitable society (though, it seems, her premise seems to rely on women believing in lockstep that “voting for Democrats” is a path to “equality” that’s debatable).
Women’s sexual pleasure seems now to be more political. Women’s rights organizations regularly suggest that women withhold sex from men…clearly only men desire sex and women simply acquiesce to their needs out of pity or, as Wednesday Martin suggests, a sense of responsibility.Alyssa Milano calls for a Sex Strike. ‘Until We Get Bodily Autonomy Back,’ and states, “I will do everything in my power to move productions away from Georgia — including “insatiable” which continues (her opinion) to put forth policy that contradicts everything the entertainment industry stands for after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill outlawing nearly all abortions in the state, scheduled to go into effect next year, but certain to be challenged in court before then.Withholding sex, a form of protest is historical – US research psychologist Peggy Drexler, who studies sex/gender and vocal in criticising the sex strike, tells BBC Three, and thinks of several problems with the idea;“the biggest flaw, as Alyssa Milano has called for, serves to reinforce the idea that women have sex in to please men, or for babies only, which strips women of any agency in sex whatsoever which, is what she is ultimately arguing for women to have more of.”
Dr. Drexler: “Certainly, Alyssa implies the sex strike should be done to punish men, and not all women have sex exclusively with men. Online comments:L. LAW MAY 11, 2019; Alyssa Milano, I’d *love* for you to continue to advocate for abstinence as a mainstay for reproductive health.Michael Allen: It’s now official, Alyssa Milano is a certified moron.” The Daily Wire: by Emily Zanotti; Indie Wire, Michael Nordine (5-11-19).
Jeanette Grattan Parker is Founder/Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start Charter Schools with S.T.E.A.M. Academy www.todaysfreshstart.org; A Top LA County School: Thank you for reading!
