The Panelettes: Cara Bruce, Shawna Kenney, and Shira Tarrant
Here’s a photo of the wonderful Baltimore audience.
The Feminist Sex event was at The 2640 Space, a beautiful converted church.
I’m back in Los Angeles and catching my breath after a series of amazing readings and lectures I gave along the I-95 corridor: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and D.C.
These photos are from Baltimore. I asked the intelligent, feisty, irreverent authors Cara Bruce and Shawna Kenney to join me in one more of a series of Feminist Sex readings.
What’s Feminist Sex? Nobody knows. For sure. Yet. But I’ve been bringing the anti-sexist, sex-positive conversations together in one venue. Shake, stir . . . and be on the look-out for new book in the works titled (you’ve got it!), Feminist Sex.
Thanks to Red Emma’s Bookstore for inviting us and to the 2640 Space for housing the event, which outgrew the bookstore space.
Shira Tarrant, Jessica Pauline, Michele Matheson, host Stan Kent, Jillian Lauren
On May 13, Hustler Cafe in Hollywood hosted its monthly In the Flesh Reading Series: L.A.. Topic of the Month? Feminist Sex.
The awesome Jillian Lauren read from her forthcoming memoir, Some Girls and regaled listeners with stories about her experience in a Brunei harem. The amazing Michele Matheson read from her upcoming novel, The Failed Suicide of Cooper Tin. (Michele is a recovering child actor from such TV faves as Mr. Belvedere.) The wickedly funny Jessica Pauline read about working a pole (or a lap) at night and working Planned Parenthood by day, an excerpt from her book-in-progress. The groundbreaking Michelle Tea phoned it in from Florida with provocative portions from her queer, postpunk novel, Valencia.
I read from my new book Men and Feminism (Seal Press) along with my recent Huffington Post piece, Hip to Strip? Or Is it Time for Men to Stop Watching?
Question: Why Hustler?
Answer: Why not?
The event was a great opportunity to talk about women’s freedom to do sex work and to also ask questions about why men pay for it — and I stand behind both topics. Jillian Lauren described the subject of men and feminism as the only taboo left in that particular setting. So all the more reason to speak up. The Hustler event on May 13 left out the subject of what gets women hot. You know … things like sexual agency, pleasure, feminist ethical sluttiness … but that’s a question for another radical day.
Thanks to all who came out for this record-breaking event. Word has it this was the largest turn-out yet for the In the Flesh Reading Series: L.A. That’s really saying something! And much appreciation to Stan Kent for spinning some righteous tunes and for being an all-around gracious and organized host. See you next time.
Reading from Men and Feminism
Crossposted at Girl With Pen
Is it Hip to Strip? Or Is it Time for Men to Stop Watching?
Alternet recently published a piece on sex and relationships titled “Should You Try Stripping?” … But the real question is not a supply-side issue. It’s about the demand …
What do you think? Weigh in on the conversation at Huffington Post.
Please join WBAI 99.5 FM radio talk-show host Nathalie Thandiwe on Thursday April 23, 12 noon-1 pm (EST). (That’s 9-10 am if you’re on the Left Coast.)
This week’s edition of Women: Body & Soul looks at the book Men Speak Out: Views on Gender, Sex and Power, edited by Shira Tarrant.
Joining Thursday’s show are author Shira Tarrant, filmmaker Byron Hurt, author Jeremy Adam Smith, and author Jacob Anderson-Minshall. Guests will talk about men, masculinity, sex, relationships, violence prevention, and positive change.
If you are outside the New York City area, listen online at www.wbai.org
Coming at you from WAM!
Women, Action & the Media: A Conference for Journalists, Activists & Everyone
Housed at the Gehry-designed Stata Center at MIT, WAM! was host to a high-energy group of thinkers and writers. Panels and keynote speakers brought hands-on tools and inspiration to politics, humor, and communicating clearly. And, yes, there was lots of Twittering.
The Stata Center at MIT, Cambridge, Mass.
Going Group: How Blogging in Numbers Gets It Done
Latoya Peterson (Racialicious), Ebony Utley (Girl With Pen),
Shira Tarrant (The Man Files @ Girl With Pen), Deborah Siegel (Girl With Pen; Recessionwire)
Group Blogging — Action Shot
My latest article Guy Trouble just hit the stands. It’s a fun read. Promise.
Guy Trouble is featured in my favorite magazine that starts with a B and rhymes with itch. You can find it at newsstands and bookstores everywhere.
xoxoxo, Shira
http://bitchmagazine.org/
Here’s a short teaser. But for the full story you’ll need to get the full mag.
These days, most men’s movie roles feature hard-talking, heavy-hitting leads. Or self-conscious, socially awkward types bumbling through social relations. Or there are the sweet-hearted slacker dudes glued to the couch—and maybe their bongs—allergic to steady jobs but true to their friends. Sometimes the men are a combination of two of these types, as in the new bromance comedy I Love You, Man. …
