In college I did a lot of work to combat the myth that people who are anti-rape are anti sex. We put out sex positive messages about consent on cards and even held a day-long sex fair called Sexhibition. We had breast cupcakes, a dildo ring toss, pin the clit on the vulva and Babeland came to talk about sex toys. It was a lot of fun and although I know we shocked some people, we also got them talking. That’s why I’m glad to see this call for submissions. Between writing papers for graduate school, I may try to think of something to submit.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Yes Means Yes!

Co-editors Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti are seeking submissions for
their anthology on rape culture, Yes Means Yes!, to be published by Seal
Press in Fall 2008.

Imagine a world where women enjoy sex on their own terms and aren’t shamed
for it. Imagine a world where men treat their sexual partners as
collaborators, not conquests. Imagine a world where rape is rare and swiftly
punished. Welcome to the world of Yes Means Yes!.

Yes Means Yes! will fly in the face of the conventional feminist wisdom that
rape has nothing to do with sex. We are looking to collect sharp and
insightful essays, from voices both established and new, that demonstrate
how empowering female sexual pleasure is the key to dismantling rape
culture.

Potential essay subjects could include;

-Revamping how public sex education is taught, and to whom.

-The new backlash against rape survivors (i.e., media obsession with
drinking, Girls Gone Wild culture being to blame for assault)

-Bringing men back into the conversation, making men leaders in the movement
to end rape culture

-The power of language (naming rape for what it is, or the new myth of “gray
rape”)

-Rethinking sexual interaction as a private joint performance, as opposed to
as an exchange of a commodity or service

-On pulling out the invisible lynchpin of rape culture: homophobia

-Creating accurate media representations of rape

Women and men, published and unpublished authors, are all encouraged to
submit essays. Be creative, be forward-thinking, be funny! Perhaps most
importantly, we are seeking essays with a pro-active bent that offer new and
insightful thoughts and actions* on how to dismantle rape culture. No more
“No Means No,” let’s think “Yes Means Yes!”

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Please submit your essays to yesmeansyes2008@gmail.com no later than March
1, 2008.
Essays should be from 2000 to 5000 words, double spaced and paginated.
Please include your address, phone number, email address and a short bio.