I don’t care how much sex anyone has, how often they do it, or who they do it with. I’m much more interested in the consent, pleasure, and well-being of the participants and the people affected by it. I respect women who are asexual, celibate, monogamous, multi-partnered, or have had more partners than they can recall. I respect women who only have sex after a commitment to monogamy and those who have sex with someone within minutes of meeting them. I respect women who have transactional sex, women who have sex for love, or for any other reason. I know that all of these categories are permeable and that many women move from one to another. And I know that any of these decisions can be made from a place of personal power, choice, and authenticity, as well as from a place of coercion, shame, and disempowerment.
Love and attraction are curious things, and there aren’t many women who don’t have at least one partner they regret. But that doesn’t mean we can’t at least try to choose wisely. I never liked the wor “promiscuity” because it is defined as having sex indiscriminately. So have sex with whoever you like, and as many people as you like, but I think we can all afford to be a bit discriminating. Don’t have sex with someone who won’t use protection. Don’t have sex with someone who is anti-choice - they have no respect for your body or your ability to make decisions for yourself. Don’t have sex with someone who doesn’t respect your physical or emotional boundaries. Don’t have sex with Republicans. (Okay, that one is just mine.)