RELATING RADICALLY: Defining Sexual Acts Through Survey Design

We all receive daily cultural messages to remind us that a particular series of acts is normal: possibly manual contact (entirely optional), followed by oral sex (more important for men than women, perhaps), followed by PIV sex. Same-sex couples now hear similar messages: men are expected to have oral or anal sex, and for women oral sex should be the be-all-end-all, possibly with a side of fisting (thanks, Chasing Amy!) Other forms of sexual contact, such as manual contact for its own sake or using sex toys may not come up. The erotic potential of massage, kissing, or “non-sexual” kinky activities is pretty much ignored in most mainstream conversations. This idea of a linear progression, or sex as drawing from a particular list, is an insult to our imaginations.