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This article explores the poetics of touch and female fetishism in Lynn Nottage's play "Intimate Apparel." The author argues that the fetish object in the play serves as a creative medium for female expression, knowledge, and fantasy, rather than devaluing femininity. The protagonist, Esther Mills, uses her attachment to fabrics and garments as a way to navigate her own femininity and overcome feelings of loss and alienation. The article also discusses the transformative power of the fetish object and its influence on Esther's evolution throughout the play. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among women, with its incidence rising globally. Post-mastectomy survivors often face significant psychosexual challenges impacting their quality of life. This study investigates the psychosexual disturbances experienced by post-mastectomy women and their male partners, aiming to highlight these issues and propose suitable interventions. Methods: This cross-sectional, open-ended questionnaire study was conducted over two months with 50 post-mastectomy women and their male partners from a hospital-based setting. Participants were assessed for psychological effects, sexual disturbances, and emotional involvement through detailed questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and represented through numerical and graphical formats. Results: The study revealed that 70% of women experienced significant psychological disturbances, including disturbed sleep patterns, depression, and a loss of self-worth. Sexual dysfunction was prominent, with reduced sexual desire, lubrication issues, and dyspareunia reported by 70% of participants. Psychological distress was more pronounced in women under 45 years. Male partners exhibited fewer disturbances, but some reported issues with sexual desire and comfort, particularly in younger age groups. Emotional involvement decreased in younger women, with increased domestic friction noted. Discussion: The findings underscore a high prevalence of psychosexual issues among post-mastectomy women and their partners, with significant age-related variations. Psychological and sexual problems are considerable and multifaceted, impacting overall quality of life. The need for comprehensive pre-and post-surgery counseling is emphasized to address these challenges effectively. Conclusion: Psychosexual morbidity is prevalent among breast cancer survivors and their partners, with notable impacts on sexual function and emotional well-being. Effective intervention strategies, including multidisciplinary sexual counseling, are essential to improve the quality of life for these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine both have shown efficacy in treating male sexual dysfunction (MSD). The aim of this perspective paper is to discuss a possible link between Western medicine and TCM in the MSD field as represented by the entity of Klotho. Klotho is a recently discovered protein, mainly expressed in the kidney, encoded by the anti‐aging gene klotho. Not only is Klotho significantly correlated with the development and progression of kidney diseases and their complications, but increasing evidence indicates that it is also closely related to MSD. A comprehensive search within PubMed database was performed to retrieve available evidence on Klotho's roles, particularly in kidney and in MSD. Indeed, in the TCM theory, the concept of the "kidney" is entirely different from the Western medicine: it is closely related to metabolism and to the reproductive, nervous, endocrine systems, being more than just a urinary organ. According to the "Kidney storing essence (jīng) and governing reproduction" (KSEGR) theory, a cornerstone in TCM, the treatment of MSD mainly consists of restoring the kidney's function. Signs of decreasing kidney essence show a consistent similarity to deficiencies of Klotho, also for what regards the male sexual function. Based on the current evidence, Klotho may represent a potential biological indicator for sexual desire and sexual function and a kind of new scientific Silk Road between TCM and Western medicine for MSD; nevertheless, there is a need to conduct further high‐quality research to prove this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Sexuality is a central aspect of being human that encompasses many facets. Cannabis, a widely used psychoactive substance, has been associated with various effects on sexuality. The relationship between cannabis and sexuality is complex and multifaceted, involving physiological, psychological, and social factors. Objectives: This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on the effects of cannabis on several sexual functions, including sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction. It also discusses the potential mechanisms underlying these effects, as well as the impact of dose and frequency of use. Results: This review has revealed a complex relationship between cannabis dosage and its influence on sexuality. It appears that the frequency of cannabis use in humans has been associated with the frequency of sexual activities. Individuals who use cannabis more frequently tend to report higher levels of sexual activity. Moreover, there is a notable gender difference in how cannabis affects sexuality. In addition, we found lower doses of cannabis to be linked to heightened sexual desire and enjoyment, whereas higher doses may lead to a decrease in sexual desire and performance. Conclusions: Overall, the association between cannabis and sexuality is complex and warrants further research to better understand the psychological and neurological mechanisms that underlie the effect of cannabis on these sexuality functions and its implications for sexual health. To advance in this endeavor, a crucial step is establishing a precise measurement of dosage in human studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Butlerian theory of performativity and subversive performative acts has been always helped to consider the situation of female gender construction in the heteronormative cultures. The situation of male gender identity and roles in the bipolar cultures has not yet been studied and the hegemonic functional context of the heterosexuality was not considered to be effective in the construction of male gender identity and roles. In the light of Judith Butler’s theory, different male individuals are coming into consideration and the complimentary parts to the theory of performativity will be revealed. The present research is the first study of the male gender identities and roles in the light of the Butlerian theory of performativity to understand whether these individuals follow the same constructive elements and react performatively and subversively or not. The importance of the present research is that the representative of the matrix of power, as depicted by Williams, can be female individuals as well as male identities. In these cases, female characters attempt to oblige male gender identities to remain under the control of the heterosexism and understand the binaries that differentiates two intelligible gender identities. On the other hand, the variety of male gender identities that Williams illustrates, provide the opportunity to consider how male gender identity and roles react to the parodic acts and construct their identity through performative acts or subversive performativity. Another significant finding in this research is that to the time that homosexual male gender identities keep their lack of continuity among sex, gender, and sexual desire, they are allowed to live in the cultural context without receiving any harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial from the journal Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters emphasizes the importance of pleasure in discussions of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The authors argue that pleasure has been overlooked, leading to shame and stigma around sex. They call for a more radical understanding of pleasure as a political lens and a methodological approach to interventions in the development sector. The authors also highlight the diversity of pleasure and the significance of touch in sexual knowledge. They advocate for a more inclusive view of sexual health that supports the autonomy and desires of marginalized communities, such as queer people, sex workers, and the polyamorous. The text suggests that embracing pleasure as a political and decolonial act can invigorate scholarship and activism in the field of sexuality, and calls for a shift in the discourse on sex to include lived experiences and diverse perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

The sexual incentive motivation model suggests that attractive stimuli activate the sexual response system. Attraction toward one’s partner has been linked to greater sexual satisfaction, but no quantitative studies have examined its links to sexual desire or distress among those with sexual dysfunction. We examined associations between daily attraction toward one’s partner and sexual satisfaction, desire, and distress for individuals with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) and their partners. Participants (N = 227 couples) completed daily online surveys measuring attraction for one’s partner, sexual desire, satisfaction, and distress. Multilevel models showed that on days when women and gender diverse individuals with SIAD reported higher attraction for their partner, they and their partners reported higher sexual satisfaction and desire, and their partners reported lower sexual distress. On days when partners reported higher attraction, both they and participants with SIAD reported higher sexual desire and partners reported lower sexual distress; however, women and gender diverse individuals with SIAD reported higher sexual distress. Daily fluctuations in attraction may be important for daily fluctuations in sexual wellbeing among couples coping with SIAD. Findings may inform novel treatment targets for SIAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between relational factors and sexual desire and sexual distress. In order to achieve these goals, a sample of 788 married Turkish women was recruited through social media platforms between June and July 2022. The study employed three instruments to assess the relevant variables: the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women to measure sexual distress, the Female Sexual Function Index to assess sexual desire, and the Couple Burnout Measure Short Form to evaluate couple burnout. Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the data and test the proposed models. The initial model indicated a negative correlation between marriage length, parenthood, couple burnout, and sexual desire. The employment status of the participants was not found to be a significant factor. The second model revealed that marriage length, parenthood, and sexual desire were negatively correlated with sexual distress, whereas couple burnout was positively associated. In conclusion, our study highlights the intricate interplay between various factors and their impact on sexual desire and distress among married women. Specifically, marriage length, parenthood, and couple burnout were identified as significant determinants of sexual desire and distress. These findings underscore the importance of addressing relationship dynamics, parental responsibilities, and couple well-being in order to promote sexual well-being within committed relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. Sudhir Kakar, a renowned psychoanalyst and cultural thinker from India, made significant contributions to the understanding of unconscious processes in individual and collective life. His work went beyond studying the relationship between culture and the psyche to exploring the psyche within civilizational flows. Dr. Kakar emphasized empathy and compassion in psychoanalysis and aimed to bridge differences and create dialogical spaces between seemingly incompatible social binaries. His global recognition and translated books reflect the impact of his work. Dr. Kakar passed away in 2024 after battling cancer, leaving behind a profound intellectual legacy. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Female cancer survivors often experience estrogen-deprivation symptoms, which may lead to decreases in sexual desire, vulvovaginal health (lubrication, dryness, discomfort), and sexual satisfaction. Interventions are needed to address these concerns. Aim: The objective of this secondary analysis was to determine if women with higher (better) scores on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) lubrication and pain subscales reported higher desire scores based on treatment with bupropion vs placebo. Methods: Participants were part of NRG Oncology's NRG-CC004 (NCT03180294), a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating bupropion (150 vs 300 mg) to improve sexual desire in survivors of breast or gynecologic cancer. All participants with baseline data from the FSFI lubrication, pain, and desire subscales with 5- and/or 9-week data were analyzed. The FSFI subscale scores were correlated using Spearman correlation coefficients. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between FSFI desire and other FSFI subscales while accounting for treatment arm and other covariates. Outcomes: The primary outcome of NRG Oncology's NRG-CC004 (NCT03180294) randomized phase II dose-finding trial was change from baseline to 9 weeks on the FSFI desire subscale score. Similar to the parent study, the primary outcome for this ancillary data study was the FSFI desire subscale score at 5 and 9 weeks. Results: Overall, 230 participants completed the FSFI at baseline and 189 at 9 weeks. The strongest correlations were between lubrication and pain at baseline (all participants, rho = 0.77; bupropion arms, rho = 0.82), week 5 (all participants, rho = 0.71; bupropion arms, rho = 0.68), and week 9 (all participants, rho = 0.75; bupropion arms, rho = 0.78), and the weakest correlations were between desire and pain. In patients in the treatment arms there were no interactions between lubrication or pain. The impact of various covariates on the FSFI score for desire at 9 weeks demonstrated that participants of non-White race (odds ratio [OR], 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21-0.81; P = .010), with a high lubrication score (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.21-0.61; P = .0002), with a high pain score (less pain) (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29-0.87; P = .014), or with prior pelvic surgery (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.23-0.63; P = .0002) had lower odds of having low desire. Clinical Implications: Acute estrogen-deprivation symptoms should be addressed prior to sexual desire intervention. Strengths and Limitations: This secondary analysis was not powered to examine all variables. Conclusion: Lubrication and pain were predictors of low desire. Therefore, vulvovaginal atrophy and associated genitourinary symptoms of menopause such as vaginal dryness and dyspareunia should be addressed prior to or in parallel with interventions for sexual desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual compliance (i.e., consensually engaging in sex despite a lack of desire for it) is common in committed intimate relationships, but the consequences of compliance for the well-being of the individual and the relationship are poorly understood. We investigated the perceived consequences of sexual compliance and perceptions of factors contributing to negative/positive consequences by applying qualitative content analysis to free-text retrospective survey responses from 107 (mostly) Finnish adults. We identified five themes of personal consequences (emotions and mood, sexual experience, sexual desire, pressure and violations, and physical pain), four of relational consequences (relationship satisfaction, partner's response, relationship interaction, and value alignment), and nine of possible factors contributing to negative/positive consequences (communication, self-esteem, motives for sex, relationship factors, agency and self-knowledge, mental health and stress, psychological flexibility, societal norms, and past negative experiences). Perceived consequences varied widely across individuals, both in terms of whether any positive or negative consequences were experienced and whether compliance was perceived as improving or worsening specific domains of well-being. We discuss the themes identified in relation to previous theories of sexuality and intimate relationships and offer hypotheses that can be tested in future quantitative studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feminist considerations have influenced how women and men view sex, affecting not only women's perspectives but also men's feelings about sexual desire with regard to gender equity. This might be especially the case among men who self-identify as feminist. However, how men should manage their sexual desire or communicate about it within relationships with women is not always clear in this evolving social climate. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the successes and/or struggles feminist heterosexual men experience while navigating their desires alongside feminist considerations. To explore this, we recruited feminist-identified heterosexual men in long-term relationships. We asked participants (N = 30) a series of questions regarding their sexual desire, considering the context of their long-term relationships and evolving gender norms, during a one-on-one interview via Zoom. Using thematic analysis, we identified 11 themes from the interview data. We found that, though the feminist men in this study were all aware of negative societal perceptions of heterosexual men's sexual desire, most men in this study did not feel conflicts between their feminist principles and their own sexual desires. This is because they reported already following feminist principles; those who felt ambivalent navigated this by communicating with their partners. Findings demonstrate the usefulness and positive impact men report feminism having on them, their sexuality, and their long-term relationships, by allowing them to better engage with their sexuality and partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines historical medical injustices against sexual and gender minority groups, focusing on the pathologization of homosexuality and gender nonconformity. It covers early medical references and stigmatizing diagnoses, as well as harmful treatments like conversion therapy and institutionalization. It sheds light on the lasting impact of these practices on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ)+ individuals.

This study examines the association between sexual desire and sexual satisfaction in sexual double standard typologies (i.e., egalitarian, man-favorable and woman-favorable) in the sexual freedom and sexual shyness areas. The sexual double standard (SDS), sexual desire (partner-focused dyadic, dyadic for an attractive person, and solitary) and sexual satisfaction were assessed in 444 men and 499 heterosexual women with a partner (M = 37.33; SD = 12.09). The results showed that dyadic sexual desire toward a partner was the main positive predictor of sexual satisfaction for men and women in all the SDS typologies, and in both the sexual freedom and sexual shyness areas. Solitary sexual desire was negatively associated with sexual satisfaction in men and women adhered to the woman-favorable SDS typology, and in men in the egalitarian typology in the sexual shyness area. Sexual desire for an attractive person showed no relation with sexual satisfaction. In conclusion, the importance of the SDS in relating sexual desire and sexual satisfaction in men and women is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiosexuality, the individual experience of attraction to people in relationships, has not been examined as a lived experience. Lack of recognition and examination of symbiosexuality is surprising when one considers studies of romantic and sexual desires and behaviors associated with more than two people. Also evident in the existence of the sexual identity label known as the unicorn and easily found in essays, memoirs, and dating apps, this attraction proves salient. Further, we find evidence of symbiosexuality outside Western discourses on desire and sexuality. Dominant conceptions and assumptions about sexuality and desire including mononormativity, respectability politics within polyamorous communities, and current conceptions of desire within western discourse contribute to symbiosexual invisibility. This invisibility harms several sexual minority groups, especially women and gender minorities within these groups. The purpose of this review is to describe and provide evidence of the phenomenon of symbiosexuality. Through a queer-feminist lens, I argue that recognition of symbiosexuality will fill a knowledge gap in the field of sexuality studies on the nature and shape of human sexual attractions and may be validating and/or empowering to those experiencing these types of attractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects millions of women globally, impacting their quality of life and potentially influencing family planning decisions. This study aimed to assess the impact of uterus-preserving prolapse surgery on the sexual function, desire for children, and pregnancy outcomes in premenopausal women with symptomatic POP. (2) Methods: A survey study was conducted among patients who underwent sacrospinous hysteropexy at a tertiary hospital between 2001 and 2021. Telephone interviews were performed to gather data on sexual function, desire for children, and satisfaction with surgical outcomes. (3) Results: The study included 33 premenopausal women, revealing diverse factors influencing sexual activity and desire for children following surgery. While most of the participants expressed a desire for children after surgery, sexually inactive individuals were more likely to report an unfulfilled desire for children. Fear of incontinence during sexual activity emerged as a significant concern for the sexually inactive participants. (4) Conclusions: The study highlights the need for comprehensive counselling and tailored interventions to address the multifaceted needs of women with POP. Further research is warranted to highlight the long-term implications of uterus-preserving surgeries on women's health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parent couples often struggle to maintain satisfying sex lives perhaps because partners have different priorities to balance including the self, their relationship with each other, and their relationships with their children. Given that parents are increasingly involved in supporting adult children, it is important to examine how prioritization of other's needs over one's own shapes a couple's sexual relationship. In a sample of 179 parent couples with university student children living at home, we examined whether prioritizing one's partner's (i.e., partner‐centrism) and/or their child's (i.e., child‐centrism) needs above one's own were associated with couples' sexual relationship outcomes (sexual desire, satisfaction, and frequency). The results showed that higher partner‐centrism was positively associated with sexual satisfaction for both men and women. Having a partner who prioritized them and not their child was beneficial for men's sexual relationship. In contrast, it was important for highly child‐centric women that their partner was also child‐centric. The findings highlight the importance of examining the ways in which parents prioritize their own and other family members' needs when working with couples. It may be especially beneficial for men's outcomes when they feel prioritized and for women when they feel that their partner shares their goal to prioritize children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This article addresses the complex dynamics of sexual consent among female Spanish university student. The research is based on two independent studies, each employing a distinct methodology: study 1 (n = 308) employs a quantitative approach to analyze the relationship between the endorsement of heterosexual scripts, individual variables (sexual satisfaction, sexual assertiveness, and sexual communication styles), and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) and the reasons for consenting to unwanted sex; study 2 utilized qualitative methods to explore personal narratives and deepen the understanding of consent as experienced and articulated by 8 women. Objectives: Study1 aimed at quantitatively assessing how the endorsement of heterosexual scripts, individual variables, and previous IPSV experiences impact the reasons for consenting to unwanted sex. Study 2 sought to compliment Study 1's findings and qualitatively investigate the personal and societal narratives that shape the understanding and communication of sexual consent. Results: In Study 1, the findings reveal that endorsements of traditional sexual scripts and histories of IPSV are associated with a higher likelihood of consenting to unwanted sex, while greater sexual satisfaction and assertiveness correlate with reduced consent to unwanted sex. Study 2 provides a thematic exploration of sexual consent, identifying key themes in how consent is negotiated, perceived, and misunderstood within interpersonal and cultural contexts. Conclusions: The combined results of these studies illustrate the nuanced interplay between individual agency, cultural expectations, and past experiences in shaping sexual consent. Underscoring the importance of challenging traditional sexual scripts and enhancing assertiveness, this research contributes to ongoing efforts to foster a consent culture that respects individual boundaries and desires in sexual relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest in identifying factors that promote sexual well-being in romantic relationships. One such factor is intimacy—a process involving self-disclosure and empathic response that is positively associated with sexuality outcomes. However, most work among community couples examined cross-sectional associations in mixed-sex/gender couples using a single sexual outcome, which may not capture daily variations in intimacy and different dimensions of sexual well-being among a diversity of unions over time. Additionally, potential mediating mechanisms of the intimacy-sexual well-being association, such as attention to positive sexual cues (i.e., sexual thoughts and feelings), have been neglected. Adopting daily diary and longitudinal designs, the present study examined whether greater intimacy was associated with higher levels of positive sexual cues and, in turn, higher sexual well-being (sexual desire, satisfaction and distress). A convenience sample of 211 couples (Mage = 30.2 years; SD = 8.3; 75 sexually diverse couples) completed a survey on days of sexual activity with their partner, over a 35-day period and 12 months later. Daily results showed that intimacy was related to greater attention to positive sexual cues for both partners, which in turn was associated with their greater sexual desire and satisfaction and lower sexual distress. Longitudinal results showed that a person's greater daily intimacy was linked to their own greater sexual desire and satisfaction 12 months later via their own higher positive sexual cues, but not to their partner's cues or well-being. Findings extend interpersonal models of sexual well-being and support the role of intimacy and positive sexual cues therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desire discrepancies are a common source of relationship conflict and one reason adults may seek couples counseling. Within romantic relationships, adults individually experience sexual and affectionate desire, but also experience desire relative to their partner. If desire discrepancies exist, partners may attempt to resolve these discrepancies. Thus, we examined adults' strategies for managing sexual and affectionate desire discrepancies. Our sample consisted of 300 adults (45% women; Mage = 29.5; 86.3% LGBTQ+) who were in a romantic relationship and reported a desire discrepancy. Thematic analysis revealed five strategies for managing desire discrepancies: alternative behaviors, communication, doing nothing, engaging in behaviors anyway, and giving control to a specific partner. Adults reported similar strategies for resolving sexual and affectionate desire discrepancies. Perceived effectiveness and strategies varied by whether adults thought that their discrepancies were problematic. Our findings hold implications for clinicians approaching problematic desire discrepancies, and suggest strategies that may promote effective resolutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing interest in developing digital health tools for treating sexual dysfunction, this pilot study aimed to determine feasibility and gather preliminary efficacy data of a self-led online mindfulness intervention in comparison to an online psychoeducational intervention for women's low sexual desire in a community sample (N = 57). After a four-week intervention, participants showed overall improvements on sexual functioning, orgasm, sexual self-pleasure, sexual self-image, and sexual distress, in both treatment arms. Majority completed assigned homework and felt the intervention enhanced their sexual well-being. This study supports the feasibility of a self-led online mindfulness intervention that could help inform future programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pornography created for (and often by) heterosexual men, it is common for women performers to look directly at the camera. This simulates eye contact with viewers and is intended to create a participatory point of view. Little is known about the function of direct gaze in this context. In other domains, eye contact can increase physiological arousal, but also facilitate nurturant connection. Eye contact in porn may thus have a range of functions, which we explored in a preregistered study. Participants (N = 799) watched a brief sexually explicit video that had a high prevalence of eye contact (n = 399) or no eye contact (n = 400), then completed measures of eroticism, nurturance, guilt, other measures of affect and desire, participatory perspective, and whom they experienced sexual desire for. We found no significant differences in eroticism, nurturance, guilt, or other affect or desire measures across conditions, but found some evidence that eye contact may facilitate a participatory (vs. observational) perspective and desire for the performer in the film (e.g. vs. someone else), .05 < ps < .10. Overall, our findings provide preliminary insight into the function of eye contact in pornography and provide promising avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a performance analysis of One Woman Show by Liz Kingsman, based on a viewing of the show's 2023 run in New York at the Greenwich House Theater. Written and performed by Kingsman, One Woman Show parodies the titular genre, satirizing the hypocrisies and paradoxes that women performing solo comedic material must navigate. In doing so, it offers a rich case study to examine in concert with scholarship on women and comedy, which often focuses on the binaries that circumscribe women's ability to function as joke-tellers in a patriarchal society. Whereas theorists such as Kathleen Rowe Karlyn uphold approaches to humor based in the materiality of the comic body, Kingsman's show critiques the overexposure of the explicit, "unruly" body in women's comedy. The show questions a performer's ability to tell an authentic story in such a highly constructed genre and highlights the readiness with which women's expressions of sexual desire turn back around into exploitation and objectification. Kingsman's performance, however, constantly finds ways to distance and displace any true scrutiny of her person onto another surface, layering multiple narrative frameworks, timelines, and personas across her single body. I argue that the many-layered frameworks of One Woman Show function as a form of comic embodiment that displaces materiality in favor of theatricality. With this "embodied meta comedy," Kingsman offers a strategy of representation that is self-aware without resorting to self-deprecation, using the body as a tool without it reading as an object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today’s interdisciplinary studies, assessing the relationship between literature and other sciences is highly beneficial in literary criticism. The psychoanalytic criticism is one of the pioneers of this phenomenon. This approach in the contemporary era has entered a new phase with the formation of new psychoanalytic cores in terms of psychoanalytic theories of love initiated by Robert Sternberg, who defines his analysis system based on the type of action of individuals in romantic relationships. He has developed efficient model in identifying the form of love in each person in this context. The objective here is to adopt a descriptive-analytical method to assess the love poem Khosrow va Shirin and Leili va Majnoon by Nezami Ganjavi with a comparative approach from Sternberg’s view and explain why the titles Eshq Nameh (love) and Havas Nameh (lust) are applied to the narration of Leili va Majnoon and Khosrow va Shirin. The results indicate that from Sternberg's point of view, perfect and holy love is a threefold relationship of commitment at the highest level and intimacy and passion at the lowest levels. In a narrative based on the failure of love in the direction of "ideal and perfect love" and its victorious hero is involved in "sad and romantic love", the type of relationship is based on lust the Havas Nameh and if the type of mutual love is of the "ideal love" type orientation, due to the priority of the commitment component, love is formed in its true meaning, the Eshq Nameh. The results here indicate that the element of commitment in Ganjavi’s self-consciousness has an operational structure and function in lovebased relationships in terms of Robert Sternberg’s theory and cognitive psychoanalysis in the contemporary period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the poetic achievements of R.K. Singh, focusing on his mastery of haiku as analyzed through Longinus's theory of sublimity. Topics include the grandeur of thought in Singh's haiku, the use of sensuous and spiritual themes, and the balance of poetic technique and emotional depth.

This study aimed to analyze female existentialism in Helen Garner's "Monkey Grip" using a descriptive qualitative method. In this context, the data obtained were carefully reviewed, presented, and analyzed through stylistic analysis. The results showed that female existentialism was expressed in two patterns. Firstly, the female speech was similar to the male, accompanied by the open expression of sexual desires and male circle words. Secondly, female actions contained the feminine movement to overcome discrimination problems and interact with many males. The results showed that the female character was considered a feminist representative against male stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay presents an autoethnography of a gay man's experiences in an open relationship. While one's relationship with their partner is the primary way in which one experiences and lives one's sexuality, in an open relationship one can also form connections with others. This essay examines the ways in which the author—being a gay man in an open relationship—navigates their desire within and beyond their relationship that involves interactions with other gay men. While relationships may be founded on a commitment, they remain subject to the changes in lived reality. As such, this essay traces the trajectory of the author's relationship in a period in which it underwent some major changes—from live-in to long distance, from a closed relationship to an open one, leading finally to counseling sessions with a therapist. The status of one's relationship has a direct bearing on the interactions—romantic, non-romantic, social, or fleeting, that one has with other people. In the heteronormative scheme of things, the constant shifts in one's relationship and their interactions with other people would be construed as a lack of stability and certainty. However, the author argues that these very shifts characterize the inherent queerness of their relationship, which is driven as much by their commitment to their partner as by the desire to have sexual interactions with others and indulge in experiences that are capable of jeopardizing the relationship altogether. The author posits that the "instability" in their relationship(s) be read as the conflict between the affective nature of queerness and the constraints posed by the heteronormative world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the female gaze at the intersection of space, genre and gender in three Hellenistic poets who have explored the female viewpoint in their works, namely Apollonius of Rhodes, Theocritus and Herodas. The female gaze covers all the stages of desire from erotic fantasy to sexual fulfillment, and is contingent on both aesthetic factors and the sociocultural background of gender roles. It reflects the power dynamics between male and female and also becomes a means of subverting male authority by the gazing female. In Hellenistic poetry, the various degrees of female liberation through the control of the gaze vary depending on the spaces occupied by women. I argue that women, initially confined in the oikos according to the conventions of epic poetry, are represented as being gradually liberated in natural and urban spaces, the emblematic spaces of the neoteric genres of the bucolic idyll and the mime; this shift in gender dynamics is conveyed through the illustration of the female gaze in distinct genres of poetry and their respective symbolic spaces, namely the house, the natural landscape, and the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the intersection of sexualities and identities, with a particular focus on the ways these elements can be transgressed in Western theater. The study postulates that theater represents a distinctive forum for challenging established societal structures, thereby enabling actors and, by proxy, spectators to perform multiple identities that challenge conventional constraints and break traditional expectations. The research demonstrates the dynamic nature of identity formation on the modern stage, illustrating that identity can both reflect societal norms and serve as an alternative to them. This allows for the expression of diverse sexual identities that deviate from the heteronormative order. Consequently, the theater becomes a site for subverting conventional codes and for negotiating with mainstream society the potential for exploring a plethora of nonstandardized identities. This process culminates in the crystallization of norm-divergent gender identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tripartite motif (TRIM46) is a relatively novel protein that belongs to tripartite motif family. TRIM46 organizes parallel microtubule arrays on the axons, which are important for neuronal polarity and axonal function. TRIM46 is highly expressed in the brain, but its biological function in adults has not yet been determined. Results: Trim46 knockout (KO) rat line was established using CRISPR/cas9. Trim46 KO rats had smaller hippocampus sizes, fewer neuronal dendritic arbors and dendritic spines, and shorter and more distant axon initial segment. Furthermore, the protein interaction between endogenous TRIM46 and FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) in brain tissues was determined; Trim46 KO increased hippocampal FKBP5 protein levels and decreased hippocampal protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation, gamma‐aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha1 (GABRA1) and glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 (NMDAR1) protein levels. Trim46 KO rats exhibited hypoactive behavioral changes such as reduced spontaneous activity, social interaction, sucrose preference, impaired prepulse inhibition (PPI), and short‐term reference memory. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the significant impact of Trim46 KO on brain structure and behavioral function. This study revealed a novel potential association of TRIM46 with dendritic development and neuropsychiatric behavior, providing new insights into the role of TRIM46 in the brain. Key Findings: The impact of Trim46 knockout on brain structure and behavioral function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

يحاول البحث دراسة ملامح الكتابة بالجسد في كتابات المرأة، وبخاصة أن هذه الكتابات شكلت رؤية جديدة مغايرة للكتابة في حد ذاتها، لما تتمتع به كتابتهن من وعي عميق بالجسد، ومع ازدياد كتابات المرأة التي تعلن عن جرأتها في التعامل مع الجسد وفضح المسكوت عنه والإفصاح عن العالم الداخلي، مما يحمل تحولًا وتغيرًا في التعبير عن هويتها الأنثوية، نابعًا من رفضها لأن تقف عاجزة تكتفي بقراءة ما تنتجه الكتابات عنها إلى أن تتولى زمام العملية الإبداعية، لتعبر عن وعي عميق بخصوصيتها في الإبداع الأدبي. وقد اختار البحث دراسة الأعمال الروائية للكاتبة الجزائرية فضيلة الفاروق؛ لما تميزت به تجربتها الروائية من احتفاء بتيمة الجسد وكيفية إبرازه بصورة مغايرة، تحمل الجمع بين نظرة المجتمع الذكوري في التعامل مع الجسد وبين جرأتها في التعبير والانتقال من الجسد حسيا إلى الجسد كنص، وقد حاول البحث الإجابة على مجموعة من التساؤلات، أهمها : كيف استطاعت الأعمال الروائية التعامل مع الجسد والكشف عن الهوية الأنثوية، وكيف استطاعت العبور من الوعي العميق بالجسد الأنثوي إلى كتابة الجسد نصًا، وقد اقتضى ذلك التعامل مع آليات المنهج التحليلي الوصفي، مع الاتجاه صوب النقد الثقافي؛ رغبة في فضح الصورة الذهنية الثابتة في الموروث الثقافي، وانتهى البحث إلى مجموعة من النتائج، لعل من أهمها: جرأة النصوص الروائية في التعبير عن الجسد، بصورة أخرجته من الصورة الثقافية التي عاشت داخل الموروث المجتمعي، وعدم حصره في كونه رمزا للعار أو أداة للشهوة ، بل التعامل معه كجزء من الهوية الأنثوية، التي لا يمكن حصرها في أطر أو قيود، بحكم كونها أنثى.Abstract The research attempts to study the features of writing with the body in women’s writings, especially since these writings formed a new vision different from writing itself, due to their writing’s deep awareness of the body, and with the increase in women’s writings declaring their boldness in dealing with the body, exposing what is kept secret and disclosing The inner world, which carries a transformation and change in the expression of her feminine identity, stemming from her refusal to stand helpless and content herself with reading what writings produce about her until she takes control of the creative process to express a deep awareness of its specificity in literary creativity, the current research chose to study the novels of the Algerian writer Fadela Al-Farouq. Because her novelistic experience was distinguished by her celebration of the theme of the body and how to highlight it in a different way, it carries the combination of the male society’s view of dealing with the body and its boldness in expression and the transition from the body sensually to the body as text. The research attempted to answer a set of questions, the most important of which are:How were fictional works able to deal with the body and reveal female identity, and how were they able to cross from deep awareness of the female body to writing the body in text? This required dealing with the descriptive analytical approach, and the research ended with a set of results, perhaps the most important of which is: the boldness of fictional texts in expression. About the body, in a way that removed it from the cultural image that lived within the societal heritage, and not limiting it to being a symbol of shame or a tool of lust, but rather treating it as part of the feminine identity, which cannot be confined to frameworks or restrictions, by virtue of being female.

Humans have sex for myriad reasons, many unrelated to desire. But under what conditions does sexual desire not lead to sex? We investigated reasons college students refrain from sex despite desire and having an attractive, willing partner and relationships between these reasons and other aspects of sexuality and personality. For item generation, 604 participants identified 109 reasons why individuals may refrain from sex despite desire. For construct validation, 712 participants reported the frequency they experienced these reasons on a novel measure. Every reason evidencing discernible gender differences was endorsed more by women. These items largely concentrated in factors of Personal Insecurities and Principled Concerns. No gender differences emerged on the Partner Issues factor. Factors differentially related to sexuality and personality variables. Principled Concerns related negatively to sociosexual behavior and attitudes and positively to sexual traditionalism across genders. Partner Issues positively correlated with sociosexual behavior and desire for women. Personal Insecurities negatively correlated with sociosexual attitudes for men. Principled Concerns related to sexual functioning issues for women. Personal Insecurities and Principled Concerns related to worse sexual functioning for men. Personal Insecurities related to Neuroticism across genders. These results suggest potential directions for therapeutic interventions and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual function plays a very important role in the sexual health of people, and the determination of their related factors reflects the importance of paying attention to sexual function in the cultural context. Objective: The present study aimed to the role of sexual self-esteem, sexual desire, and sexual assertiveness in the female sexual function. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 592 married women of reproductive age referring to comprehensive health centers in Rasht city (North of Iran) and eligible for the inclusion criteria were selected by cluster random sampling. The data collection tools were demographic information form, Halbert's Sexual Rights Questionnaires, Women's Sexual Self-Esteem (short form), Halbert's Sexual Desire, and Female Sexual Function Index. Data analysis was done with descriptive and inferential statistical tests at a significant level (p < 0.05). Results: The mean and standard deviation of sexual assertiveness, sexual desire, and sexual self-esteem scores were 56.79 ± 18.24, 49.12 ± 26.04, and 98.52 ± 6.11, respectively. Sexual assertiveness (p < 0.01, r = 0.13), sexual desire (p < 0.001, r = 0.178), sexual self-esteem (p < 0.01, r = 0.34) of the participants with the total score, and all areas of female sexual function had a significant positive correlation. Conclusion: Based on the findings, there is a direct and statistically significant relationship between sexual assertiveness, sexual desire, the adaptability of sexual self-esteem, and family income with sexual function in participants. However, the unemployment of the spouse had a negative effect on the female sexual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the past two decades have seen an increase in research into both asexuality and polyamory, little is known about their intersection, that is, people who identify as asexual and engage in polyamorous relationships. Using an online survey, we explored the experiences of participants who identify as asexual or on the ace spectrum (e.g., demisexual, gray-asexual) and were in a polyamorous relationship at the time of the survey (N = 321). The majority of our participants identified as White (79.02%), a plurality identified as women (27.1%), and ages ranged from 18 to 53 years old (M = 29.55, SD = 6.77). Two qualitative questions related to motivations for engaging in polyamory were analyzed for this study (N = 224). The first question asked about personal motivations, and the second asked about partner(s)'s influence. Eight codes emerged across the two questions: Needs fulfillment, Exploration/contemplation, Solution to relationship conflict/personal insecurity, a Desire to connect with multiple people, Personal/relationship growth, Rejecting monogamy, Introduced by partner, and Other/no additional context. One additional code was found in Q2: Reluctance/jealousy/distrust. The most common code overall was Exploration/contemplation. Our findings indicate that fulfilling a partner's sexual needs was not a primary motivating factor for ace individuals engaged in polyamory. Ace individuals were more likely to describe experiences as exploring their identity and fulfilling personal needs for connection and intimacy. These findings indicate that motivations for engaging in polyamory are not solely centered in fulfilling sexual desires, and they may have larger implications for the what the scope of romantic and sexual relationships can look at outside of a monogamous and heteronormative context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Models depicting sexual desire as responsive to sexual arousal may be particularly apt for women experiencing arousal or desire difficulties, and the degree to which arousal triggers desire may depend on the relationship context and desire target and timing—yet, these associations have not been directly tested among women with and without sexual interest/arousal disorder (SIAD). Aim: To assess the role of SIAD status and relationship satisfaction in the associations between genital arousal and 4 types of responsive desire. Methods: One hundred women (n = 27 meeting diagnostic criteria for SIAD) in romantic relationships with men viewed a sexual film (pleasurable intimate depiction of oral sex and penile-vaginal intercourse) while their genital arousal was recorded via vaginal photoplethysmography (n = 63) or thermal imaging of the labia (n = 37). Partner and solitary desire was assessed immediately before and after the film (immediate desire) and 3 days later (delayed desire). Outcomes: Outcomes consisted of genital response (z scored by method) and associations between genital response and responsive sexual desire. Results: The key difference between women with and without SIAD was not in their ability to experience genital arousal but in how their genital responses translated to responsive sexual desire. Women with SIAD actually exhibited greater genital arousal than unaffected women. Associations between genital arousal and desire were significant only for women with SIAD and depended on relationship satisfaction and desire type. For women with SIAD with low relationship satisfaction, higher arousal predicted lower immediate desire for a partner; for those with high relationship satisfaction, arousal was either positively related (vaginal photoplethysmography) or unrelated (thermal imaging of the labia) to immediate desire for a partner. Associations with other desire types were not significant. Clinical Implications: Patterns of genital arousal and partner-specific responsive desire among women affected with SIAD were indicative of an avoidance model in response to heightened genital arousal, unless relationship satisfaction was high; attending to genital arousal sensations could be a means of triggering sexual desire for women with SIAD who are satisfied in their relationships. Strengths and Limitations: This is one of the first sexual psychophysiologic studies to connect relationship factors to patterns of sexual response. The differing arousal assessment procedures and lack of official diagnosis may have attenuated results. The homogeneous sample and in-person session requirement limit generalizability. Conclusion: When compared with unaffected women, women affected by SIAD may exhibit stronger arousal responses with sufficiently incentivized sexual stimuli, and the connection between their genital arousal and responsive desire for their partners may be stronger and more dependent on relationship context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of abortion has been defended by many these days, including some Brazilian evangelicals, due to their understanding that it is matter of personal liberty which they feel should permit each one to decide what to do with their own bodies. They understand abortion to be an option of the pregnant woman and her circle of counselors, and not the right to life of the unborn child in the uterus which is not even considered to be a human being. Both science and religion hold a clear and firm position in regard to abortion, and both agree that abortion is the murder of an innocent victim regardless of what period of the pregnancy the abortion is performed. Instead of opting for abortion, the true liberty of the mother would not be in controlling of her sexual desires, and therefore choosing moral conduct which would consider the ethics and well-being of everyone involved, including the unborn child? True liberty would really only exist if it did not destroy other liberties of equal value in an ethically organized society. In summary--each human being has the right to life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating poetry, specifically focusing on AI-generated sonnets compared to Shakespeare's original works. The author acknowledges that while AI can organize information effectively, it lacks the individuality, emotional depth, and ability to handle concrete pain that human intellect brings to artistic expression. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing the limitations of AI in dealing with cultural products and suggests that AI can be a useful tool in certain practices but is inadequate as a general model. The author concludes by proposing the concept of "realization" in the arts, which involves intensifying stylistic effects to elevate everyday experiences to the level of art. This text also provides a brief biography of Charles Altieri, a retired professor from the University of California, Berkeley, who has a passion for academic work and has recently published a book on literature, education, and society. He is currently working on a new book exploring the nature of imaginative experience in the arts from a phenomenological perspective. [Extracted from the article]

To correlate the sexual desire levels with sexual hormone binding globulin and free androgen index in women taking different types of hormonal contraceptives (HCs) containing ethinylestradiol (EE), oestradiol valerate (E2V), 17β-oestradiol (E2), or estetrol (E4), combined or in phasic formulation with different progestogens having antiandrogenic properties. Three hundred and sixty-seven women (age range 18-46) participated in the study. SHBG and total testosterone (TT) were measured, and the Free Androgen Index (FAI) was calculated. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) questionnaires were used to assess sexual function and distress, respectively. The highest SHBG values and the lowest FAIs were obtained of women on HCs containing EE than those of women on HCs containing E2V/17β E2 or E4 (p < 0.001). Desire scores and FSFI total scores were lower in women on HCs with EE than in those using HCs containing E2V, 17β E2, or E4 (p ≤ 0.001). The women who were on HCs containing EE reported FSDS levels higher than those containing all the other types of oestrogen. Finally, sexual desire and FSFI total scores had a negative correlation with the SHBG values and a positive correlation with FAI percentage (p ≤ 0.0001). A minority of women using HCs with EE might experience a decreased sexual desire. This was not observed in women on HCs containing E2V, 17 E2, or E4. To avoid HC discontinuation, due to sexual desire reduction, HCs having minor antiandrogenic effects could be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) is a measurement tool for assessing an individual's willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations. Despite its widespread use in various contexts, no studies have validated the use of this instrument in China. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of an existing Chinese translation of the SOI-R. A total of 2,209 participants were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: exploratory factor analysis was conducted on one group and confirmatory factor analysis on the other, with 161 participants from the total sample recruited to assess the test–retest reliability. Criterion validity was measured by testing the correlations between sociosexuality and sexual desire, mate value, sexual attitudes, and personality traits. The results confirmed a three-factor structure (sociosexual behaviors, attitudes, and desire) for the SOI-R. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated good reliability (internal consistency and test–retest stability) and validity (criterion validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity) of the SOI-R, supporting its suitability as an assessment tool for sociosexual orientation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It can hardly be denied that Freud's conceptualization of the Oedipus complex and its dissolution reach their limits once the analytical couple is positioned beyond the heteronormative matrix, e.g., when a heterosexual analyst and a homosexual patient come together in the analytical room. This raises the question of how Oedipal conflicts take shape and can be worked through when neither the sexual desire nor the gender of the analytical couple seem to be a matching "fit". Taking a gender-sensitive perspective, this article develops the Freudian conceptualization of the Oedipus complex in terms of a homosexual dimension, with the aim of making a fruitful contribution to the clinical practice. Drawing on a case vignette from an ongoing psychoanalytical treatment with a homosexual male patient, the unique dimensions of the transference-countertransference relationship are first illuminated and discussed. It is then argued that there is the need for a fundamental analytical openness and capability for an "inner sexual diversity" beyond heterosexual structures of love and desire; a necessity that, despite Freud's heterosexual and binary signature, can not only be deduced but is actually being invited by Freudian theory itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian women are often marginalized in global contexts, and they are often disembodied or presented in sexualized images in film and television productions. Even in the Asian region, Asian women have difficulty giving themselves a voice in popular culture. This essay has selected three films and tends to explore the gender connotation, body, and sexuality in the film works of East Asian female directors in recent decades, with the intent to explore the female sexual desire that is expressed and reflected in those female directors' works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the views and experiences of women of reproductive age regarding their sexuality and sexual life during their menstrual period. Methods: A qualitative, interpretive, phenomenological design was used. The study sample consisted of 16 women of reproductive age (18–49), who volunteered to participate and came to gynecology outpatient clinic appointments at a research hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Data were collected online through in-depth individual interviews. Results: The research was composed of six themes: "symptoms of the menstruation period," "duration and severity of symptoms during menstruation," "effect of the menstrual period on sexual life," "sexual desire during the menstrual period," "opinions about sexual life during menstruation," and "spouses' opinions about sexual life during menstruation." Conclusions: The women in the study noted that they experienced physiological and psychological symptoms during their menstrual period. Although some of the women stated that they do not have changes in sexual desire during this period, most of them think that they should not engage in sexual intercourse due to the symptoms they experience during their menstrual period, religious beliefs, and sociocultural values. Policy Implications: Nurses should counsel couples about the possible advantages and disadvantages of sexual intercourse during menstruation without displaying a judgmental attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During pregnancy, sexual distress is common, but its prevalence and underlying factors require elucidation. This study was performed to investigate sexual distress in pregnant women. Methods: This research was designed as a descriptive and multi-center study. The study included 2365 pregnant women from 6 geographical regions of Turkey between April 1, 2022, and February 1, 2023. Data was collected using the "Pregnant Information Form" and "Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FDS-R)." Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, analysis of variance, and the Pearson correlation test were used for data analysis. Results: Herein, 46.1% of pregnant women experienced sexual distress, and the mean FDS-R score of the study participants was 14.49. Participants who were dissatisfied with their sexual life before and during pregnancy (p < 0.001), those who did not have sexual intercourse during pregnancy (p < 0.001), those who experienced decreased sexual desire during pregnancy (p < 0.001), those who did not receive sexual education during pregnancy (p < 0.001), and those who experienced problems when engaging in sexual intercourse during pregnancy (p < 0.001) experienced more sexual distress. Sexual distress increased when the mean age and the number of pregnancies and children increased, whereas it decreased when the gestational week increased. Conclusions: Approximately half of the pregnant women included in the study experienced sexual distress. The findings highlight the importance of midwives and nurses encouraging pregnant women to discuss their sexuality. Policy implications: The findings of this study show that sexual distress during pregnancy is common and affected by some factors related to personal and sexual life during pregnancy. This result provides evidence of the need to develop culturally appropriate interventions and policies that include sexual partners in the context of improving pregnant women's sexual distress, sexual health, good family relationships and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is something queer about Symbolism. Art historians have long acknowledged the links between Symbolist aesthetics and contemporaneous ideas about human sexuality, and even a cursory examination of artworks by male Symbolist artists working across the continent reveals an eyebrow-raising number of muscled nudes, lithe ephebes, and intimate male couplings. The sensual male body could register the artist's erotic desire, even as he put it forth as an idealized emblem of transcendental truth. But perhaps Symbolism's queerness extended beyond subject matter. Scholars have argued that Symbolism was in part defined by a subversive approach to visual semiotics: a severing—we might say a queering—of the ties binding a sign to its established cultural meaning. Similarly, male homosexual subcultures were sustained by endowing established signs and pictures with a uniquely queer significance. This paper seeks to tease out the relationship between Symbolist aesthetics and male homosexuality in terms of a shared sensibility towards pictorial interpretation. Taking as a case study the work of the Swedish Symbolist artist Eugène Jansson, I argue that Symbolism held appeal for homosexual artists precisely because queer subcultures were primed to read subversive meaning into normative pictures. Offering a new reading of Symbolism's sexual valences, I contextualize the movement's attendant artworks within the broader cultural landscape of homosexual signs and symbols and articulate the parallels between Symbolist approaches to the image and queer modes of seeing in the late nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores Augustine's perspectives on sexuality and marriage, with a key point of contention between Augustine and the Pelagians centered on the nature of concupiscence in the context of original sin and baptism. The Pelagians argued that concupiscence is inherently good and only becomes problematic when in excess. In contrast, Augustine viewed concupiscence as a mark of original sin, leading individuals towards sinful behavior. Augustine clarified that carnal desires stem from original sin, rather than marriage itself. He also distinguished between the positive aspects of marriage and the negative influence of carnal desires, highlighting the importance of conjugal chastity. Augustine's insights remain relevant today as they continue to shape and challenge contemporary perspectives on marriage and sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nature of sexual desire is complex, and little phenomenological consensus exists about its meaning. Low sexual desire (LSD) is a commonly reported sexual difficulty among women, but it is less frequently associated with sexual distress. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore women's understanding of sexual desire, and their perceptions of factors that may contribute to LSD, its effects and their methods of seeking help. Methods: The research employed a questionnaire with 12 open-ended questions, developed by the researchers based on sexual script theory. Data were collected from 165 heterosexual Turkish women who reported LSD, recruited through social media platforms between August and October 2021. The data were analysed using a contextual form of thematic analysis to identify and explore patterns. Results: The ages of the participants ranged from 20 to 63 years. The majority of participants held a Bachelor's degree (81.2%) and in a relationship (78.8%). Three main themes emerged from the study: (1) gendered messages concerning sex, (2) multi-level sexual desire, and (3) minimisation. The research revealed that women's sexual desire is often ignored and repressed, and has negative consequences if not expressed in socially acceptable contexts. The causes of LSD in women go beyond personal factors, and include relational and social influences. Women experiencing LSD report distressing effects on their relationships and general wellbeing, yet they tend not to seek help. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors impacting women's sexual desire and the barriers to seeking help. Our research indicates that women's sexual desire is frequently ignored and suppressed, which can have negative consequences when not expressed within socially acceptable contexts. The causes and solutions for decreased desire in women extend beyond individual factors, and encompass relational and social influences. Sexual desire plays a crucial role in motivating sexual behaviour, and as such, it should be incorporated into health education, health promotion and public health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the way in which Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus (1818) illuminates the physiological dimension of the sublime experience and its profound impact on the subject. Frankenstein’s creature presents provocative implications of how the unruly physiological functions of the body can defamiliarize the Enlightenment understanding of an ideal human being anchored in rationalism. My perspective adds to the aesthetics of the sublime, specifically the postmodern ideas of dissonance and immanence demonstrated by the creature’s signs of bodily unruliness, from instincts of self-preservation to carnal desires, which cause the spiritual effects of shock and horror in the creator. I argue that not only does Shelley provide a lens through which to perceive the defamiliarized world where the modern subject consistently encounters the unknown other as represented by the creature, but she also kindles a new kind of sympathy that can be enacted through the compromise of the self and the other’s disruptive physiological responses. In this respect, this paper employs the notion of the “physiological sublime” to explore Shelley’s incorporation of the sublime into the physiological dimension of interpersonal relations, and on the manifestation of sympathy as arising from the subject’s acknowledgment of their own physiological otherness as it develops through direct encounters with the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]