Feature image of Valentine and Calico in Crash Pad episode 232. All of the photographs in this NSFW Sunday are from Crash Pad. The inclusion of a visual here should not be interpreted as an assertion of the model’s gender identity or sexual orientation. If you’re a photographer or model and think your work would be a good fit for NSFW Sunday, please email carolyn at autostraddle dot com.

Welcome to NSFW Sunday!

Eden Alexander and Chelsea Poe in Crash Pad Series episode 225

Lesbians have better sex than straight women, according to new research discussed by the Guardian. At Jezebel, Tracy Clark-Flory writes about what reporting on women’s sex lives, and on lesbian sex lives, often gets wrong:

“Even beyond the worst tabloid examples, the mainstream media narrative around lesbians being ‘better’ in bed rarely feels like the progressive, feminist storyline that I want it to be. Probably because in tabloids, men’s magazines, and general interest publications alike — although to varying degrees — lesbians are cast as this witchy ‘other’ capable of crazy sex voodoo and women as a whole are seen as inscrutable sexual curiosities. The coverage also tends to reduce the complex reality of sexual satisfaction to the simple frequency of orgasms, which has the odd effect of actually normalizing, even excusing, the orgasm gap between men and women.”

Barbary Rose and Bella Rossi in Crash Pad Series episode 251

Do you hang out naked with casual sexual partners? At Broadly, Leila Ettachfini quotes Sara, 28:

“I used to be afraid of being non-sexually naked in front of a partner, even though I’m an absolute nudist when I’m on my own or with platonic friends. The fear used to be that my partner would see something unattractive or “too real” about my body, which would make them not want to fuck me anymore.
I’ve gotten over that, I think largely because my recent partners have been overwhelmingly vocal in their support for my (fairly unconventional, aka fat) body. Now, I’m very comfortable being non-sexually naked in front of my partners. Sometimes it catches them off guard, but more often, it gives them license to do the same.”

Cosmic and Miss Yum in Crash Pad Series episode 246

Sleepovers! You can make them suck less, if you want.

Read Math magazine.

Here are five women on coming out as polyamorous to their families.

Your gang-bang fantasies are normal.

It’s okay to be single. It’s okay to not be single. It’s okay to be.

Ontario, Canada schools will go back to 1998’s sex ed curriculum, which from personal experience I can report sucks.

Compulsive sexual behaviour — different from sex addiction — is now in the DSM. “Supporters of the WHO’s decision, though, hope that an official classification will result in more research on compulsive sexual behavior, and in turn, more support for those affected by it,” notes Katie Heaney at the Cut.

Set up your friends.

STI MG (Mycoplasma genitalium) could be the next superbug. Don’t forget to use dental dams.

Don’t rant about shitty dating experiences in your Tinder bio.

Rain and Rose in Crash Pad Series episode 242

What should you know about getting back together with an ex? Mostly that it’s possible to have a different experience with the same person, as long as you’ve both grown enough and can learn from your experiences together, writes Deanna Pai at the Cut:

“I learned that it’s common for people to rekindle relationships after years apart. And often, those relationships are at a unique advantage. ‘You already know that you’re attracted to this person,’ explains Erica Slotter, an assistant professor of psychology at Villanova University, ‘and are aware of their strengths and weaknesses in relationships, as well as the strengths and weaknesses they bring out in you.’

Plus, by spending years apart, you have a chance to learn from your mistakes, date and learn from other people, and understand who you are and what you want.”

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