Hetsex appeal.
Jan. 20th, 2001 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rsadelleIf you've looked at my webpage and read the FAQ, you would know that I identify myself as a slash writer. That becomes more and more of a misnomer as time goes on. You see, I really like writing heterosexual sex. Not only is this weird because I used to be a slash writer, but it's also weird because I'm not heterosexual.
I think part of my current obsession with het is due to the fact that I'm trying to reassure myself that it is possible for there to be a feminist way of writing heterosexual sex.
In November, I went to hear women read from Gynomite: Fearless, Feminist Porn. I was horribly disappointed because although it was undoubtedly fearless porn, it was not feminist. It was the same old porn, although some of it was rather clever, written by women. Just because something is done or written by women doesn't mean it's feminist.
With much of the het I write, I keep that in mind. I consciously attempt not to fall into the same old ways of treating women's sexuality that appear in porn and romance novels. However, a few days ago, Nette and I wrote Jason Newsted/Britney Spears in chat. That in itself is nothing too remarkable, but it ended up being very porn-like. Now, part of the point was to underscore the power dynamics involved in an older man/much younger woman relationship, but the way we described her, and the way Jason talks to her, in the story makes me a little uncomfortable. It ended up being sleazy and dirty, which are fun, but it also seems to play into the usual "big, strong, virile man takes small, slutty, willing woman" dynamic. On the other hand, we did talk about her clit, but I'm not sure that's enough to make it even semi-feminist.
I think I'd feel more comfortable if I could articulate what makes a piece of smut feminist. As it is, I'm just stumbling through on instinct. I won't let my characters do anything I don't feel comfortable with them doing. I try to make the women assertive, desiring as well as desired, sex subjects as well as sex objects. Until I can work out a better system, that's the only way I know of to write anything even approaching feminist smut.
I think part of my current obsession with het is due to the fact that I'm trying to reassure myself that it is possible for there to be a feminist way of writing heterosexual sex.
In November, I went to hear women read from Gynomite: Fearless, Feminist Porn. I was horribly disappointed because although it was undoubtedly fearless porn, it was not feminist. It was the same old porn, although some of it was rather clever, written by women. Just because something is done or written by women doesn't mean it's feminist.
With much of the het I write, I keep that in mind. I consciously attempt not to fall into the same old ways of treating women's sexuality that appear in porn and romance novels. However, a few days ago, Nette and I wrote Jason Newsted/Britney Spears in chat. That in itself is nothing too remarkable, but it ended up being very porn-like. Now, part of the point was to underscore the power dynamics involved in an older man/much younger woman relationship, but the way we described her, and the way Jason talks to her, in the story makes me a little uncomfortable. It ended up being sleazy and dirty, which are fun, but it also seems to play into the usual "big, strong, virile man takes small, slutty, willing woman" dynamic. On the other hand, we did talk about her clit, but I'm not sure that's enough to make it even semi-feminist.
I think I'd feel more comfortable if I could articulate what makes a piece of smut feminist. As it is, I'm just stumbling through on instinct. I won't let my characters do anything I don't feel comfortable with them doing. I try to make the women assertive, desiring as well as desired, sex subjects as well as sex objects. Until I can work out a better system, that's the only way I know of to write anything even approaching feminist smut.