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Painting of a man sitting, holding a crumpled letter while a black dog stands with its paw on his knee by a closed door.

Social history

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How the law soothed broken hearts in 19th-century America

What does a deep dive into the transcripts of historical seduction trials reveal about how we account for hurt feelings?

by Jinal Dadiya

A young woman and an older man at a poker table with colourful chips, the man wears a suit and lights a cigar, the woman wears jeans and a fluffy turquoise top.

Work and vocation

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The ways Sugar Babies navigate two roles: lover and employee

‘Sugaring’ involves the commodification of romance – presenting a puzzle of love, labour and autonomy for those involved

by Brynn Valentine

Medieval illustration of three musicians: one with a violin, another in a blue robe, and the last with a flute, framed by colourful borders.

Music

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Courtly love songs are a window into medieval sex lives

Song lyrics acted as a sexual script for aristocrats, revealing some edgy practices that ignited their imaginations

by Elizabeth Eva Leach

A black-and-white photo of a man in a suit and tie smiling while a woman in a glittery dress and gloves laughs beside him. They are at a social gathering.

Sex and sexuality

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Everything I know about flirting, I learned from the Cold War

The rewards of flirtation go beyond sex or romance. But, as in other exchanges, you have to know where the red line is

by Youngbin Yoon

A dark, moody painting of a cloaked figure with a faint smile, partially illuminated, and a small, grimacing animal-like face on their shoulder.

Sex and sexuality

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My take on ‘Venus in Furs’ as a modern-day dominatrix

My experiences as a 21st-century femdom echo the gendered themes that feature in Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s 1870 novel

by Gia Marcos

Two bonobos embracing in a lush, green forest setting. Both have dark fur and are looking towards the camera.

Animals

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Same-sex sexual behaviour in mammals evolved to keep the peace

Although these new findings can’t tell us much about human sexuality, they could help to solve an evolutionary paradox

by Shayla Love

Mountain landscape with a winding dirt path, large rocks, green hills and a cloudy sky.

Sacred places

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Nan Shepherd delved into a queer erotic kinship with nature

In the Highlands, Nan Shepherd found an erotic kinship with nature: ‘The Living Mountain’ a core text for queer ecology

by Melissa Matthewson

Two people, silhouetted against city lights, stand at a zebra crossing with cars passing by on a rainy night.

Violence and aggression

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The details of the situation shape whether a sexual assault occurs

The details of the situation play a powerful role in whether a sexual assault happens. That’s something we can influence

by Betsy Levy Paluck & Ana Gantman

Two men walk along a busy street at night with cars and bright streetlights in the background.

Stigma and taboo

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It’s a fraught choice: come out, or conceal yourself?

For those who face the threat of prejudice, the possibility of concealing their identity means weighing up conflicting goals

by Joel Le Forestier

Illustration of a blond man in medieval attire watching a blonde woman in a pink dress reclining on a bed, surrounded by flowers.

Stories and literature

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Young women were the true originators of the Grimms’ Tales

Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella – the old fairy tales are full of female lust and hope, and most were told by women

by Christine Lehnen

Close-up of a person wearing round glasses, with a blurred background showing indistinct colours and shapes.

Sex and sexuality

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Does porn harm or help? Gender could matter in a surprising way

Whether porn use benefits or harms young adults’ sex lives is a contentious question. Data suggest some (nuanced) answers

by Nicolas Sommet & Jacques Berent

A tiny, pink pygmy seahorse camouflaged against coral in an underwater scene with vibrant orange and pink hues.

Animals

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Sex lives of the pygmy seahorses – a hidden, miniature marvel

Randy females, pregnant males and breeding quartets: the secret sex lives of the pygmy seahorses of Sulawesi in Indonesia

by Richard Smith