Under The Covers: 7 Women Who Made It Okay To Talk About Sex

Sex. Despite the fact that everyone is doing it, it’s a word that’s still considered to be a little ‘dirty.’ Thankfully, over the past few years everyone has become a little more accepting of this part of human life. However, the public’s attitude wasn’t always so open when it came to the topic of rumpy-pumpy...

Back in the day, sex was something which didn’t belong in public discourse. It was something we never talked about, and this lack of conversation meant a major lack of education.

There were, however, a few brave women who were willing to push the boundaries of what was acceptable. They were willing to subvert the norm and bring sex into the foreground and because of their bravery, their honesty, the rest of us have benefited from a more accepting attitude when it comes to getting down and dirty.

We’re giving a salute to these seven women.

1. Mae West:

Mae’s first starring role on Broadway as in a play she wrote, produced and directed called Sex. While the show sold a lot of tickets, critics hated it and the controversial subject matter of the play caused city officials to prosecute Mae on moral charges. She was sentenced to ten days for “corrupting the morals of youth.” She served eight days (with two off for good behaviour) and told reporters that she wore silk knickers while doing time.

Over the course of her lifetime, Mae continually pushed the boundaires and spoke out about issues such as sex, homosexuality and the women’s liberation movement. Her plays sparked a discourse about important topics that no one was speaking about before.

2. Helen Gurley Brown:

In 1962, Helen published her book Sex and the Single Girl. The book encouraged women to earn their own money and have sex whether they were married, in a relationship or single. It sold two million copies in three weeks.  In 1965, Helen became the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and we can thank her for years of outspoken advice on sexual freedom and fulfilling careers. Helen was the first woman to claim that women could have everything they wanted – love, sex and money. She’s credited with playing a prominant role in the sexual revolution.

3. Nora Ephron:

If it wasn’t for Nora Ephron we never would have experienced that infamous scene from the film When Harry Met Sally... A prominant screenwriter, producer, novelist and director, Nora was known for her romantic comedies which gave an honest, no-holds-barred look at modern relationships and everything that happened within them.

She wasn’t afraid to explore topics of sex and love in her work and she continually portrayed her female characters the writers of their own stories. She was a feminist icon and she brought sex into mainstream film.

4. Dita Von Teese:

When Dita Von Teese first appeared on the scene in 2002, she was all everyone could talk about. Known as the “Queen of Burlesque” she’s credited with single-handedly repopularising the burlesque movement.

Dita encouraged women to embrace their bodies (no matter what shape or size) and to feel comfortable with their sexuality.  She’s spoken out about how burlesque can be used as a tool of liberation and empowerment for women. Although she divides opinion in some circles, Dita has sparked some much-needed discourse on the art of burlesque and female sexuality.

5. Sarah Jessica Parker:

Also known as Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker put sex back on the public’s radar in the late 90s. When Sex and the City first appeared on our television screens, everyone was a little shocked at the way in which the show tackled issues such as sexuality, promiscuity and relationships.

However, with that being said, the series got everyone talking about sex and Sarah Jessic Parker became the icon that represented the modern woman – a woman who worked hard and enjoyed sex, irregardless of her relationship status.

6. Jilly Cooper:

Before E.L James and Fifty Shades of Grey, there was Jilly Cooper and Riders. Dubbed the original ‘bonk buster’ author, Jilly’s novels explored issues like adultery, betrayal, sex, love and sexual infidelity.

Jilly Cooper was writing explicit sex scenes before half of the authors out there and wasn’t afraid to publish a realistic look at modern day relationships.

7. Lena Dunham:

Like the women who went before her, Lena is currently revolutionising how we look at sex. Through her work, she illustrates what relationships are like for young adults.

The most important thing that Lena is currently doing is the fact that she shows the good and bad sides of sex. She’s tackling a host of issues that affect young women today, from sexual boredom in a long term relationship to one night stands, sex with older men etc.