Padmini Iyer, Author at In Plainspeak

Padmini Iyer

Date Name

Desc Asc

A young woman smiling. She is wearing a white top, and has her hair open.

A lot of research concludes that globally, young people aren’t learning enough about sexuality, and that they would like to…

By Padmini Iyer

August 15, 2015

“IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ASK ME?

“Is there anything you want to ask me?”

A lot of research concludes that globally, young people aren’t learning enough about sexuality, and that they would like to…

By Padmini Iyer

February 1, 2015

“Is there anything you want to ask me?”

Themes

In Plainspeak publishes one issue every month, with a single theme running across two months. Our aim is to expand safe, inclusive self-affirming spaces.

CURRENT ISSUE:

June 2025: Language and Sexuality

Language bestows on us the gifts of self-expression, conceptualisation, communication, and interaction, amongst others. At the same time, many languages being gendered in their vocabulary and grammar restrict how we might speak, and even think, about sexuality. Does language then affect gender and sexual expression, and the manner in which we experience and express desire, intimacy, pleasure, frustration, and even violence? Do we use language in different ways with different people – rough and ready language with our friends and lovers and more formal language in public? What does this say about the ‘rules’ around sexuality? Is there a language that signals belonging to a group or community (queer or kink, for example)? Do some languages have a more generous vocabulary than do others? Given that we live in a world increasingly dependent on AI-based technologies, do Large Language Models like Chat GPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, etc. reflect and perpetuate existing biases and societal values around sexuality? What are the effects of all of this? How can we use language to expand safe, inclusive and self-affirming spaces for all? This issue of In Plainspeak explores these and other fascinating connections between language and sexuality.

UPCOMING ISSUE:

July 2025: Language and Sexuality

Would you like to contribute? Take a look at our submission guidelines!

For future issue themes, click here.

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TARSHI Corner

Watch a webinar exploring the changing contours of masculinities and sexuality, featuring two In Plainspeak contributors: Ishan Mehandru and Sudipta Das.

Disclaimer

We curate content from other portals to amplify discussion around sexuality and rights. All rights remain with the original sources. Corners and Videos are embedded links and Brushstrokes and Blogrolls are republished from open sources with a link back to the original source. Older links may no longer be available.

We mostly use images with a Creative Commons license. If you are the owner of an image and find that the image has not been credited properly, please let us know at inplainspeak@tarshi.net.

In Plainspeak

Padmini Iyer

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