Play and Sexuality

Editorial – Play and Sexuality
An image of vibrant and colourful watercolour cakes with a palette attached.

Coupled with the tendency to approach sexuality with seriousness, play often remains absent in discussions of sexuality. Sexuality shares the elements of fun, pleasure and spontaneity that are found in play.

By TARSHI
December 15, 2021
Editorial – Play and Sexuality
And quietly flow thoughts on being and not being…
An illustration of the interssecting outlines and silhouettes of male and female figures in pastel colors.

In the uncertainty and volatility of the pandemic, Pramada Menon examines what has changed for herself, for the world, and for the various attributes of the workplace – mentorship, conversations, power, and purpose, among others.

By Pramada Menon
December 15, 2021
And quietly flow thoughts on being and not being…
Acting Like Myself
An illustration of stage-curtains in bright color.

In this month’s issue of Play and Sexuality, Wesley D’Souza recounts the time his school put up a production of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, his preparations for its audition, and how the process was intertwined with an exploration and acceptance of his sexuality.

By Wesley D'Souza
December 15, 2021
Acting Like Myself
Tryst With Kink: Brushstrokes Of BDSM On My Sexuality
A yellow background with an illustration of an instant film photo. The illustration depicts a naked person’s lower back and buttocks, and they are handcuffed behind. On the bottom white part of the photo’s illustration, there is a signature.

The responsibilities attached to BDSM are frankly the same as that for any other sex act. But since the submissive partner(s) are placing themselves at a position of vulnerability, these responsibilities mark the difference between sex and abuse. Have fun, but responsibly.

By Feminism in India
December 15, 2021
Tryst With Kink: Brushstrokes Of BDSM On My Sexuality
Public. Autonomous. Anonymous. Group. Sexting. At AWID 2016. Oh yeah!
A close-up image of a text message. At the top is the number of the sender, which is half hidden. Below that is the date the text messages were sent and it reads “Sat, 10 Sep 2016.” The sender’s message is below the date in a blue text bubble and the text says, “If I am close to you I want to press all your keys!! SMS 18:58.” The receiver’s message appears below in a yellow text bubble and says, “Press the Enter Key! SMS 19:00.”

Sexting is ALL about consent. Consent to RECEIVE a sext, consent to portray yourself in one. Keep this in mind, because one of the reasons sexting receives such a bad rap is because of what might happen after – dissemination of intimate images and content WITHOUT CONSENT.

By Curated Content
December 15, 2021
Public. Autonomous. Anonymous. Group. Sexting. At AWID 2016. Oh yeah!
The Birds and the Bees: On Play and Sexuality
A screengrab from the Hindi movie Padosan showing a man holding a pillow.

How would we see the world really, if we were open to the idea that it is not purpose but play that drives us to seek companionship, be it an orchid seeking a pollinator or a human seeking another?

By Shweta Krishnan
December 1, 2021
The Birds and the Bees: On Play and Sexuality
Interview – Manak Matiyani
Photo of a smiling man who is wearing a blue patterned shirt and standing in front of a brick wall

As we grow older, moral codes, conventions of appropriateness and shame, and the utilitarian and income-focused education we get make us lose that stability. The idea of play to me is about bringing back that ability and comfort into the lives of people so that they can actually play.

By Shikha Aleya
December 1, 2021
Interview – Manak Matiyani
Of “unapologetically flawed” women and feminism-lite: A review of Four More Shots Please!
The poster of Four More Shots Please, featuring four women in Western clothing, posing, laughing, dancing and having fun.

Four More Shots Please! moves in the right direction when it comes to women (of a particular social stratum), their lives, and feminism at large – even if it takes small, stumbling, baby steps towards it.

By Srishti Gupta
December 1, 2021
Of “unapologetically flawed” women and feminism-lite: A review of Four More Shots Please!
It’s not ‘just’ play!
An illustration of handcuffs in dull shades.

Play is not only about cocks, balls, vaginas, paddles, or anything that happens between two consenting adults in the bedroom. It’s also about what goes on in a masochist’s mind before they submit to a cane, or a whip, and before they orgasm from the pain.

By Asmi
December 1, 2021
It’s not ‘just’ play!
I will meet you post quarantine
An impression of red lips on a white surface.

A kiss for the side of your neck One for the last of your back For a year that we…

By Aishwarya Shrivastav
December 1, 2021
I will meet you post quarantine
Mission Orgasm
A galaxy of stars with little illustrations and the title written in bright pink and green fonts in the centre.

This Parodevi Pictures’ production from Agents of Ishq is a kaleidoscopic must-watch that takes us into the poorly understood ‘galaxy’ of female orgasm and sexual pleasure through a mobile-phone game – A Little Death – that helps people navigate this terrain unfamiliar to many in an exciting and accessible way.

By Curated Content
December 1, 2021
Mission Orgasm
Graphic Story: The First Move
Graphic of a person at an office desk. The person is reclining on a chair with hands behind their head and looks relaxed. There is a mug of warm beverage, a desktop, a keyboard and a mouse on the table. On the upper left corner is the title of the graphic story that reads “The First Move…” Right below with is the credits to the writer and illustrator, Priya Dali and text reads “Written and illustrated by Priya Dali”. Below it is another line of text - “#QUEERINGWITHTINDER”.

This short and cute graphic story by Priya Dali, published by Gaysi in collaboration with Tinder, captures the playful initial stages of online dating as Maya tries to make the first move on Rae with the help of colleagues.

By Curated Content
December 1, 2021
Graphic Story: The First Move