by Sarah Mirk
genderqueer, 14
gender stereotypes, 27, 31–32
genitalia, 12, 51, 53–54
gender and, 13–15, 22
infographics, 16–17, 19
sex and, 9, 56–58, 75–76, 79–80
heterosexism, 26
heterosexuality, 21, 24–27, 95
hormones, 14, 22, 50, 64, 87–88
estrogen, 23, 48, 87
gonadotropin, 44
norepinephrine, 95
progesterone, 48, 87
progestin, 87
puberty and, 18, 44–48
testosterone, 23, 47
hotlines
abortion, 89
abuse, 97
illnesses and infections, 16, 39–40, 47, 51, 54, 59, 85
cold sores, 55–56
mononucleosis, 56
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 56–60
urinary tract infections (UTIs), 54–55
yeast infections, 55, 60
infographics
birth control efficacy, 88
clitoral anatomy, 17
genitalia, 16, 19
intersex, 14–15
Kinsey, Alfred, 24
Kinsey Scale, 24–25
lubricants, 20, 78–79, 83
male anatomy
foreskin, 18, 54
penis, 12, 14, 16, 18–20, 46, 54, 56–58, 72, 76–80, 84, 86
scrotum, 19, 46
testes, 14, 19–20, 46, 89
urethra, 19, 54
vas deferens, 19–20, 89
masturbation, 76–77
fantasies, 77
myths about, 77
menstruation, 13, 16–17, 29, 47–51, 55, 86
amenorrhea, 47
definition of, 47
endometrium, 48, 50–51
menses, 47
ovulation, 29, 48, 87
premenstrual syndrome, 49–50
mental health, 30–31
counseling, 23, 41, 89–90, 97, 102–103
exercise, 41, 47, 50, 104
food, 40–41, 47, 70, 104
self-care, 41, 96
social media and, 42, 71
negging, 39, 67
nonbinary, 14, 21–23, 47, 101
non-monogamy, 93
orgasm, 77, 79–81, 89
pansexuality, 25
period. See menstruation
pop culture
body shame and, 35–40
LGBTQ, 26, 35–37
sexism and, 31–32
porn, 73, 80
pregnancy, 14, 17, 48–49, 58, 77, 78, 80, 82–83, 84, 86–87, 89–90, 95, 105
signs of, 85
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
symptoms of, 49–50
treatment for, 50–51
puberty, 18, 44–52
acne, 45
body hair, 15, 45
delayed, 51
height, 44
mood swings, 45
relationships, 35, 94–95, 102–104
communication, 43, 61–65, 68
consent, 5–12, 65
jealousy, 96–97
open, 93
red flags, 12, 98–101
sex and, 76, 79–81, 83, 91–92
social media and, 33–34, 70–71
sex, 5, 19, 24, 26, 54–55, 75, 79–83, 95, 98
communication, 53, 64–66, 68, 75–76, 83–84
consent, 8–11, 91
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 56–60
types of, 16–17, 20, 77–79
sexual assault, 91–92
sexual harassment, 7, 69, 98
obsession, 96–97
stalking, 96
sexuality, 4, 11, 26, 33, 38, 61, 75, 77, 95
Kinsey Scale, 24–25
spectrum of, 24–25
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 56–60
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), 59–60
chlamydia, 57–58, 60
genital herpes, 58
gonorrhea, 58
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), 59–60
human papillomavirus (HPV), 57
prevention of, 56–57
syphilis, 58
testing for, 57, 60
treatment for, 57–59
sexual orientation, 7, 23–27, 32–33, 52, 59, 78
shaving, 15, 29, 45, 51–52, 64
social media, 29, 71–72, 96–98
relationships and, 71, 102
research on, 38, 42
street harassment, 7
transgender, 7, 14, 21, 25, 36
gender-confirmation surgery, 23, 47
hormones, 23, 47
misgendering, 22, 62
pronouns, 22–23, 62–63
transitioning, 23
unhealthy relationships, 98
helping friends with, 102
signs of, 99–101
values, 5–8, 11, 31, 61, 64, 81–82, 91, 96
virginity, 73, 82
Photo Acknowledgments
Design Elements: mustafahacalaki/Getty Images; Artemisia1508/Getty Images; jvillustrations/Shutterstock.com. Laura Westlund/Independent Picture Service, pp. 16, 17, 19, 88.
About the Author
Sarah Mirk is a social justice-focused writer and artist who loves to read, draw comics, make zines, pet dogs, and learn about the world. She began her career as a journalist for alternative weekly newspapers the Stranger and the Portland Mercury, where she covered political issues and numerous colorful characters. She then worked as the online editor of national feminism and pop culture nonprofit Bitch Media. In that role, she edited and published critical work from dozens of writers, ran social media pages with a reach of 1.5 million readers, and hosted the engaging feminist podcast Popaganda, whose ten thousand listeners tuned into episodes on topics ranging from environmental justice to reproductive rights. She moved on to become a contributing editor at graphic journalism website the Nib, where she writes and edits nonfiction comics about history, politics, and identity. She is the author of the book Sex from Scratch: Making Your Own Relationship Rules and the sci-fi graphic novel Open Earth. Mirk holds a degree in history, with honors, from Grinnell College. She identifies as queer and cisgender and lives in Portland, Oregon, with her partner. You can follow her work on Twitter or Instagram @sarahmirk. She always welcomes questions and good ideas.
