Sex
What Lisa Taddeo Learned in Eight Years of Reporting on American Desire
Taddeo's new book profiles the intimate wants and needs of three women across the country.
Viewing Pornography Increases Unethical Behavior, According to New Research
It's possible that watching people perform sex acts can lead us to dehumanize others.
Country Hits Increasingly Objectify Women and Glorify Whiteness
New research finds that country hits in recent years show an increased emphasis on short-term sexual conquest—and on the celebration of whiteness.
Does the Civil Rights Act Ban Discrimination Against LGBT People? The Supreme Court Plans to Decide.
For a trio of anti-LGBT discrimination cases, the issue revolves around the meaning of one word: sex.
Women Are Still Penalized for Having More Sexual Partners
New research finds that the sexual double standard persists.
How Human Bones Reveal the Fallacy of a Biological Sex Binary
Science keeps showing us that sex also doesn't fit in a binary, whether it be determined by genitals, chromosomes, hormones, or skeletons.
Defining 'Sex' Isn't as Clear as the Trump Administration Claims
Science shows that a binary model for sex doesn't hold up to human variation.
Evangelicals' Porn Viewing Is on the Rise
But frequent churchgoers and Biblical literalists have successfully resisted the temptation.
Today's Teens Love Songs About the Sex They're Not Having
References to sex have increased in pop music over the decades, even as actual sexual behavior among adolescents has declined.
For Women Who Have Been Victims of 'Stealthing,' There Can Be Dangerous Health Consequences—and Little Option for Legal Recourse
There are no available statistics on how many men discreetly remove their condoms during sex, an act known informally as stealthing.
Why Lots of Men Conflate Sexual Desire With Consent
New research finds male college students are genuinely confused about their partners' wishes.
Four Good Reasons You Should Be Skeptical of the Claim That Biology Explains Inequality
Four crucial facts about race, sex, and biology that contradict this messy argument.
The Kids Are All Right, But Their Parents Are Out of Control
Extramarital sex has increased greatly for Americans in their 50s and 60s.
The Kids Are All Right—but Why?
Young people are drinking and doing drugs less than ever before. What happened to the tawdriness of youth?
The Little Pink Pill That Sparked a Feminist War
The Food and Drug Administration's approval of a pharmaceutical treatment for low sexual desire in women has launched a heated debate over the dangers and benefits of medicalizing sex.
Was Sexism Behind the Sign Off on Flibanserin?
An early look at a Pacific Standard story that's currently only available to subscribers.
The Sexiest 'Pacific Standard' Stories of 2015
In which we put on a little Barry White for you.
It’s OK to Hate Being Single
High-achieving women are told to be proud of what they’ve accomplished. But professional triumphs don’t fill emotional holes.
Post-Sex Blues Is Surprisingly Common Among Women
Researchers suggest such experiences are linked to underlying emotional issues.
Five Studies: Does Flibanserin Provide Real Sexual Benefits for Women?
Research suggests that the now-FDA-approved female libido-booster is—at least in part—a pharmaceutical ploy.
Pornography Consumption on the Rise
As the Internet makes X-rated material more accessible, more Americans are watching.
Surprising Truths About Real-Life 'Cougars'
New research finds the older woman-younger man dynamic is not uncommon, but it seldom plays out the way it does on television.
