Girl Sex 101: A queer pleasure guide for women and their lovers

Girl Sex 101 by Allison Moon is a refreshingly comprehensive guide to sexual education, skillfully tailored for queer women yet relevant to anyone interested in having sex with women. Beyond offering practical advice on topics like anatomy, communication, and safe sex, this book intentionally embraces diversity in gender expression and sexual identity. Moon ensures her content is accessible to people across the spectrum of gender identities, recognizing that gender and sexuality are far from binary. This inclusive representation of experiences makes Girl Sex 101 an essential read for anyone seeking a well-rounded and gender-inclusive approach to sexual education.

When I opened this book, I was immediately pulled into the pages of zine style illustrations and infographics. I couldn't help but start reading from the random page I found myself on. But more than that, I appreciated the way this book used this style to pay a subtle homage to the history of the use of the zines in queer communities. This small publication medium was not just a form of artistic expression or an information source. It was also a radical way to bring the queer community together in a time when queer voices were censored, prosecuted, and politicized. By choosing this format, the book not only makes the content more engaging and accessible but also aligns itself with a radical tradition that resonates with the ongoing fight for visibility and rights.

Throughout the book, Moon weaves personal anecdotes, fictional narratives, and interviews to illustrate the concepts she presents. This narrative approach not only makes the material more relatable but also humanizes it in ways a traditional textbook cannot—someone else may have gone through the same experiences or share similar perspectives. By sharing her own stories and amplifying the voices of others, Moon fosters a sense of connection that makes topics like consent, communication, and pleasure feel more tangible and comforting.

Upon finishing the book, I appreciated how it balances informative content with an emphasis on pleasure and play. This pleasure-focused approach to sexual education is vital, especially since traditional sexual education often neglects pleasure entirely, sometimes even instilling feelings of shame and fear around sex. While Girl Sex 101 covers essential topics like anatomy, communication, and safe sex, it never loses sight of the fact that sex can—and should—be fun.

It is important to have resources that provide comprehensive sexual education but these resources also need to have a deep understanding of the people they are intended for. This book is queer - not just in subject matter but also in execution. Its art style is rooted in a vital piece of queer history and diverse queer narratives are amplified throughout the book. Whether you're a queer woman, an ally, or simply someone looking to broaden your knowledge, this book is an excellent opportunity to queer your sexual education.