How a Woman Is Like an Iron

January 2, 2016 by Jill Whitney

What do women have in common with irons? They take a while to warm up. Men, in contrast, tend to be more like a light switch—quickly turned all the way on. Maybe you already know that. But I keep running into young people who don’t. I talk to young women who think there’s something wrong […]

A Quick Thought on Lighting a Fire with Your Honey

December 26, 2015 by Jill Whitney

This past month, you may have been so busy that you’ve hardly had a chance to connect with your sweetie—in bed or otherwise. Now, the pace has finally eased up. You may even have some time off. So take advantage of the time to relax, reconnect, and get playful. Here’s a quote I like, from […]

One Simple Trick for Reducing Holiday Shopping Stress

December 15, 2015 by Jill Whitney

This time of year, people use words like stress, hectic, and frenzy more than usual. All the holiday prep and shopping on top of life’s usual demands can feel like just too much. What’s supposed to be a joyous season can become miserable. Some years back, I had an epiphany about holiday shopping that’s proven […]

TalkStarter: Is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” About Date Rape?

December 9, 2015 by Jill Whitney

Everyone knows the song Baby, It’s Cold Outside, performed by numerous artists over the years. I’ve always liked it—it’s fun, creative, and playful (and in a range I can sing along to 🙂 ). So I was a bit taken aback a couple years ago when a young woman I know referred to it as […]

TalkStarter for Kids: Gender Roles in Holiday Classics

December 1, 2015 by Jill Whitney

What does the holiday story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer have to do with sex ed? Well, not much to do with sex, really. 🙂 But classic movies do give parents an opportunity to talk about gender roles and societal expectations. This is especially true for movies that were made in an earlier era. What […]

Are You Thankful for Your In-Laws?

November 23, 2015 by Jill Whitney

Your partner’s family can have a big impact on your relationship, especially at holiday time. If you’re blessed with wonderful in-laws and you know it, you are truly lucky. It can’t hurt to tell them again how thankful you are that they’re part of your life. The more common scenario, alas, is in-laws that drive […]

TalkStarters: 22 Things Your Teen Is Wondering About Sex and Relationships

November 19, 2015 by Jill Whitney

Teenagers can be tough to read. You know their heads are full of thoughts and questions about sex and relationships, but exactly what’s going on in there…who knows? Obviously every kid is different. But the young adults who responded to my survey give some clues about common questions and concerns. When I asked what they […]

College Guys’ Secret Power

November 12, 2015 by Jill Whitney

If you’re a young man in college, you’ve got a lot on your mind: grades, girls, sports, parties, friends, your future job. Making the world a better place may not even be on the list. But if you do want to improve the world—at least life on your campus—you have a power you may not […]

What Masters and Johnson Got Wrong About Sex

November 5, 2015 by Jill Whitney

Our understanding of sex owes a lot to William Masters and Virginia Johnson. Their pioneering work in the 1950s and ‘60s (along with the research of Alfred Kinsey) opened a whole new world of studying and talking about human sexual experience. They got a lot right. But work that’s been done since has filled in […]

How Your Halloween Costume Can Give Your Sex Life a Boost

October 29, 2015 by Jill Whitney

If you’re dressing up for Halloween this year, what are you going as? A pirate, a witch, or a celebrity? A biker chick, a cartoon character, a cowboy? Something funny? sexy? scary? Some costumes we choose just because they’re simple, convenient, or will make our friends laugh. Other choices can be a window into something […]