A sex column is something I’ve wanted to do for a while; I can’t fathom how helping others become more comfortable talking about sex and sexual health could ever be a negative thing, and it’s a conversation which isn’t often had at this university. But once I got the opportunity to write about the things I always wanted to, I froze.

I was mid-way though writing an article about slut-shaming and I became all too aware of the fact that, as maturely and productively as I wanted to approach this, there were still going to be some people who would take it upon themselves to police my body and choices, and attack me for being a woman who talks about sex.

The patriarchal dichotomy between the desirability of the chaste woman versus the cheapening of the sexually active woman is the ultimate paradox; and it's just another example of the unrealistic conversations we’ve become used to having about sex. Though this issue most often rears its head as slut-shaming and ugly gossip (which are completely damaging in themselves and rarely taken seriously), it is indicative of a much wider and more punishing issue in our society: the fact that women still aren’t able to have meaningful conversations about their sexual health and sexual autonomy. The result of this is that women in much of the world still can’t legally access an abortion, and often their voices in this debate are drowned out by a society which still doubts whether a woman’s body is really hers to control and her sexual choices really hers to make.

1 in 3 female students in the UK are sexually assaulted on campus and almost half don’t feel comfortable enough or able to report their assault. Yet, consent workshops still haven’t been made compulsory throughout this university and remain shamefully under-attended. Becoming more comfortable with talking about sex, consent, contraception, STIs, celibacy and the entire range of sexual health isn’t just something I wish would happen; it’s something that needs to happen to lay the groundwork for changing the absurd situation facing people of all genders in our society. I mean, Ted Cruz, recently unsuccessful contender to become Republican Presidential candidate in the U.S, even supported a bill to ban the sale of sex toys in Texas on the basis that sexual gratification not intended for procreation is dangerous and harmful.

Much to Ted’s disappointment; the reality is people are going to have sex, and trying to make these conversations taboo isn’t going to do anything but jeopardise the comfort, health and safety of everyone involved. So, as Salt-N-Pepa say in their 90s hit, let’s talk about sex.