On Sunday, March 31, at 3 p.m., the Verona Public Library will host the author event “Not a Dirty Word” with author Steph Auteri.
Over the course of her journalism career, Auteri has observed again and again the ways in which “sex” is treated like a dirty word. A taboo topic. Because of the silence we carry around sex, women, in particular are often left feeling very much alone in their experiences, both good and bad. Because of the assumptions they’re left to make about others’ experiences, they’re often left feeling that they’re not normal. That they’re the only one feeling and experiencing exactly what they’re feeling and experiencing. That they’re broken.
In her book, “A Dirty Word”, Steph’s intention was to create a safe space in which women could think about the realities of life as a woman, whether in the bedroom or out in their day-to-day lives. But more than that, she hoped to start a conversation. To give permission for that conversation to occur.
At her event at the Verona Library, Steph will talk about how she stumbled into a sex writing career that eventually led to the publication of A Dirty Word. She’ll give an overview of the topics that pop up in her book: rape culture, consent, the #metoo movement, the medicalization of female sexuality, body image, reproductive health, and more. She’ll then lead a free-form Q+A / discussion / safe space for sharing that will hopefully leave attendees with the takeaway that they are, in fact, completely normal. That they’re not broken at all.
