Tag Archives: debate this

Debate This: Would You Exchange Sex For Money?

Lauren GitlinJanuary 23, 2009 //

Last year marked a confluence of events both real (Eliot Spitzer and Ashley Dupre) and thinly fictionalized (Showtime’s “Secret Diary of A Call Girl”), that arguably made 2008 the Year of the Prostitute. A cache of articles glamorizing the oldest profession in recent months, combined with the economic tailspin, has put a question you might once have asked yourself in your darkest hour firmly at the fore: Would you sell your ass for money? Sure, the prospect of exchanging your goodies (and we’re not just talking sex, but any sort of sexual activity) for goods still carries stigma, and the feminist positions for and against are as numerous and complicated as the positions in the Kama Sutra. But the more attention the topic gets on the national stage, the less it stays a dirty little secret. Two women’s takes on the matter, after the jump… Keep reading »

Debate This: Should You Live Together Before Marriage?

Lauren GitlinDecember 1, 2008 //

For many women, moving in with a serious boyfriend is not merely a stepping stone in the evolution of a relationship, it’s a practical way to both give the mundane realities of marriage a test-run and deal with the exorbitant expenses of modern living. When it comes to co-habiting with a significant other, we’ve come a long way since that old chestnut about not buying the cow when you could get the milk for free.

Or have we? Some research shows that living together before marriage actually increases the already stacked odds that the union will end in divorce. It might seem old-fashioned, but there are plenty of progressive, independent women opting to hold off on living with their dudes until after “I do.” Of course, there are no hard and fast rules for ensuring a marriage succeeds. I talked to two women with opposing views about whether co-habitating with a partner was good or bad for the long-term health of a relationship.
Keep reading »

Debate This: Are You Pro Or Anti “Cat Guys”?

Amelia McDonell-ParryOctober 6, 2008 //

This weekend, The New York Times “Style” section had a story about guys who have embraced their love of cats. I’ve come to the conclusion that women are either passionately pro- or anti-cat guy — turns out we have one of each on our staff! After the jump, Wendy Atterberry and Catherine state their cases. Here comes the pun I have been dying to use for the last three sentences — the claws come out! Keep reading »

Debate This: Psychiatric Medications & Their Positive And Negative Effects

Amelia McDonell-ParryOctober 2, 2008 //

Last week I wrote a blog post about the 10 Ways To Survive The First Week Of Heartbreak. Just to be clear, these tips referenced the things that helped me personally during that rough week and certainly should not be taken as gospel for every single person reading The Frisky. I mean, that would be kind of unfair to those of you who are not within driving distance of an amusement park that throws a Gay Night party every year! Jokes aside, I also did not intend to imply that “popping pills” was something everyone should run out and do. In the interest of full-disclosure, I’ve been on anti-d’s (as we call ‘em) for the last year and a half (for a variety of reasons, in conjunction with talk therapy), so I didn’t just start taking them because my lame-o fiance dumped me. That said, I do know that being on them helped me get through that first week (and continue to help me get through the second and third).

The comments and emails we received that were concerned I was too flippantly recommending that the heartbroken should pop pills (truthfully, just a shout out to Jacqueline Susann!) made me think we should address the issue in depth. So, after the jump, two women in their 20′s who have taken psychiatric medication and can report on their positive and negative experiences. Keep reading »

Debate This: Is The Recession Ruining Your Sex Life?

Amelia McDonell-ParryAugust 4, 2008 //

According to the Chicago Sun Times, more women are applying to donate their eggs and act as surrogates as the economy worsens. This got me thinking about the other ways in which the poor economy — including skyrocketing gas prices, increased unemployment, and the mortgage crisis — are affecting the sex and love lives of women. Personally speaking, the poor economy has taken a negative toll on the real estate market — and since the man-friend and I are looking to move, aren’t finding much in our budget and are getting stressed as a result, romance has taken a little beating as well. After the jump, a list of how the recession is both hurting AND improving some women’s sex and love lives. Keep reading »

Debate This: Does It Suck Or Rule To Be A Bridesmaid?

Amelia McDonell-ParryJune 11, 2008 //

As I’ve written before, I’ve never been a bridesmaid, though I almost was one until my friend’s wedding got canceled on account of the groom being a total d-bag. But, so far, I have three bridesmaids for my totally-unplanned wedding next summer (maybe, you know, if we get our crap together) and I am already wondering if they secretly resent me for choosing them. I just watched 27 Dresses (begrudgingly, at first, but then I loved it) and realized that being a bridesmaid can really, really suck and that bridesmaids’ dresses are never worn again, no matter what anyone says — my favorite line in the movie is when every bride tells Katherine Heigl’s character, “You can shorten it and wear it again!”, to which she always sarcastically replies, “So true.” Anyway, I decided to poll some ladies about their experience as bridesmaids and asked for a final verdict — does being a bridesmaid rule or suck? Their responses after the jump…. Keep reading »

Debate This: How Did Sex And The City Make You FEEL?

Amelia McDonell-ParryMay 29, 2008 //

Like you could ever forget this, but Sex and the City THE MOVIE opens tomorrow. Every damn newspaper article and newscaster and magazine — literally EVERYONE — is acting like women consider the show the greatest thing since tampon applicators, that it enriched their lives in ways they never thought possible, and that they will literally be tearing down the doors to see it this weekend. That last part might be true, as I cannot find a ticket to save my life, but I really am suspicious of this notion that women’s lives improved because of some TV show about a bunch of rich women with seemingly endless hours in their day to enjoy brunch. So I decided to ask the ladies how they REALLY felt about the show. Their thoughts were mixed. But not a single one of them was fall-all-over-themselves in love with the show. Keep reading »

Debate This + Poll: Are Pre-Nuptial Agreements Hot Or Not?

Amelia McDonell-ParryApril 23, 2008 //

Pre-nuptial agreements have become very commonplace in modern marriages, and the types of pre-nups run the gamut. Catherine Zeta-Jones supposedly has a clause in her pre-nup with Michael Douglas that she gets a couple million dollars if he cheats. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have a pre-nup which supposedly pays her for every year of their marriage. Many pre-nups state in advance who gets what belongings and property in the event of divorce — most are there to cover the butt of one wealthy spouse incase their soon to be ex decides to take them for house and home. Additionally, plenty of pre-nups are instated if one member of the couples comes from money — I know of one guy who’s grandmother made it a necessity that he get a pre-nup if he wanted access to his inheritance. I’ve been thinking about pre-nups a bit lately because I’m getting married. We’re not having a pre-nup, but it still has made me think about what drives couples to get them. I’ll get to my opinion eventually, but first, two experts and a handful of real people weigh in. Are Pre-Nups Hot Or Not? Keep reading »

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