A photo posted by annabelle (@annabelleblythe) on Nov 17, 2016 at 3:58pm PST

You are more than your sexuality, but your sexuality is a part of you.

We live in a time where there is shame around owning our sexuality, particularly as women.

We are over-sexualized in ads and told “sex sells,” yet live in fear of being slut shamed or asking for what we need in bed. We are told our bodies are sexual and that this is negative—having to cover our nipples on beaches while men walk freely topless, buying baggy clothing to hide our breasts.

Our own sexual organs are a mystery to most, and if we ever have an imbalance or disease, we are told it is shameful and wrong. We hide the condoms so our roommates don’t see, stay quiet so no one will hear and have sex with the lights off. If we speak openly about sex, we are told we are bad role models for the younger generations and should be ashamed of ourselves.

I strongly believe that sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of.

Sexuality is a natural, beautiful thing.
Your body is a beautiful thing.
Your body is nothing to be ashamed of.

A few months ago, my favourite pair of jeans developed this hilarious ass rip that I felt was way too inappropriate to ever show in public. Now, I wear these on the daily. Why? I recognized that I am not ashamed of my body, I just occasionally feel like I should be. I have spent years self-conscious of my body as I felt that it was sexual and therefore inappropriate. I am lucky to live in countries where women are able to dress how they please, and in this case—I’m fully embracing it.

There is nothing to be ashamed of.

Sexuality is okay.
Bodies are just bodies.
Butts are just butts.

Get over it.

Author: Annabelle Blythe

Image: via Instagram

Editor: Catherine Monkman