What is the Female Sexuality decal?

The Female Sexuality decal* (nicknamed FemSex) is a course focused on empowerment and building a strong women's community. Femsex strives to create a safe space that encourages and facilitates the ability of women to learn about their bodies, explore their sexuality, and expand their understanding of diversity. The class covers a broad spectrum of topics related to female sexuality, ranging from anatomy/physiology, women's health, solo sex, partner sex, and orgasm, to social issues surrounding themes such as media and cultural influences on women, sex work, reproductive choices, and violence against women.

FemSex challenges students by exposing them to diverse opinions and experiences different from their own. It is about bringing women with different backgrounds together to form a very unique and welcoming community that will embrace and support them along their journey. It is our hope that by the end of this course, all individuals will leave the class with a newfound sense of empowerment and a greater understanding of how empowerment can be expressed in various ways.

The class relies on discussion, assignments, introspection, readings, and guest speakers to examine these topics. The FemSex reader is compiled and updated by the facilitator group every semester. We strongly believe that everyone stands to gain something from Femsex, so we encourage EVERYONE to apply.

*DECAL: Democratic Education at Cal - courses designed by students for students, to find out more go to decal.org

How do I take this course? How do I get a CCN/CEC to register on telebears for units?

+In order to take this course, you MUST attend the mandatory information sessions at the beginning of each semester.

The info sessions for the upcoming Fall 2010 Semester will be held:

Wednesday, August 25th at 5pm and 7pm
Thursday, August 26th at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm
Friday, August 27th from 10am to 4pm: every hour on the hour

*To attend the info sessions on Wednesday & Thursday, please wait OUTSIDE the Gender Equity Resource Center (202 Cesar Chavez) and a Femsex facilitator will lead you to the designated classroom.

*To attend the info sessions on Friday, please go INSIDE the Gender Equity Resource Center.

+At the information session, you will be asked to fill out a written application and turn it in. While we would LOVE to take everyone, we currently do not have the resources/capacity to accept everyone as we are a student run organization. If you have been accepted, the facilitators will review the applications and notify you by email before the first class begins. We will also post a list on the doors of the Gender Equity Resource Center (202 Cesar Chavez) by SID number.

+This course is offered for 3 units Pass/Not Pass. You will be given a CCN in class.

+If you did not get in the first time around... PLEASE apply again!

Are male-identified people allowed to take this course?

Yes. However, please keep in mind that the course is first and foremost a women's space. While we do accept a number of male-identified people into our course each semester, spots are reserved primarily for those who are female-identified.

Who is teaching the course right now?

This fall semester we have TEN fabulous facilitators! And they are...

	Christie S. has been involved in the FemSex community since she took it in the Fall of 2008. She is a cunt warrior and a radical lover who strives to remain present and honest in each moment and in every interaction. Christie loves FemSex because it continues to challenge her to examine and explore herself, her sexuality, her relationships and because of her FemSexies, who continue to teach her to see the beauty and power in every woman she meets. When she is not in the classroom or being FemSexy at Planned Parenthood, you can find her walking and biking in Berkeley, dancing her ass off, reading a book, getting down and dirty in the garden, cooking a delicious meal, singing in the shower or hanging out in Dolores Park.
	Monica H. has been Femsexy since Spring of 2009. Femsex has definitely helped shape the strong woman she is today. For that, she continues to spread the cunt love and empowerment of Femsex. She loves to laugh, have fun and eat anything with a lot of sugar in it but don't give her too much sugar or she will be bouncing off the walls. Besides sweets, she can also dance the night away any day. DJ play that song!!!
	Tiffany L. is just plain loony. Ever since she took Femsex in the Fall 2008, her perspectives changed radically and for the better! She hopes to inspire the same ambition for change in future classes. Tiffany bounces between speaking so much that she can't breathe, to being silent, stoic, and seemingly mute. She has a special interest in the intersection of Queer & Asian identity and is a big fan and avid member of Cal Q&A. She also likes art, singing, breathing, sleeping, cooking, and (much to her bank account's chagrin) shopping for clothes. I swear I am more interesting than this... You can find her art here: manique.weebly.com
	Camille B. had a wonderful experience when she took femsex in spring '08. She is awed and inspired by the beauty and power of a group in an intentional space. She is excited to be a part of this experience again and looks forward to the laughter, smiles, tears, and most of all growth that makes femsex so special. She loves it when people are real and especially when people share their quirky and weird parts of themselves that so often stay hidden. She is gentle and compassionate and likes finding moments of small extraordinary beauty. She likes to hike, garden, swim, dance, cook (dance and cook at the same time), dress up in weird costumes with face paint, and really geeks out talking about plants, zero waste, and sustainability.

	Laci C. is a computer geek extraordinaire who uses her 1337 skillz to spread FemSexy goodness. While she is a (very excited!) new fac this Fall, she has spent recent years in public schools and on the internet spreading the good word of CUNT LOVIN'! She does this mainly through her weekly web-show called "Sex+". In her free time you can find her on the internet, on the internet, or on the internet. She also enjoys stimulating conversations sprawled out on Memorial Glade, giving hugs, and drinking obscene amounts of tea.
	Megan D., a spring 2010 semester FemSex student, is stoked to be returning this fall as a facilitator. She is passionate about honesty, freedom, community, education, and ice cream and has found a happy home for all of these things within the Female Sexuality DeCal (she aims to more fully integrate ice cream into the course). When not spreading the gospel of cunt love, Megan can be found planning events for her sorority, mentoring middle school students, or anxiously waiting in line at Ici. People are people and love is love. Let's talk about it!
	Katie L. has been FemSexy her whole life but became official in Fall of 2008. After facilitating the course for 3 semesters, she has decided to become FemSex’s Development Diva. She loves all things gender and sexuality related and happily will talk about these things to anyone who will listen (captive audiences are great for this). She also adores kitties (better known as mew mews), books, Berkeley Bowl, dancing, the beach and picnics involving wine. When she grows up she plans to be a writer/pastry chef/burlesque dancer extraordinaire. You can follow her mind’s ramblings at sexfeminismempowermentlife.blogspot.com.

*Other faciltators (bios coming soon!) -- Shani L. , Nicole N. , Iris M. , Lauren B.