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Sex and the State is a newsletter that delves into issues surrounding sex work, mental health, societal norms, and power dynamics. It explores complex topics like the legality of prostitution, modern work culture, personal stories of growth and hardship, and critiques of political and social systems.

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The hottest Substack posts of Sex and the State

And their main takeaways

Unpopular opinion: More rape for less gay sex is a bad trade

15 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Religion
  1. The post discusses the complex issue of sexual abuse within religious institutions like the Southern Baptist Convention and the impact it has on their practices and beliefs.
  2. It highlights the dangerous trade-off of prioritizing the prevention of gay sex over addressing the prevalence of rape, shedding light on important societal attitudes and priorities.
  3. The post serves as a reminder of the need for critical conversations and actions to combat sexual abuse and protect vulnerable individuals in various communities.

Josh Hawley is why I'm a technocrat

12 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Political Figures
  1. The post discusses Josh Hawley and the author's perspective on him walking with the Teamsters Union.
  2. The author connects Hawley to being a technocrat and shares her feelings about his actions.
  3. Readers can access more content and archives by subscribing to the blog and getting a 7-day free trial.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Activism update

15 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
  1. The author is involved in local organizing and activism with a group called the Huntsville New Liberals and a project focusing on housing.
  2. The author dedicats a significant amount of her time to her newsletter and local activism work.
  3. Readers can subscribe for a 7-day free trial to access the author's full post archives.

Racism and sexism, status games, and affirmative action

9 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Affirmative Action Political Realignment Society Civil Rights Ideology
  1. The political and ideological realignment since 2016 is prompting a reevaluation of societal values and the types of 'games' we engage in.
  2. Hannah Nikole Jones's essay on affirmative action raises the question of reframing societal norms and behaviors.
  3. Affirmative action discussion opens up the opportunity to reconsider the dynamics of racism, sexism, and status games in society.

Democracy needs a little less participation

12 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy
  1. Democracy may benefit from some reduction in participation to improve the decision-making process
  2. Focusing on equity in decision-making process rather than just the outcome is crucial
  3. Consider exploring diverse perspectives and ideas, even when they challenge existing beliefs

Is authoritarianism inherently anti-social?

13 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Political theory Social Dynamics
  1. The relevance of the left/right political divide is being questioned, with focus shifting towards pro-social versus anti-social perspectives.
  2. Authoritarianism is being considered as inherently anti-social, sparking discussions on its impact on society.
  3. Engagement with differing perspectives, such as pro-social versus anti-social viewpoints, can lead to meaningful discourse and understanding.

Authoritarians and the games they play

9 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Demographics Power Christianity
  1. The terms 'left' and 'right' don't accurately represent contemporary US politics; 'liberal' vs 'authoritarian' is a more relevant ideological spectrum.
  2. The author wants to discuss topics like democracy, demographics, power, and Evangelical Christianity in-depth in the future.
  3. Readers can access more content and a 7-day free trial by subscribing to the author's newsletter 'Sex and the State.'

A thot with thoughts on syphilis

19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Sexual Health
  1. The author reflects on the passing of someone from their past who may have been battling syphilis.
  2. The individual was involved in sex work and had an undisclosed ongoing illness.
  3. The author considers the possibility of the acquaintance suffering from syphilis based on a post from a friend.

More evidence linking Evangelical Christianity with belief in female idiocy, etc.

10 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Gender Dynamics
  1. The author discusses the belief in female idiocy and its connection to urban/rural divide, with Evangelical Christianity playing a role in the cycle.
  2. The concept of female brain drain is highlighted as a contributing factor to the urban/rural divide.
  3. Evidence supporting the theory of Evangelical Christianity's impact on gender pay gap is shared, reinforcing points made in previous parts.

Good news about getting old

12 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Aging Body Image Mental health
  1. The post discusses the positive aspects of aging, showing that there can be good news about getting old.
  2. There is a mention of body image and weight in relation to an Instagram post, prompting further discussion on these topics.
  3. Readers can access the full post and archives with a 7-day free trial subscription.

I've got shit on my mind

19 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The newsletter content can be intense and not for the faint-hearted.
  2. The author addresses a disturbing incident involving a prison inmate and a broomstick.
  3. Readers are given a warning for the unsettling content and a chance to opt-out.

How my moral intuitions have evolved

13 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Politics
  1. The author discusses how her moral intuitions or ethics-to-politics mapping has evolved over time.
  2. Top-tier commenter Nicholas prompted the discussion on the evolution of the author's moral intuitions.
  3. To access the full post and archives, readers can subscribe to Sex and the State with a 7-day free trial.

Authoritarians and their shitty childhoods

6 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Inequality Social Issues Healthcare Public Policy
  1. Life for bottom-half Americans has been worsening over the years due to factors like market concentration, stagnant wages, rising costs, and increasing inequality.
  2. These hardships could be contributing to the rise of Trumpism, affecting mobility, mental health, and overall well-being.
  3. Factors like reduced economic mobility, increasing precarity, and societal challenges like teen depression are linked to the decline in conditions for many Americans.

A fate worse than death?

10 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Physical health Mental health
  1. In a study, 68.9% of patients found bladder or fecal incontinence 'worse than death.'
  2. A slightly smaller percentage of patients felt that 'requiring a breathing tube to live' was worse than death.
  3. Consider subscribing to continue reading this content and access the full archives with a 7-day free trial.

The argument for ass whoopings > prison

9 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Crime Ethics
  1. Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike shared a video of two gas station employees beating a would-be robber with a piece of wood, emphasizing the importance of discipline early in life.
  2. The post discusses the idea of physical discipline as a deterrent for criminal behavior, suggesting that it can be more effective than imprisonment.
  3. The conversation is centered around the argument that experiencing consequences like physical discipline can correct behavior more effectively than prison time.

A brief primer on medical misogyny

10 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Gender Issues
  1. The post discusses medical misogyny and the author's work experience at a wellness startup.
  2. The author highlights the issue of medical misogyny replacing hysteria with depression.
  3. Readers can access the full post and archives with a 7-day free trial of Sex and the State.

H4H 27: More than you ever wanted to know about guardianships

6 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🎙 Podcasts Homelessness Mental Illness
  1. Mental illness is not the only cause of homelessness, but there is a strong connection. Building more housing and providing cash assistance can solve homelessness for many but not all.
  2. Severe mental illness or addiction can be barriers to staying housed even with affordable housing and financial help.
  3. The law defines guardianship/conservatorship, outlining who is eligible and the legal protections needed to prevent harm and homelessness for vulnerable individuals.

Trafficking hysteria as rape fantasy

18 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Society History
  1. In 1910, Congress passed the White-Slave Traffic Act to address concerns about white girls moving to cities for work.
  2. Moral scolds created a myth of Black men kidnapping white women to control social change and freedom for white women.
  3. Trafficking hysteria was used to enforce compliance through fear and false narratives.

Activism update

7 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Activism
  1. The author gave their first public comment at a legislative event.
  2. They also presented on the issue of homelessness in Huntsville.
  3. Readers can access more content by subscribing to the author's blog.

Cash rules less around me than I realized

4 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
  1. Cash has less influence on my life than I thought.
  2. Choosing catchy headlines can make a big difference in attracting readers.
  3. Subscribing to the blog can give access to more thought-provoking content.

The two kinds of people who most need therapy

19 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Therapy
  1. Therapy can help individuals realize patterns and make positive changes.
  2. The quote 'What had felt daunting to me my whole life...' made the author reflect on taking responsibility for urges and reactions.
  3. Therapy can be beneficial in breaking patterns and making realizations that lead to personal growth.

Maybe my dead grandma was autistic?

18 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health
  1. The author reflects on the possibility of their deceased grandmother being on the autism spectrum.
  2. The author describes not feeling very liked by their grandmother.
  3. The post invites readers to subscribe to access more content from the author.

H4H 24: We respond to your comments!

4 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎙 Podcasts Discussion
  1. They had to reschedule an interview due to bad weather.
  2. They enjoy hearing from listeners and respond to their comments on their podcast.
  3. Listeners can suggest interview subjects and topics for the podcast.