“Chances are, your preconceived ideas are the byproduct of centuries of white supremacy and Western conceptions of what is accepted as healthy. “ Writer Kiara Gardea puts BIPOC at the forefront in this gaze past the curtain of whiteness in wellness culture.

“Every time I masturbate, I remind myself how beautiful my ability to bring myself pleasure can be. And how this is a sacred practice that no act of violence can take away from me,” writes Anahita Monfared, in this conversation with Claudia Vera about sexual trauma, re-education, and freedom. Please note this piece contains mention of sexual assault and rape that may be triggering to some readers: please practice self-care in your encounter with this work.