Nature and the Femme and Sexuality

As we are a part of the flora and fauna of this planet, we embody a perennial relationship between human and nature. With this comes conflict and restoration. There is no irony in the fact that when the femme becomes ill treated, so does the environment. And vice versa.

There are all the stereotypical words that are used to describe the femme that are also described in nature - delicate, nurturing, peaceful, giving. Then there are the words that we turn our heads to because it’s too shameful to admit how we have paralleled the femme and nature - rape, obedience, manipulation, wringing out, training. But there are also the tabooed words - sexuality and eroticism.

It took me well into my adult life to realize how much of my sexuality derived from my experience within nature. Probably because I was raised in a very conservative, Christian, southern hospitality, “we like our women to smile politely”, kind of small town. 

It all began when I would spend my days outside growing up. I became obsessed with my cat, Midnight, and so deeply wanted to be an animal. It got to the point that I refused to urinate inside and would run outside (rain or shine) to release myself in our bushes. However, my mom told me I wouldn’t be able to start school and see my friends if I didn’t start using the bathroom inside. 

Then, as I got older I felt the sensation of the skin by lounging on the bark of tree limbs, letting caterpillars crawl on my arms, while rays of sun would hit exposed areas of my body. I felt what it was like to be so deeply loved by someone that they would surprise you and wake you up at 5am on your 17th birthday so you could watch the sunrise at the beach. I felt what it was like to be deeply taken advantage of by somebody who pushed you on your knees in the mud so they could tell their friends that he could get the red headed girl to suck his dick. I discovered that testing how high you could fly on the swings to then jump and tumble down the hill would be relatable to an intense orgasm. I learned the beauty of men crying when our same beloved family cat died and I watched my father cry as he buried Midnight in our garden full of Texas wildflowers. 

With this intertwined feeling in my spirit of lacking in nature while also feeling utterly alive, I use my art to center the femme voice by mirroring how exploitation and rewilding the woman also exploits or rewilds nature. Both exist in our world, but one tends to happen more regularly - can you guess which one? With centuries of women being muzzled while having a fire burning in their hearts, my research and storytelling shows the complexity of the femme paralleled with the complexity of our natural world.

Not every aspect that cross pollinates the femme and nature is sexual. However, the study of biophilia (human and nature connection) shows an increase in cognitive, physical, and psychological well-being, which all affect sexual health. Nature and the woman are alive, and being alive is being inside, in the felt, embodied experience - through suffering and through happiness. Sexuality and eroticism are a profound part of ourselves and the environment yet society restricts us from intensely feeling this expression because, who knows why? Fear? Capitalism? Losing ourselves? Finding ourselves? 

As someone who is also an educator of sexual health and environmental science, I believe that the more we can reflect on our sexuality, and mirror this with our relationship to nature, the more we can create open direct communication, environmental advocacy, and empowerment for ourselves and fellow femmes.