I am not among the thousands of women who listen to "Extra Dirty," a podcast by influencer Hallie Batchelder. But when I read that its host recently proclaimed on air that condoms "ruin the vibe," my disbelief propelled me to tune in.
Not only did she actually say this on her podcast, she also later doubled down on TikTok, defending her stance by essentially implying that condom use is childish and uncool. "If I texted a group chat with 100 bitches right now and said, 'Hey guys when was the last time you used a condom?' I can guarantee most of them would say 'high school,'" she told her over 600,000 followers.
I'm not here to bash Ms. Batchelder. Everyone's entitled to their own preferences, and it sounds like she may genuinely struggle with the sensory experience of using condoms, which she compares to the feeling of a "rubber ducky entering" her body. (Can't relate, but OK.) But as an influencer with a platform, her words carry weight. Before Batchelder fumbled this take, untold numbers of women and girls already faced pressure from male partners to have unprotected sex because they claim condoms make them less sensitive.
And while that may be true for some, it's women who bear the biggest burdens of unprotected P-in-V sex, whether it leads to an unwanted pregnancy, cervical cancer from HPV, or a whole slate of STIs that often go undetected. Sex education curricula in this country has always had a pretty bad track record, and nationwide STI rates are currently 13 percent higher than they were even a decade ago, according to the CDC.
Luckily, the TikTok comments section passed the vibe check, even if Batchelder's video did not. "Millions of women no longer have access to abortions in this country. This take is awful," one viewer wrote. "I feel like hiv or cervical cancer from HPV ruins the vibeeeee," another added. "The lack of sexual health knowledge in our country is genuinely disturbing," wrote another.
To be fair, Batchelder does note that she has an IUD. But she fails to mention that an IUD — though it offers a layer of defense against pregnancy — doesn't protect from STIs. "Safe sex is not the same as birth control (an iud) omg ," one commenter lamented.
In response to Batchelder's take, Popsugar's Chandler Plante reached out to some sex experts for their thoughts. Sexologist Joy Berkheimer, LMFT, tells Popsugar that, far from being a mood-killer, when you express wanting to use protection during sex, "it shows that you respect yourself and your partner enough to prioritize both pleasure and health."
Sounds pretty hot to me. |
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We Tried It: November Beauty Go-Tos |
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In today's featured column, Popsugar's Beauty team rounds up the products they're most excited about this month. |
As temperatures continue to dip, we've been stocking up on hydrating body care, anti-aging must haves to keep skin firm, and makeup products to help us transition seamlessly between seasons. We spritzed, sniffed, swatched, slathered, and sampled hundreds of products and are excited to share our favorites. Whether you're refreshing your skin-care routine for the colder months, searching for makeup that'll keep you "merry" all season long, or just getting a head start on holiday shopping, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover the best new launches in makeup, skin care, body care, hair care, and fragrance that have officially earned a spot on our beauty counters. — Renee Rodriguez |
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Before you go, here are a few more stories from PS and beyond that you might enjoy. |
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