Suzannah Weiss
{{short description|American journalist}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Suzannah Weiss
| image = SuzannahWeiss-e1685962658485.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|09|06}}
| birth_place =
| occupation = Writer
| language = English
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Brown University, University of Minnesota, Antioch University
| genres = Feminism, Sex, Relationships
| website = {{URL|http://www.suzannahweiss.com/}}
}}
Suzannah Weiss (born September 6, 1990) is an American writer and sexologist.{{cite web |title=Polity |url=https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=subjectified-becoming-a-sexual-subject--9781509560189 |website=Polity |access-date=24 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Short Takes: Provocations on Public Feminism |url=https://signsjournal.org/srinivasan/ |website=Signs Journal |date=21 December 2021 |access-date=31 January 2024}} She is the author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject (Polity, 2024), which details her journey toward sexual empowerment and a framework for moving beyond the objectification of women, and Eve's Blessing: Uncovering the Lost Pleasure Behind Female Pain (Polity, 2025), which challenges the normalization of women's pain and paves a path toward more pleasurable lives for women.{{cite book |title=Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject | url=https://www.amazon.com/Subjectified-Becoming-Subject-Suzannah-Weiss/dp/150956019X&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1741462338791257&usg=AOvVaw1RftDRODX_j69c90pq4roB | last1=Weiss | first1=Suzannah | publisher=Polity Press}}{{cite book |last1=Weiss |first1=Suzannah |title=Eve's Blessing: Uncovering the Lost Pleasure Behind Female Pain |date=Sep 15, 2025 |publisher=Polity Press |isbn=1509566171 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Eves-Blessing-Uncovering-Pleasure-Behind/dp/1509566171}} She has written for publications including The New York Times,{{cite web |title=The New York Times | website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/search?query=suzannah+weiss |access-date=24 January 2024}} The Washington Post,{{cite news |title=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/search/?query=suzannah+weiss |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=24 January 2024}} and New York{{cite web |title=Most Recent Articles by: Suzannah Weiss |url=https://nymag.com/author/suzannah-weiss/ |website=New York |access-date=24 January 2024}} and edited for Teen Vogue,{{cite web |title=Teen Vogue |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/teen-vogue-masthead |website=Teen Vogue |date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134632/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/teen-vogue-masthead |access-date=24 January 2024|archive-date=2018-01-25}} Complex,{{cite web |title=Complex Magazine |url=https://www.complex.com/author/suzannah-weiss |website=Complex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406213340/https://www.complex.com/author/suzannah-weiss |access-date=24 January 2024|archive-date=2019-04-06}} and Vice.{{cite web |title=Suzannah Weiss |url=https://www.wellandgood.com/author/slweiss/ |website=Well & Good |access-date=27 January 2024}}
Weiss is also a sex therapist, a sexual assault counselor, a birth doula, and a sex educator certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).{{cite news |title=Conversations with Suzannah Weiss |url=https://voyagela.com/interview/conversations-with-suzannah-weiss/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=VoyageLA |date=Aug 12, 2024}} She is the resident sexologist at Biird, a pleasure brand from the Netherlands.{{cite news |last1=Paget |first1=Simone |title=How New Book Subjectified Empowers Women to Reclaim Their Sexuality |url=https://torontosun.com/life/sex-files/sex-files-how-new-book-subjectified-empowers-women-to-reclaim-their-sexuality |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Toronto Sun |date=Jan 19, 2025}}
Weiss has taught a variety of sexuality courses{{cite web |title=Modern Sex Therapy Institutes |url=https://modernsextherapyinstitutes.com/?s=suzannah+weiss&post_type=product |website=Modern Sex Therapy Institutes |access-date=27 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Suzannah Weiss Courses |url=https://suzannahweiss.com/courses/ |website=Suzannah Weiss |date=27 October 2021 |access-date=27 January 2024}} and spoken at conferences including South by Southwest, the AASECT Conference, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation's Sexual Freedom Summit.{{cite web |title=Woodhull Freedom Foundation |url=https://www.woodhullfoundation.org/team/suzannah-weiss/ |website=Woodhull Freedom Foundation |date=12 April 2022 |access-date=24 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Censorship and Tech's Prudish Stance on Our Sex Lives |url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2019/events/OE38860 |website=SXSW Schedule |publisher=SXSW |access-date=27 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=2023 Annual Conference Schedule |url=https://aasectannualconference.com/schedule/ |website=AASECT |access-date=27 January 2024}} She has been quoted as an expert in publications such as Cosmopolitan,{{cite news |last1=Hamilton |first1=Jill |title=How to Do the Reverse Missionary Sex Position |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/positions/g63024560/reverse-missionary-sex-position/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |publisher=Cosmopolitan |date=Nov 26, 2024}} Men's Health,{{cite news |last1=Anca |first1=Reniel |title=Can You Achieve Hands-Free Orgasm Using Your Mind? |url=https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a62485490/hands-free-orgasm-using-mind/ |access-date=9 March 2025 |work=Men's Health |date=Oct 8, 2024}} CNN,{{cite news |last1=Villano |first1=Matt |title=Why your next vacation might be all about sexual wellness |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/sexual-wellness-resorts-retreats-wellness/index.html#openweb-convo |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=CNN |date=Apr 26, 2024}} Glamour,{{cite news |last1=Lustig |first1=Hanna |title=How to Talk Dirty 101: Try These Examples and Expert Tips to Keep Them Coming Back for More |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-talk-dirty |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Glamour |date=Sep 12, 2024}} and Teen Vogue{{cite news |last1=McConnell |first1=Liv |title=How to Finger a Girl (or Anyone): Tips and Techniques |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-finger-a-girl-or-anyone-tips-and-techniques |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=Teen Vogue |date=Nov 22, 2024}} and played a central role in social media discussions of how women are treated by doctors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/women-share-personal-stories-medical-problems-ignored-twitter-140705603.html|title=Women share all the times their medical problems were ignored by doctors|access-date=2018-10-31|publisher=Yahoo!}} Her writing has been published in several anthologies{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30754000-here-we-are|title=Here We Are|website=Goodreads|access-date=2018-01-19}}{{cite book |last1=Kramer Bussel |first1=Rachel |title=Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories (Volume 2) |date=Feb 8, 2022 |publisher=Cleis Press |location=USA |pages=338 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Orgasms-Sexy-Stories-ebook/dp/B09FYFN2QV |access-date=27 January 2024}} and has been discussed on The Today Show and The View.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheView/videos/10153232220681524/|title=The View|via=Facebook|access-date=2018-01-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/video/why-are-compliments-embarrassing-1139697219566|title=Why are compliments embarrassing?|website=TODAY.com|access-date=2018-01-23}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/133363-10-things-a-feminist-does-in-a-relationship|title=10 Things A Feminist Does In A Relationship|last=Weiss|first=Suzannah|work=Bustle|access-date=2018-01-25}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/why-getting-compliments-can-be-so-embarrassing.html|title=A Psychological Explanation for Why Getting Compliments Is So Embarrassing|last=Weiss|first=Suzannah|work=The Cut|access-date=2018-01-25}} She has appeared on Bold TV, C-SPAN, The Fallen State, and many radio shows and podcasts.{{cite web |title=Gender Discrimination in the Workplace |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?426963-1/gender-discrimination-workplace |website=C-Span |access-date=28 January 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BoldGlobalMedia/status/929001267363569664|title=Welcome back to #BoldTV with @carriesheffield and @clayaiken! Feat: @NRO, @bustle, @politico, @EqualityforHER, @RiseNowUS, @suzannahweiss, @xan_desanctis, @ErinDelmor, @IanKullgren!https://www.pscp.tv/w/1eaKbqBkbjRxX|last=Bold|date=10 Nov 2017|website=@BoldGlobalMedia|access-date=2018-01-22}}{{Cite news|url=http://wgnradio.com/2015/07/29/susanna-weiss-i-will-never-shave-my-legs-again/|title=Susanna Weiss: "I will never shave my legs again"|date=2015-07-29|work=WGN Radio - 720 AM|access-date=2018-01-26}}{{Cite web|title=Suzannah Weiss Joins Jesse Again! (#360) {{!}} theFallenState|url=https://thefallenstate.tv/index.php/full-show/suzannah-weiss-joins-jesse-again-360}}{{cite web |last1=Dr. Moali |title=What You Don't Know: Women, Sex, Power, and Pleasure |url=https://sexologypodcast.com/2024/11/12/what-you-dont-know-women-sex-power-and-pleasure/ |website=Sexology |date=12 November 2024 |access-date=16 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Incorporating Pleasure Into Daily Life to Prepare for an Orgasmic Birth |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-60-incorporating-pleasure-into-daily-life-to-prepare/id1622649772?i=1000619423754 |website=Apple Podcasts |access-date=27 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Baldwin |first1=Amy |last2=Lampert |first2=April |title=Shameless Sex |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-the-orgasm-gap-with-suzannah-weiss/id1242394336?i=1000445383095 |website=Apple Podcasts |access-date=27 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=You Are Not Broken |url=https://kellycaspersonmd.com/sexual-empowerment-reframing-pain-and-more/ |website=Kelly Casperson MD |access-date=16 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=34 The Boobies Episode |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/34-the-boobies-episode-suzannah-weiss-meshelle/id1329297366?i=1000446630501 |website=Apple Podcasts |access-date=27 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Bonus Ep: Subjectified with Suzannah Weiss |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NuLkpDCzh9atwsSV2eSdq |website=Spotify |access-date=16 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Body Objectification, Agency, + the Paradox of Our Desires |url=https://www.everand.com/listen/podcast/749734420 |website=Everand |access-date=16 March 2025}}
Philosphy
Weiss questions the idea that women's power is primarily located in their appearance and that sex functions as a gift granted to men for male pleasure.{{cite news |last1=Sage |first1=Jessie |title=The 4B Movement Ignores One Important Fact: Women Desire Sex, Too |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/columns/the-4b-movement-ignores-one-important-fact-women-desire-sex-too-27129026 |access-date=15 February 2025 |work=Pittsburgh City Paper |date=Dec 5, 2024}} Instead, she advocates for an approach that ensures mutual satisfaction among all involved parties.
She maintains that repeated exposure to the male gaze—including in media marketed to women—can result in the internalization of objectification.{{cite web |title=How to Escape the Male Gaze, According to a Sexologist |url=https://hypebae.com/2024/7/male-gaze-meaning-female-sexuality-sexual-wellness-books-male-gaze-suzannah-weiss-subjectified-interview-amazon-where-to-buy |website=Hypebae |access-date=15 February 2025}} Weiss defines objectification as "the tendency to view one's body as an object for others to look at and evaluate", suggesting that this process often becomes intertwined with girlhood and womanhood.
Weiss promotes sexual empowerment and has encouraged individuals to communicate their desires and boundaries and respect one another's autonomy.
Personal exploration of sex work
In Subjectified, Weiss details her decision to engage in online sex work.{{cite news |last1=Harrington |first1=Suzanne |title='Each orgasm I experienced for money shattered three decades of conditioning regarding the meaning of work and play' |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/health-features/each-orgasm-i-experienced-for-money-shattered-three-decades-of-conditioning-regarding-the-meaning-of-work-and-play/a644312837.html |access-date=30 January 2025 |date=June 24, 2024}} She describes an initial hesitation, fueled by concerns about contributing to objectification or making a statement against it. Upon beginning, she experienced what she refers to as "an epiphany", discovering that her earnings and the nature of the interactions challenged her preconceived notions of work and pleasure. Though she notes her situation was far more controlled and safe than most sex workers' realities, she emphasizes the autonomy she maintained, including the option to stop any interaction at will.
Education
Weiss is a feminist. She holds a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from Antioch University,{{cite web |title=Suzannah Weiss |url=https://www.glamour.com/contributor/suzannah-weiss |website=Glamour |access-date=16 March 2025}} a Master of Professional Studies in sexual health from the University of Minnesota, a Bachelor of Science in cognitive neuroscience from Brown University, and a Bachelor of Arts in gender and sexuality studies and modern culture and media from Brown University.{{cite web |title=Suzannah Weiss |url=https://doubleblindmag.com/author/suzannah-weiss/ |website=Double Blind Magazine |access-date=28 January 2024}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://suzannahweiss.com/}}
- [https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/the-herald-1253/20240619/281681145048646/ Subjectified by Suzannah Weiss] at The Herald (Ireland)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Weiss, Suzannah}}
Category:Brown University alumni
Category:American feminist writers
Category:21st-century American women writers
Category:21st-century American journalists
Category:American women non-fiction writers