Cake

We have done so by doing the following:

Our website consistently editorializes and educates women on sexual culture. We talk about women and sex, and promote a progressive agenda of choice and reproductive rights. There are over 1500 female CAKE members who make up a community of progressive, likeminded women. We send out a weekly newsletter that goes out to over 30,000 people exploring diverse issues such as sexual pleasure, relationships, sexual health, body image, among hundreds of other topics having to do with female sexuality. We have produced over 70 events in NYC and London all of which have distinct themes and purposes, including workshops on sexual health, demonstrations, all women events.

CAKE events are female directed, focused and controlled. The women at the events are there for themselves and do not perform for the men in the room or play into some male-directed stereotype. Rather we are there expressing and exploring our own desires. We come to CAKE because there are shockingly still few options for women to proactively express our sexuality in public. Diversity and innovation are the two most important elements of our events. The events reflect feminism in action. We do not talk about sex and sexuality in strictly theoretical terms. We are not fearful of the actualization of it. We promote pleasure, interaction, experimentation, pushing the boundaries of identity, and inspiration because all of that is necessary for the evolution of our sexuality.

Thankfully, after five years of success and literally thousands of women identifying with our philosophy, CAKE is succeeding because women have responded to our mission. It is also important to note that the events are one piece of our mission – dialogue, personal evolution, community, our new book, research, and advocacy are all part of our agenda.

“The strength inside of me, which I believe is embodied so beautifully by the CAKE philosophy, allowed me to rise to the occasion, get out of a very abusive relationship,and to celebrate my womanhood and awareness of my sexuality. As I became stronger and more in touch with myself and my sexuality, I almost got to the point recently where I felt as if I was going to explode. I needed an outlet of expression that is physically and emotionally safe for me.” – Melissa, 32, CAKE membership application

On November 15th, 2005, CAKE published our first book -A Piece of CAKE: Recipes for Female Sexual Pleasure - the research behind which is based on thousands of interviews with women and their experiences with sexuality. It is an accurate assessment of the real women's sexual experiences.

CAKE is ever evolving and we are out there trying to develop new ideas and a fresh perspective on female sexual culture. We are taking the next logical step to promote sexual equality and filling a void with a progressive, proactive and yes public agenda that comes directly from women themselves.

There are still many challenges and questions. We do not think that it is a feminist ideal for some high-minded women to tell other women that we don't own our bodies - that everything we do must be evaluated through “male” eyes. It does not further the cause to be divisive, and condescending towards other women who do indeed like visual imagery, performance, and public expression.

More importantly as a community of women we must address and answer the following: Why don't young women today identify as "feminists?" Why is George W Bush and the Republican majority in Congress chipping away the reproductive rights won by second wave feminists with the stroke of his executive pen?  Why do women still make 70 cents to the male dollar?

We want to think about the ways in women can and do enjoy their sexuality in publicly visible ways. We want to answer the question "What would sexual culture look like if women were truly equal?" As young empowered feminists, we choose pleasure over fear.

Love,
Melinda
Co-Founder, CAKE

THE CAKE REPORT:

CAKE subscribers - comment and contribute to this discussion!
Is sexual equality inside and outside of the bedroom important to you?