EPIC Concept

So as a few of you know, I've been working on putting together a programme (called EPIC) to allow small groups of people to explore platonic physical affection. So this post is going to dig into why I think that's important.

I think there are several reasons that much of western society has hangups around platonic physical affection, and most of them are rooted in cultural artefacts that are steeped in toxicity.

Near the top of the list of course is toxic monogamy culture, which pushes the false narrative that physical affection is exclusively for romantic relationships. Although even that rule itself isn't 100% as thanks to a heteronormative devaluation of attraction between women, it's somewhat common for two women to cuddle or even share the same bed without thinking twice about it. Not only does this attitude devalue lesbian relationships, but can also be another example of bisexual erasure.

Thanks to toxic masculinity and a large dose of homophobia don't even think about two men doing the same thing, as ew, that might make them gay or something. A culture where men aren't allowed to show any kind of affection towards other men without being looked at as queer or unmanly is toxic to its very core. And we wonder why men have bottled up their emotions...

All in all, I think these cultural artefacts are worth fighting, and am glad that there's a growing number of folks that agree. We may still be a minority, but every movement starts with just a few people taking a stand.