Cheri is an American monthly pornographic magazine that was published from 1982 to 1996. It featured explicit photographs, illustrations, and articles focusing on sexually liberated women. The magazine's publishers and editors were notable figures in the adult industry, including Bob Guccione, who also founded Penthouse Magazine. The publication aimed to portray sexuality as a normal and enjoyable part of life, rather than something shameful or hidden.
One of the unique features of Cheri was its dedication to female empowerment through erotic art. While many mainstream magazines at the time focused on male fantasies and objectification of women, Cheri presented erotica as a tool for women to explore their own desires and experiences. This feminist perspective distinguished Cheri within the genre.
The magazine often highlighted stories and essays emphasizing how erotic art can be a tool for female empowerment and self-expression. For example, one issue included an interview with Annie Sprinkle, a performance artist and sex worker known for her experimental and body-positive work. In the interview, Sprinkle discussed how erotic art had helped her reclaim her body after a traumatic experience with cancer.
Another feature in Cheri explored the ways in which BDSM could be used as a form of female empowerment. The article examined how consensual power dynamics can be a healthy way for people to explore sexuality and relationships without harming anyone involved. The piece drew from interviews with professional dominants and submissives and encouraged readers to find their own path to pleasure.
Cheri also featured fiction that explored themes related to female empowerment. One story followed a woman who discovers the pleasures of submission and domination in a D/s relationship. Another featured a lesbian couple exploring kinks and fetishes together. These narratives showed that there is no "right" way to have sex or enjoy pleasure and that everyone has unique preferences and desires.
Overall, Cheri's dedication to female empowerment through erotic art was groundbreaking at the time and continues to inspire today. By presenting sex as something positive and empowering, the magazine challenged traditional notions of gender roles and paved the way for more inclusive representations of women in pornography.