The Myth Of The Vagial Orgasm

“In men, in general, sexual desire is inherent and spontaneous” whereas “in the other sex, the desire is dormant, if not non-existent, till excited” (457). Greg’s terminology is extremely power-laden. “Spontaneous” has the connotation of energy and activity, whereas “dormant” and “victim” imply inactivity. An important concept is the assumption that men, the “coarser sex,” act on women, the “weaker sex” (457).

During the early 1800s into the nineteenth century it was believed that men and women came from two separate spheres. These spheres influenced the way gender roles were shaped and perceived. Suggesting that women belonged in the household, apart of the private sphere and men belonged in the economic world, apart of the public sphere. Men and women were understood to be polar opposites and because of this, women were oppressed. Female sexuality was defined as “passionlessness,” and only for the purpose of reproduction. We learn that women were considered “voracious” for expressing their sexuality however, men were encouraged to express their sexuality as part of maintaining power, prestige, and masculinity. (Cott, 1978, 222). Men

With the constant push for conforming into what society deems as acceptable, it is no surprise how much of an impact society plays on limiting the perception of what one’s sexual relationship should be. Society manipulates women into behaving in a certain manner in order to fit into this ideal mold of how women should be. Yet only to a certain point, “Be assertive, but not aggressive. Be feminine, but not too passive. Be sexually adventurous, but don’t alienate men with your sexual prowess.” (Bell 26) Due to all of the conditions, which limit women, it is no wonder how many young women feel “weighed down by vying cultural notions about the kind of sex and relationships they should be having.” (Bell 26) Although these limitations proposed by society can cause personal battles between oneself, it is possible to change one’s perception of how one should act regarding their own sexuality. Bell points out that by using “strategies of desire of the Relational Woman”, (Bell 30) this will assist woman in navigating through their sexual and romantic lives. It is normal for women to feel a desire for relationships and it is inevitable that conflict will arise. If women are able to develop and fully accepting their desires, despite the limitations from society, this will to lead women to building lives that are filled with self-acceptance.

Despite the fact that many men continue to deny that women are objectified, being viewed as an object created solely as a means of pleasure for men is a reality for anyone who was born biologically female. Proving that women are considered less valuable than men is the statistic that women make only 70% of what men in a similar career earns (Ravelli & Webber 214). The sexaul double standard contributes to this idea as well which means that women who engage in sexual activities are “promiscuous” (Ravelli & Webber 237) or “whores” (Ravelli & Webber 237) while men who behave similarly are “Studs” (Ravelli & Webber 237) and women who do not engage in sexual activities are “virgins” (Ravelli & Webber 237) or “Madonna’s” (Ravelli & Webber 237). There are only two portrayals of women and both of these refer to her sexual activities. There are also outrageous definitions of beauty portrayed in the media to

Tran, Thanh. "Extended Essay: Gender Roles, Sexual Desires." Winter Term Assignment. Portland State University, 15 Jan. 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2015.

The essay “Gonad the Barbarian and the Venus Flytrap: Portraying the Female and Male Orgasm” by Anne McClintock, argues that the portrayal of male and female sexual pleasure varies between the two. Not only are they portrayed in different ways, but the way that they’re seen socially and historically is also different (McClintock). McClintock argues that the denial of orgasms for women is not because they lack the ability to, but because of views of gender. McClintock wants to expose the reader to the cultural phenomena of the denial of female sexual pleasure. I will be analyzing how McClintock argues the idea that women are denied sexual pleasure by giving historical background of female orgasms, and personal experiences.

It is clear to see how social values have influenced research on sexuality in the past. Not only did society dictate what was right and proper for a scientist to study, but it condemned those who sought answers for the “improper” areas of study to career damnation. Even more discouraging is the way in which modern day society still puts limits on the research done in sexual physiology. In an era so tolerant and open-minded, one would assume that any researcher in honest quest for truth would be welcomed (and funded) with open arms. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In an article titled Long After Kinsey, Only the Brave Study Sex, Benedict Carey describes such limits on a study attempted in 2003, “In July 2003, for instance, Congress threatened to shut down several highly-regarded sex studies, including one of emotion and arousal, and another of massage parlor workers. And last summer health officials refused to finance a widely anticipated

orgasm and how its “supposed” to occur is another way that this disease was socially

People do not like to accept fact that women have sexual desires and experience sexual pleasure as men do. In the book, Steven, a high school junior said “his male friends always hang out with the freshman girls known as ‘sluts,’ not because they like those girls, but because they can ‘get some” (p. 77). These boys dehumanize the girls that are experiencing the same sexual feelings they are. Instead of females with natural desires, they are reduced to being called sluts and being used for sex. While the girls and boys had equal sexual desires, only the girls’ desires were considered deviant of expectations of their gender expectations while the boys lived up to theirs. By not living up to the expectations of femininity, girls who are sexually active lose their identity as females and are treated first as sluts- as sexual objects with lesser value than a feminine cisgender female who remains abstinent and a good girl in the eyes of

In her article, Jane Gerhard, describes the trends, conversations, and controversies among doctors, psychologists, and feminists in 20th century America, surrounding women’s orgasms. The titular ‘Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm’ was a 1968 treatise written by Anne Koedt. It argued against the common assertion that women received pleasure exclusively through intercourse, and explored women’s sexuality. She discusses the beliefs about the orgasm that existed in the first half of the 20th century. At this time, a “companion marriage” where a heterosexual couple would love and care for one another, and have sex, was considered the proper and “normal” thing to do (451).

Society has ruled that women can only truly be strong if they suppress their emotions, and because of this “As women, have come to distrust the power which rises from their deepest and nonrational knowledge” (Lorde). However, contrary to popular belief, women can empower one another to live their most fulfilling lives by defying this societal norm and recognizing the power of exploring their deepest emotional desires. By appreciating the depth of their emotions, women can set new standards for themselves and have the ability to break the mold society forces them to conform to. In challenging society’s expectations by embracing their inner erotic, women may redefine and reclaim

Women sexuality

Throughout history, definitions of sexuality within a culture are created and then changed time after time. During these changes, we have seen the impact and power one individual or group can have over others. In the Late Nineteenth Century into the Early Twentieth Century, we see multiple groups of people and or authorities taking control over the idea of sex and how they believe society is being impacted by sex. At this point in time, society had groups of people who believed they had the power to control how society as whole viewed and acted upon sex. Those particular groups and ideas changed many lives and the overall definition of sexuality within that culture.

Known as the Two Sex theory, devised by historian Thomas Laqueur, female sexuality would be characterized purely by a woman’s reproductive potential, where the concept of an innate maternal instinct would become the new prioritized ideal. The female orgasm was renounced by a new essence of masculine superiority. This notion can be asserted with the Phallocentric inclination of the late 18th century, examined by historian Tim Hitchcock, as period characterized by penetration and precedence of the phallus. This “both encouraged and made possible the denigration of female sexuality and perceived passivity.” Consequently this caused the de-emphasis of female sexual pleasure and desire. However, female sexual identity would reemerge with potency, attributed to social flux, the emerging field of sexology and disposition of the interwar years.

The role of the orgasm in heterosexual relationships is significant in having a satisfying malefemale relationship according to society’s expectations. By using the malefemale binary, as well as exploring the social construction of sex, we can see just how significant the role the orgasm plays in heterosexual relationships. First off, we must understand that orgasms are achieved differently for both males and females.