What is ‘normal’ about women's (hetero)sexual desire and orgasm?: a report of an in-depth interview study

“It Feels So Good It Almost Hurts”: Young Adults' Experiences of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure

“…The meanings and experiences young (British) adults -women and mendescribe in relation to orgasm and sexual pleasure remain very similar to the experiences reported in previous qualitative research on orgasm. Orgasm is predominantly understood as an ultimate pleasure, and the 'goal' (and end) of sex, but also something that produces happiness, love, intimacy and closeness within relationships (Béjin, 1986;Fahs, 2011;Lavie & Willig, 2005;Lavie-Ajayi & Joffe, 2009;Nicholson & Burr, 2003;Potts, 2000). Our data show that our participants' experiences, the ways they interpret those experiences, and the meanings they attribute to orgasm and sexual pleasure, are already strongly socially-patterned, and are underpinned by dominant systems of meaning related to sex, heterosex and orgasm.…”

“…Qualitative research into the experience and meaning of orgasm -typically focusing on women -has demonstrated complex and nuanced, yet patterned, meanings and experiences related to orgasm (e.g., Cacchione, 2007;Fahs, 2011;Hite, 2000;Lavie-Ajayi & Joffe, 2009;Nicholson & Burr, 2003;Potts, 2000). Given the sociocultural context noted above, orgasm has often unsurprisingly been identified as the peak sexual experience, the desired outcome (goal) of sex, the end and measure of successful sex (Lavie-Ajayi & Joffe, 2009;Potts, 2000).…”

“…Given the sociocultural context noted above, orgasm has often unsurprisingly been identified as the peak sexual experience, the desired outcome (goal) of sex, the end and measure of successful sex (Lavie-Ajayi & Joffe, 2009;Potts, 2000). Women often report that it is important to 'give' their male partners pleasure and orgasm, possibly at the expense of their own pleasure (Nicholson & Burr, 2003). Linked into both Freudian ideas of vaginal orgasmic superiority (e.g., Koedt, 1996), and the coital imperative, women have been found to differentiate between 'clitoral' orgasm (often achieved through masturbation) and 'vaginal' orgasm (achieved through 'sex' with a man), and see 'vaginal' orgasms as superior (Lavie-Ajayi & Joffe, 2009).…”

“…And it appears that the meaning of orgasm cannot be divorced from the context it is experienced in. An emotional connection with a partner both affects, and is affected by, the experience of orgasm, with women reporting a sense of intimacy and bonding produced through orgasm with a partner (e.g., Fahs, 2011;Nicholson & Burr, 2003;Potts, 2000).…”

Young Women’s Use of a Microbicide Surrogate: The Complex Influence of Relationship Characteristics and Perceived Male Partners’ Evaluations

“…Motivations for participating in sexual behaviors are complicated and within relational contexts women's sexual motivations may be based on a desire to please their male partners (Nicolson & Burr, 2003), which may decrease their incentive to use protection. In addition, traditional gender dynamics and social norms surrounding sexuality and gender within heterosexual relationships generally suggest that men hold more power than women (Bird, Harvey, Beckman, Johnson, & The Partner's Project, 2001;Bowleg, Lucas, & Tschann, 2004;Carpenter, 2002;Wingood & DiClemente, 2000).…”