The Sexual Pleasure Gap: Exploring The Connection Between Gendered Pleasure Disparities And Sex Education
Date
2022-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Current sex education curricula in American public schools fails to adequately
equip students with knowledge about their bodies, leading to poor pleasure outcomes–
– particularly amongst students assigned female at birth (AFAB). This research seeks
explore the impact sex education has on the sexual pleasure gap, evaluating its
potential as a tool for closing this gap. Additionally, it aims to move beyond
traditional gender binaries present throughout prior research by making space for
people assigned female at birth who do not identify as cisgender women. In order to
evaluate the aforementioned connection, a survey was distributed which questioned
respondents about their sex education experiences and the quality of their sexual
experiences, as well as their understanding of their anatomy and pleasure preferences
at the time of sexual debut. Responses revealed a need for curricula that moves beyond
cisheteronormative ideals and combats stereotypes based in gender roles, improved
anatomy lessons (particularly as it relates to female genitalia), and an increased focus
on healthy communication and relationship dynamics–– among other improvements.
These findings suggest that sex education in American public schools does not
positively contribute to students’ sexual wellbeing and pleasure, but instead negatively
impacts them in various ways. Additionally, the connections drawn between sex
education and the pleasure gap imply that, if adjusted to meet student’s needs, sex
education could possibly serve as a tool in closing the sexual pleasure gap as it
currently exists. This leaves numerous further directions to be explored including
analyzing the impact of “hidden curriculum” in sex education, the exploration of
sexual pleasure beyond orgasms, and the specific experiences of LGBTQ+ students.
Description
Keywords
Sex education, Sexual pleasure gap, LGBTQ+