the role of vague genital labeling and incomplete sexual education in female orgasm

i love talking about sex, and not in a dirty, "this is how i do it kind of way". i like talking about it in a "this is how it fits into our culture, how can we improve things like females knowing how to have an orgasm and enjoying their sex lives even though our culture doesn't teach or encourage women to enjoy their bodies" ...way. as afore mentioned, this is what i'm doing my research on for my research methods class. this next installment is just the intro.

so if reading "scholarly" academic writing isn't your thing, i won't be offended. but i did pour quite a bit of my heart and soul into this one and tried not to let it get too dry. if nothing else, please read the article names  in the works cited page because they are amazing. also, posting the document onto my blog messed with the formatting and i know that the journal names are supposed to be italicized. deal with it; i'm too lazy to fix it on the blog.

 

The Role of Vague Genital Labeling and Incomplete Sexual Education in Female Orgasm 

            Girls and women today live in a culture that places a great deal of importance on their sexuality. Magazine covers portray flawless women with captions like, 25 Ways to Please Him in Bed or Get Your Sizzling Sex Life Back.  Information about sex seems to be everywhere, but what kind of education are girls and women really receiving? Research shows that it is important for females to be instructed in early bodily knowledge to support sexual health and also that mothers are more likely to use vague terms such as ‘privates’ when teaching their daughters about their genitals (Martin & Luke, 2010).  Research also shows that when mothers talk to their daughters about sex-related topics, they are more likely to discuss reproduction, romance, and morality issues, but not the topics pertaining to sexual pleasure (Martin, Veduzco, Torres, & Luke, 2011).  In a world filled with sexually promiscuous male-centered media and mothers’ vague explanations, are girls and women learning useful information for their own healthy and pleasurable sex lives?

Genital Labeling

Many young girls are raised without knowing what to call their genitals, or knowing the function of their genitals. Martin, Veduzco, Torres, and Luke (2011) found that mothers use vague, indefinite terms, like ‘privates’, when teaching their daughters about their bodies. These vague terms do not describe the functions of the actual body parts. When teaching their sons, mothers use more childlike terms to describe their

genitals. Both genders are active participants in misconstruing and mispronouncing their mother’s terms for their body parts, leading to a variety of labels (Martin, et. al., 2011).

Incomplete Sexual Education

            Multiple studies show that the quality and sort of sexual education a young girl receives affects her future sexual experiences and expectations. Brody and Weiss (2010) found that common sex education approaches may undermine vaginal orgasm benefits. In their study, conducted in the Czech Republic, women who were told in childhood and adolescence that the vagina was the organ important for orgasm were more likely to experience vaginal orgasm, suggesting that education about the female body influences her experience with sexual intercourse (Body & Weiss, 2010). Research also suggests that sex therapists and educators assisting in female achieved orgasm should shift their focus from foreplay to improving the quality and duration of penile-vaginal intercourse, and that vaginal orgasm can be achieved more often with this type of education (Weiss & Brody, 2009).

            Martin and Luke (2010) conducted a study concerning gender differences existing in what mothers teach their children about sexuality and reproduction. They found that although mothers reported talking to their daughters about reproduction, morality, and romantic relationships, they did not feel comfortable discussing the pleasure aspect of intercourse or the topic of sexual abuse (Martin & Luke, 2010).  Having a solid foundation of sexual knowledge may influence later sexual function.  Fungl-Meyer, Oberg, Lundberg, Lewin, and Fungl-Meyer, Axel, (2006) in studying age and sexual dysfunction, found that the group of women who had good orgasmic function had less to do with age and more to do with their sexual history and feelings about being sexual.  Another important factor is for men to be educated. A study conducted by Gonzalez, Cali, Viafara, Molina, and Ortiz (2006) found that including men in the education about women’s feelings toward sexuality could help improve female sexual satisfaction.

Importance of Female Orgasm

            Sexuality has many aspects, with orgasm being just one of them, but research suggests orgasms increase life, partner, and sexual satisfaction, and greater mental health benefits (Brody & Weiss, 2011).  Though research finds female orgasm to be highly beneficial, this is not a widely supported concept. “…sexual pleasure and empowerment have often been understood to be male prerogatives, while social norms have discouraged female agency or autonomy, especially with regard to women's sexuality” (Pick, Givadudan, & Kline, 2005). Pick, Givadudan, and Kline (2005) assert that with progressive sexuality education and open communication, there will be enormous potential for women to responsibly pursue sexual pleasure, and thereby benefit their mental health and physical well being. 

            With the support of past research conducted concerning education, sexuality, orgasm, and women, the intent of the present study is to find a correlation between vague genital labeling and incomplete sexual education in regards to low rates of female orgasm. Variables of interest include what kind of bodily/sexual education daughters received from mothers and the school district’s sex education program and participants’ experiences with orgasm and overall sexual experience, and attitudes regarding sexuality, openness, and ability to achieve orgasm. The present study’s hypothesis is that there is a correlation between vague genital labeling and incomplete sexual education with regards to low rates of female orgasm. The research design will include an anonymous questionnaire and participants will be sexually active, heterosexual women aged 18 to 75.

Works Cited

Brody & Weiss. (2011). Simultaneous penile–vaginal intercourse orgasm is associated with satisfaction (sexual, life, partnership, and mental health). Journal of Sexual Medicine, Vol 8. Retrieved February 15, 2012 from Academic Search Premier (2011-04033-0140).

Brody & Weiss. (2009). Women's partnered orgasm consistency is associated with greater duration of penile-vaginal intercourse but not of foreplay. Journal of Sexual Medicine, Vol 6. Retrieved February 15, 2012, from Academic Search Premier (2009-00085-019).

Brody & Weiss. (2010). Vaginal orgasm is associated with vaginal (not clitoral) sex education, focusing mental attention on vaginal sensations, intercourse duration, and a preference for a longer penis. Journal of Sexual Medicine, Vol 7. Retrieved January 26, 2012 from Academic Search Premier (2010-16175-020).

Fugl-Meyer, K., Oberg, Lundberg, Lewin, & Fugl-Meyer, A. (2006). On Orgasm, Sexual Techniques, and Erotic Perceptions in 18- to 74- Year-Old Swedish Women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, Vol 3. Retrieved February 15, 2012 from Academic Search Premier (2006-00557-006).

Gozalez, Viafara, Caba, Molina, Cemera, & Ortiz. (2006). Libido and orgasm in middle-aged woman. Maturitas. Retrieved February 15, 2012 from Academic Search Premier (2006-01070-001).

Martin, K., & Luke, Katherine. (2010). Gender differences in the ABC’s of the birds and the bees: What mothers teach young children about sexuality and reproduction. Sex Roles. Retrieved January 26, 2012, from Academic Search Premier (A48746743).

Martin, K., Veduzco, B.L., Torres, J., & Luke, K. (2011). Privates, pee-pees, and      coochies: Gender and genital labeling for/with young children. Feminism & Psychology. Retrieved January 26, 2012, from Academic Search Premier (A64079949).

Pick, Givaudan, & Kline. (2005). VIII Sexual Pleasure as a Key Component of Integral Sexual Health. Feminism & Psychology. Retrieved February 15, 2012 from Academic Search Premier (2005-00948-008).