Equity and Orgasms

Question 1

describe 4 characteristics of the physiological view of orgasm

Answer 1

1. muscular contractions/tension
2. high blood pressure, rapid breathing, flushed skin
3. in men/penis: ejaculation of semen
4. “climiax”

Question 2

describe 3 characteristics of the social constructionist view of orgam

Answer 2

1. people learn what to feel in sex, like other social situations
2. “sexual” and physiological not necessarily linked –to be an orgasm we need to understand it in a particular way; orgasms in social context has to be pleasurable
3. only in the meaning/interpretation of sensations do they become sexual in a social sense

Question 3

how did the people of Inis Beag view sex?

Answer 3

• men were naturally more intersted in sex than women
• women were taught that sex with their husbands was a duty to be endured because it was sinful to refuse intercourse
• very shy about nudity, urination, defecation and about heterosexual social interaction
• didn’t have “dirty jokes”
• intercourse takes place with underclothes not removed and orgasm for the man is achieved quickly
• women’s orgasms appeared to be unknown
• other physiological processes such as menstraution and menopause were traumatic for women because local traditions had no explanations for them

Question 4

how do we know that there is a social expectation that orgasm must occur during sex?

Answer 4

because if it doesn’t happen, we assume something went wrong

Question 5

what are consequences of the expectation that orgasm must occur during sex?

Answer 5

• person may feel inadequate for not having orgasm –> faking orgasm rather than admitting they can’t
• a person may feel inadequate if their partner does not have an orgasm –> faking orgasm for the partner’s sake

Question 6

is repeated sexual stimulation and excitement not relieved by orgasm harmful to health?

Answer 6

• people find it irritating and disappointing, and experince a sense of frustration or of “being used” –> some people will learn to avoid sexual arousal all together
• some people don’t place importance on achieving orgasm

Question 7

which kind of people are less likely to have an orgasm when they have sex?

Answer 7

• young and inexperienced
• with a new, unfamiliar partner

Question 8

what does research show about women who have more orgasms?

Answer 8

they are more happy with their sex lives

Question 9

what did australian research show in the differences between men and womens orgasms?

Answer 9

• men: the likelihood of reaching orgasm was 95% as long as it included vaginal intercourse which is regarded to be the standard and expected sexual act that should be included in every heterosexual episode
• women: 70% had an orgasm in the last encounter with a man; however, the likelihood of orgasm depended on the sexual practices – 86% in encounters that included manual stimulation and cunninglingus, 76% if their last encounter was with a woman – women want more foreplay

Question 10

describe the double standards that exist between womens vs mens orgasms

Answer 10

• if the male orgasms fast….man - didn’t get much of a chance to enjoy themselves…women - complains that men are too goal-orientated in sex and see it as a rush toward the reward of orgasm rather than enjoying the sensual pleasures of extended arousal
• if the woman orgasms fast…she’s praised by herself and man for being responisve…but if she immediately turned over to go to sleep, assuming the encounter to be over, even when the man hadn’t had an orgasm would be unusual behaviour

Question 11

what is the “coital imperative”?

Answer 11

the belief that “real sex” in penile-vaginal intercourse

Question 12

what is the difference between homosexual men vs heterosexual men’s views on sex?

Answer 12

gay men do not assume that each sexual encounter will include penetrative intercourse; this usually has to be negotiated and often does not occur – even during anal sex they do not assume that it will lead to orgasm in the insertive partner

Question 13

what is “coitus reservatus”?

Answer 13

when a man avoids orgasm as to prolong intercourse and avoid pregnancy

Question 14

describe the expectations of male orgasm in the Oneida Community in the USA during th 19th century

Answer 14

• every man was regarded as the “husband” of every women, but reproduction was strictly limited
• the men had to learn to have intercourse without ejaculating
• the community believed that spilling of semen led to the loss of men’s energy or strength, so they disapproved of men reaching orgasm by other means than intercourse – men were supposed to lose their erections gradually without having orgasm

Question 15

what is “coitus interruptus”?

Answer 15

sexual intercourse where the penis is withdrawn just before ejaculation

Question 16

what is a “dry” orgasm?

Answer 16

[male] orgasm without ejaculation

Question 17

how is female ejaculate different from urine?

Answer 17

contains high levels of a chemical that occurs also in male prostatic fluid

Question 18

how can hormone therapy affect sexual sensations ?

Answer 18

some transwomen may report a change in orgasms from simple and short “boygasms” to complex and extended “girlgasms”

Question 19

how do heternormative understandings of what counts as sex contribute to the orgasm gap?

Answer 19

know that clitorial stimulation contributes to women having orgasms, but believe that “having sex” = P in V, so penile stimulation gets prioritized over clitorial stimulation

Question 20

what are common myths/essentialist-takes that “explain” why men have more orgasms than women?

Answer 20

• men are easier to please, anatomically wise
• men orgasm more easily (women cant/rarely)
• men enjoy sex more

Question 21

why do women tend to report higher levels of sexual satisfaction and higher rates of orgasms in the context of committed relationships compared to casual sex encounters?

Answer 21

couples in committed relationships tend to engage in a greater variety of sexual activities than in casual sex encounters like hookups

Question 22

what creates pressure for women to align with male timing and penile stimulation, how so?

Answer 22

effects of movies, pornography, myths: many portayals of heterosexual sex do not focus on penile-vaginal intercourse and/or emphasize clitoral stimulation/female orgasm as the main event? the woman’s orgasm is not the main event, and/or wrongfully suggest that women can easily orgasm from penetrative sex

Question 23

what are sexual scripts?

Answer 23

the collective cultural norms and shared understandings that guide our behaviours, emotions, and actions during sexual experiences

Question 24

what is heteronormativity?

Answer 24

the shared belief that heterosexuality is the “normal” expression of sexuality, which shapes gendered sexual scripts –> shapes what we think is “real sex” and values about what kinds of sex are good and right, and what kinds and dirty and suspect

Question 25

what are three implications of the heternormative sexual script/understanding for the orgasm gap?

Answer 25

1. gender differences are naturalized: men have/expect orgasm during sex; women believe that having an orgasm is the purpose of sex for men and necessary for pleasure; women are expected to prioritze emotional/romantic intimacy
2. women’s orgasms take longer: women’s bodies appear harder to please because effective practices are not part of the main event; practices that facillitate a woman’s orgasm are extra; men/women think women need “extra time”; sex ends when the male orgasms
3. practices that facilitate women’s orgasms are bad/innapropriate: not part of regular sex; oral sex, vibrators, sex toys focusing on clitoral stimulation described as morally contentious; normal orgasm “should” occur with penetration; gender hierarchy – men’s pleasure prioritized in sexual scripts