Equity and Orgasms Flashcards
(25 cards)
describe 4 characteristics of the physiological view of orgasm
- muscular contractions/tension
- high blood pressure, rapid breathing, flushed skin
- in men/penis: ejaculation of semen
- “climiax”
describe 3 characteristics of the social constructionist view of orgam
- people learn what to feel in sex, like other social situations
- “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
- only in the meaning/interpretation of sensations do they become sexual in a social sense
how did the people of Inis Beag view sex?
- 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
how do we know that there is a social expectation that orgasm must occur during sex?
because if it doesn’t happen, we assume something went wrong
what are consequences of the expectation that orgasm must occur during sex?
- 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
is repeated sexual stimulation and excitement not relieved by orgasm harmful to health?
- 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
which kind of people are less likely to have an orgasm when they have sex?
- young and inexperienced
- with a new, unfamiliar partner
what does research show about women who have more orgasms?
they are more happy with their sex lives
what did australian research show in the differences between men and womens orgasms?
- 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
describe the double standards that exist between womens vs mens orgasms
- 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
what is the “coital imperative”?
the belief that “real sex” in penile-vaginal intercourse
what is the difference between homosexual men vs heterosexual men’s views on sex?
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
what is “coitus reservatus”?
when a man avoids orgasm as to prolong intercourse and avoid pregnancy
describe the expectations of male orgasm in the Oneida Community in the USA during th 19th century
- 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
what is “coitus interruptus”?
sexual intercourse where the penis is withdrawn just before ejaculation
what is a “dry” orgasm?
[male] orgasm without ejaculation
how is female ejaculate different from urine?
contains high levels of a chemical that occurs also in male prostatic fluid
how can hormone therapy affect sexual sensations ?
some transwomen may report a change in orgasms from simple and short “boygasms” to complex and extended “girlgasms”
how do heternormative understandings of what counts as sex contribute to the orgasm gap?
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
what are common myths/essentialist-takes that “explain” why men have more orgasms than women?
- men are easier to please, anatomically wise
- men orgasm more easily (women cant/rarely)
- men enjoy sex more
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?
couples in committed relationships tend to engage in a greater variety of sexual activities than in casual sex encounters like hookups
what creates pressure for women to align with male timing and penile stimulation, how so?
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
what are sexual scripts?
the collective cultural norms and shared understandings that guide our behaviours, emotions, and actions during sexual experiences
what is heteronormativity?
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
