Exploring Women’s Sexual Pleasure Deficit

Descripción del proyecto

Por qué las mujeres tienen un déficit de placer sexual

El placer sexual es un componente innato de la sexualidad humana. Sin embargo, a lo largo de la historia, la sexualidad femenina se ha desatendido. Es más, las encuestas apuntan a que las mujeres tienen menos experiencias placenteras que los hombres. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos PleasDef se propone averiguar formas de reducir la brecha de placer mediante el estudio del concepto de derecho al placer. Según estudios científicos, el mayor poder que posee el hombre en la sociedad le hace sentirse con más derecho a tener privilegios que las mujeres. Un objetivo de investigación adicional del proyecto es abordar el déficit de placer por vez primera mediante una intervención con la que mejorar la salud sexual de la mujer.

Objetivo

Sexual pleasure is seen as the most important goal of nonreproductive sexual activity and has been recognized as integral to sexual health. When it comes to sexual pleasure, however, women seem to be less likely to have sexual pleasurable experiences than men. Given that women’s sexuality has been largely neglected in research, the present project aims to understand how to reduce the pleasure gap through an investigation into the concept of entitlement to pleasure. In line with the fact that men possess more power in society, research shows that men also feel more entitled to privileges than women. The project aims to examine those gendered patterns in the domain of sexual pleasure. The first work package will address the lack of current definitions regarding entitlement to sexual pleasure. In a further work package we will determine experimentally what contributes to the maintenance of women’s sexual pleasure deficit (e.g. fear of social stigma). A further research goal of the project is to challenge the pleasure deficit for the first time through an intervention that aims to enhance women’s sexual health. The proposed project continues the development of my expertise in the areas of gender, sexuality, and power. During my outgoing phase the University of Michigan and its Psychological Department will provide me with a wide range of training opportunities. I will especially expand my expertise in social-psychological methods. Moreover, my expertise on women and gender issues will be broadened through the close institutional relations with the Women’s studies department at Michigan. Given that the newly acquired skills will be transferred back to my European host institution, the internationally renowned Institute for Sex Research in Hamburg/Germany, the fellowship will essentially contribute to my career development and enable me to become one of the leading researchers on women’s sexuality in Europe.