And if we are so inclined to do it, than why not make it satisfactory?
Sexual assertiveness (SA) describes the degree to which one feels capable of expressing one's sexual needs and desires to a sexual partner and is predictive of higher sexual satisfaction and body comfort (Fletcher, personal communications). Current research has shown that as a women's sexual assertiveness increases the relational satisfaction for both partners also increases (Green & Faulkner, 2005). In a further examination of female sexual assertiveness, researchers have examined how feminist identification could affect females' expectations of her partner and her sexual experience. Yoder, Perry and Saal (2007) found that a strong commitment to feminist identity predicted female expectancies of egalitarian partnerships and higher self-reports of sexual assertiveness. In contrast, women who had a non-feminist identification self-reported lower levels of sexual assertiveness and an increased vulnerability to risky sexual behaviors.
Although these findings may not seem surprising--empowered women feel sexually empowered--not every women self-identifies as a feminist nor feels empowered. If feminist identity is significantly, positively correlated to increased sexual assertiveness, and sexual assertiveness is predictive of higher sexual satisfaction and body comfort, then let me say what we're all thinking...
"let's all be feminists!"
However the task is not that easy. In a society where woman are constantly exposed to the "ideal" female and unrealistic expectations about sex and sexuality through the media, being a feminist can seem intimidating, especially when there's the social stigma of being an "angry man-hater". In order to promote female empowerment, the discourse surrounding female sexuality behaviors needs to be empowering towards young girls. So you may be asking yourself, how can we promote healthy sexual communications for women to make women feel more agentive in their sexuality behaviors?
How can the discourse surrounding female sexuality behaviors help women to communicate what they want and need from sexual partnerships? What resources (peers, institutional, familial) resources need to be made to females (and when) to encourage agentive behaviors? What role can men play in encouraging female sexual assertiveness?
In a quest for sexual satisfaction and communication and feeling comfortable in our own skin and between the sheets, we need to think about ways that the discourse surrounding female sexuality behaviors can foster female empowerment. Maybe the answer is the fourth wave of feminism, and in making a splash, perhaps the ladies will be excited about getting wet (pun, totally intended).
-Rachel P.
References
Fletcher, K. (2014, April). Sexual Assertiveness. Lecture conducted for Kalamazoo College: Psychology of Sexuality.
Greene, K., & Faulkner, S. L. (2005). Gender, belief in the sexual double standard talk in heterosexual relationships. Sex Roles, 53, 239-251.
Yoder, J. D., Perry, R. L. & Saal, E. I. (2007) What Good is a Feminist Identity?: Women’s Feminist
Identification and Role Expectations for Intimate and Sexual Relationships. Sex Roles, 57, 365-372.
Overall I find this subject to be interesting because personally I do not identify strongly to the feminist culture (for multiple reasons), but I also feel very assertive and very powerful. I think it has a lot to do with upbringing and social factors rather than just whether or not we identify specifically as a feminist (not to say that's all that's being said here), but I do see how being a feminist can be very empowering and can correlate to a higher (fill in the blank here). I definitely see individualism as a player, but to me individualism does not necessarily mean feminism (speaking about women). I think it's a combination of a lot of things that may or may not include feminism for certain people. But I do see the connection that probably holds true and means a lot for some women out there.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the only people who aren't feminists are those who truly do not believe in equality between sexes. Although people choose to identify under different terms that is what being a feminist means. I think that in order to break the social taboo of female sexuality we need to start with masturbation. I have heard countless times by women that they are not satisfied with their current sexual experiences but they don't know how to fix it. Usually it is because they don't know what feels good for them because they don't masturbate. In my opinion, it is hard to ask for what you want and enjoy sexual encounters if you don't understand your own body. I'm not saying this isn't possible. But even in cases where this has been true for people in my life, masturbating dramatically increased their sex life with their partners.
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