What does research say to support the importance of pleasure in the LGBTQ community?
Velvet Psychotherapy Collective is rooted in pleasure focused sex therapy. This means that we view sexual pleasure as a fundamental aspect of human life. We believe that it plays a crucial role in overall well-being. Research on sexual pleasure is limited despite how important it is to the human experience. Even more, the importance of sexual pleasure within the LGBTQAI+ community is often overlooked, despite its significance in promoting positive sexual health outcomes. Let’s dive into recent research on the subject, highlighting the importance of sexual pleasure in the LGBTQAI+ community and the factors influencing it.
In a study titled "Sexual Pleasure Matters (Especially for Women) — Data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD)", researchers Klein, Laan, Brunner, and Briken emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventing negative sexual health outcomes1. They found that women reported less sexual pleasure than men, and sexual pleasure was associated with more sexual health indicators in women than in men. This study underscores the need for comprehensive sexuality education programs focusing on positive aspects of sex, such as sexual pleasure and agency.
Another study, "Pleasure please! Sexual pleasure and influencing factors in transgender persons: An ENIGI follow-up study", explores sexual pleasure in transgender persons2. Researchers Gieles, van de Grift, Elaut, Heylens, Becker-Hebly, Nieder, Laan, and Kreukels found that lower age, current happiness, and genital body satisfaction were associated with a higher tendency to experience sexual pleasure. This study highlights the importance of considering individual factors when discussing sexual pleasure within the transgender community.
In the paper "In Pursuit of Pleasure: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Sexual Pleasure and Gender", Laan, Klein, Werner, van Lunsen, and Janssen present evidence for gender similarities in the capacity to experience pleasure3. They argue that sexual activity is less pleasurable and associated with greater cost for heterosexual women than for heterosexual men, even though they do not differ in the capacity for sexual pleasure. This research calls for a more critical discourse on sexual pleasure to create awareness of current inequalities and help lift restrictions for women's opportunities for pleasure.
Lastly, the study "Exploring Intersectional Variations in Sexual Pleasure, Sexual Autonomy, and Important Correlates" by Alarcão, Stefanovska-Petkovska, Candeias, and Pascoal explores intersectional variations in sexual pleasure, sexual satisfaction, and distress4. The study found that sexual autonomy was positively associated with sexual pleasure among both Cape Verdean and Portuguese women and Portuguese men. This research emphasizes the importance of sexual autonomy in experiencing sexual pleasure.
So what does this all mean? The importance of sexual pleasure within the LGBTQAI+ community cannot be overstated. It is crucial for promoting positive sexual health outcomes and overall well-being. However, various factors, including gender, sexual autonomy, and individual characteristics, can influence the experience of sexual pleasure. I believe that comprehensive sexuality education and critical discourse on sexual pleasure are necessary to address these factors and promote sexual health within the LGBTQAI+ community.
Footnotes
Klein, V., Laan, E., Brunner, F., & Briken, P. (2022). Sexual Pleasure Matters (Especially for Women) — Data from theGerman Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD). Archives of Sexual Behavior. DOI: 10.1007/s13178-022-00694-y ↩
Gieles, N., van de Grift, T. C., Elaut, E., Heylens, G., Becker-Hebly, I., Nieder, T., Laan, E., & Kreukels, B. (2022). Pleasure please! Sexual pleasure and influencing factors in transgender persons: An ENIGI follow-up study. International Journal of Transgender Health. DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2022.2028693 ↩
Laan, E., Klein, V., Werner, M., van Lunsen, R. V., & Janssen, E. (2021). In Pursuit of Pleasure: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Sexual Pleasure and Gender. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2021.1965689 ↩
Alarcão, V., Stefanovska-Petkovska, M., Candeias, P., & Pascoal, P. (2022). Exploring Intersectional Variations in Sexual Pleasure, Sexual Autonomy, and Important Correlates. Social Sciences. DOI: 10.3390/socsci11110496 ↩
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