Some people (let's just say "women") were offended by the most recent studies on the female orgasm. They basically argue that the female orgasm is simply a byproduct --albeit an excellent one-- of the male orgasm. In the same way that our bodies develop similarly in the womb, women are born with many of the same erectile and stimulative tissues that men have (smaller, but still there). Our nervous systems operate fantastically similarly as well. Therefore, women can orgasm because we have the same biological ability to.
Ok, so that explains the HOW. But what can explain the WHY?
Some of the conflicting theories of WHY females orgasm are common-sense. One is that the pleasure it brings motivates women to have more sex, which would in turn lead to more offspring (yay more babies!!). This could also lead to sperm competition if "good" sex encouraged females to have sex with multiple male partners. Another is that it reinforces feelings of love and intimacy. This is supported by the hormones that are released (such as oxytocin). However, species that are even more promiscuous than humans still experience orgasm (many primate species) so that doesn't hold up well either. A third is the humorously named "sperm upsuck" theory wherein uterine contractions draw sperm upward. Recent research has shown that this theory probably doesn't hold up.
I think the most promising theory is that the ability (or mystique) around the female orgasm is cultural. We live in a puritanical society where talking about sex (and especially the enjoyment of sex -- not just for reproduction) is frowned upon, shushed, and tucked away behind closed doors. You've heard politicians say they don't care what people do "in the privacy of their own homes," right? There's a male-centric focus to sex in the US that glorifies the male ability to invade and conquer. The general attitude toward women having sex is that they are present to satisfy their male partner. Therefore, their satisfaction is simply a byproduct. If it happens, great (that guy's a superhero) but if it doesn't, eh, no harm no foul. Obviously more recently there are trends toward products meant to help women achieve the same pleasure as men. However, I don't view that as anything other than marketing ploys to sell products. Admitting the female orgasm is just as real and likely as that of males would be to admit that sex is for more than reproduction. And that seems like a lot to ask of a society that still doesn't fully understand the need for birth control and sex education.
My favorite part of researching this article was that one of the top search results was an article titled something like "The Female Orgasm: Proof that God Exists" because science can't yet explain it. I think that aptly sums up my arguments about our society.
My favorite part of researching this article was that one of the top search results was an article titled something like "The Female Orgasm: Proof that God Exists" because science can't yet explain it. I think that aptly sums up my arguments about our society.
A TED lecture by Mary Roach: 10 things you didn't know about orgasm
Jex, another possibility is that science can't "explain" the cause of female orgasms because they have evolved to be opaque to predictable causes as an "organ of discrimination" or mate-selection mechanism. I recently wrote an article and blog post about this as well, and also referenced the "Proof of God" crackpot (San Francisco represent!) which might ironically actually have something to it. Check it out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bababrinkman.com/looking-for-god-in-the-female-orgasm/
So going off idea #5... the absence of female orgasm leads people to the belief that it's a mysterious, potentially unattainable thing blamable on a higher power (science or lack thereof even)?
ReplyDeleteGah, now I am intrigued by the religiosity factor of it all and how much correlation/causality is attributable to WHICH religion, culture, etc.