PleasDef | Exploring Women’s Sexual Pleasure Deficit

Summary
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.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/845508
Start date: 01-07-2019
End date: 30-06-2022
Total budget - Public funding: 246 669,12 Euro - 246 669,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

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.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2018

Update Date

28-04-2024
Images
No images available.
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
MSCA-IF-2018