This document discusses sexual pleasure from a variety of perspectives. It begins by asking participants to write down what sexual pleasure means to them. It then discusses sexual pleasure and rights, noting that pleasure goes beyond just orgasms and includes intimacy, acceptance and gender. The document examines myths around gender and sexual pleasure. It also explores research on how developmental assets like autonomy and self-esteem relate to sexual enjoyment. Finally, it discusses addressing sexual pleasure in the context of youth-friendly health services, comprehensive sexuality education, and work with young people living with HIV.

1. From choice, a world of possibilities
Society Sexuality and Pleasure
Maya
Koumanova,
YSAFE CHAIR
Luize Ratniece,
YSAFE

2. What is sexual pleasure?
 Write on a piece of paper
what sexual pleasure
means to you ( whether
you have experienced or
whether it is a fantasy)
 1-3 words
 No name
YSAFE Brussels 2012

3. Sexual Pleasure and Rights
 What is sexual pleasure?
 More than having orgasms
 Intimacy, acceptance, confirmation
 Gender and pleasure
 Are sexual rights there to protect against
pregnancy, rape, disease and violence, or are they
there in relation to eroticism, recreation and
pleasure.
 Is addressing sexual pleasure in our work a luxury?
YSAFE Brussels 2012

4. Public health: us
 Responsible behaviour
 Healthy life styles
 Risks
 Safety
 Morality and ethics

5. Sex Industry
 Enjoyment
 Lust
 Desire
 Pleasure
 Fantasies
 Orgasm

6. History of Sex

8. “A majority (78.5%) of gay and bisexually
identified men reported having used at least
one type of sex, toy, including dildos (62.1%),
non-vibrating cock rings (51.9%), vibrators
(49.6%), butt plugs (34.0%), masturbation
sleeves (27.9%), and anal beads or balls
(19.3%).”
(From: Sex Toy Use by Gay and Bisexual Men in
the United States , 2012)

9. Pleasure and srh health: strange bed
partners?
Some evidence on positive
relationship between sexuality
and health:
 Contraceptive use and
sexual enjoyment
( Rademakers e.a)
 Breaking gender roles and sexual
enjoyment
( USA Bureau of Labour Statistics)

10. Research “The Association Between
Developmental Assets and Sexual
Enjoyment Among Emerging Adults”
Galinsky & Sonnenstain
•Autonomy
•Self Esteem
•Empathy

11. How do we think and feel about sex and
pleasure?

12. MYTHS?
YSAFE Brussels 2012

13. MYTHS?

14. MYTHS?

15. MYTHS?

16. Myths on gender and sexual pleasure
 Good sex should always be spontaneous
 Good sex should always end in an orgasm
 Good sex is the same as intercourse
 For good sex you need an erection

17. Love and sexual pleasure
 Romantics: do you refuse a life without passion; you
never give up on true love. So every time desire does
wane, do you believe that love is gone?
 Realists; do you think that enduring love is more
important than hot sex, and that passion makes people
do stupid things. It’s dangerous, it creates problems,
and it’s a weak foundation for a relationship. So for you
love is more important than sex. The initial excitement
grows into something else — deep love, mutual respect,
shared history and companionship. Diminishing desire is
inescapable.

18. What is sexy

19. What is fun
Adam Mager

20. What is sexy: Pleasure Project

23. IPPF’s work
on
Sexual
Pleasure

24. Sexual pleasure in our commitment
to young people’s sexual rights
 Sexuality is an integral of
being human for all
young people
 Sexuality and sexual
pleasure are important to
young people regardless
their reproductive desires
 All young people have the
right to freely and fully
experience sexuality and
gender in a pleasurable,
healthy and satisfying
way.

25. Sexual pleasure and youth friendly
services
A Youth Friendly Health
Professional:
 Accepts young people
as sexual beings
 Listens and respects
the experiences of
the young person
 Avoids moralizing
 Helps to understand
what sexual pleasure
is

26. Pleasure in comprehensive sexuality
education
 Anatomy and sexual
pleasure
 Sexual expression and
enjoyment
 sexual consent and
sexual coercion
 Creating mutual
respectful and
responsible
relationships

27. Sexual Pleasure and young people living
with HIV

28. Addressing sexual pleasure with
young people
 It is not just about behaviour itself but what it
means to the person(s) involved
 Consider the social context in which sexual
behaviour takes place
 Have an inclusive approach: sexual orientation as an
essential part of oneself
 Address both sexual enjoyment and sexual abuse
 Make safer sex more attractive and pleasurable as
unsafe sex

29. Finally….
 Recognize the importance of sexuality
 Take an inclusive, gendered and positive approach to
sexuality
 Recognize the links between different sexuality issues.
Support integrated approaches to sexuality
 Go beyond rights to be free from violence, to support
positive rights and rights to pleasure as well
 Draw inspiration from and connect with the exciting
initiatives already happening!

30. Thank you!
Have a sexy and pleasurable day!!!!