Faking Like a Woman? Towards an Interpretive Theorization of Sexual Pleasure

Jackson, Stevi; Scott, Sue

doi:10.1177/1357034x07077777

Cited by 94 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…But depth of data -one of the advantages of qualitative methods -was sacrificed, and, despite our attempts to create open questions, the survey itself will have guided participants' answers to some extent. Regardless, the patterning identified demonstrates systematic socially-available meanings, suggesting that, to paraphrase Jackson and Scott (2007), even relatively young sexually-active western adults 'know' what the meaning of orgasm (and non-orgasm) is, and experience it thus.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The survey was developed on the basis of a thorough review of the orgasm literature, our broader knowledge of sexuality scholarship, and critical theories around sexuality and orgasm (e.g., Jackson & Scott, 2007;Potts, 2000Potts, , 2002Tiefer, 2004), to fit the specific research aims of this project. Questions were carefully designed to eliminate implicit assumptions or reinforce normative ideas about (hetero)sexuality.…”

Section: The Experiences Of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other reasons around faking orgasm include wanting to appear normal (Bryan, 2001;Darling & Davidson, 1986;Hite, 1976;Shaefer, 1973;Thompson & Muehlenhard, 2003;Wiederman, 1997), enhancing sexual excitement for themselves and their partner (Bryan, 2001;Hite, 1976;Wiederman, 1997), and because orgasm was unlikely (Muehlenhard & Shippee, 2010), and they wanted sex to end (Bryan, 2001;Hite, 1976;Muehlenhard & Shippee;Shaefer, 1973). Orgasm -'real' or 'faked' -is recognized as having a strongly performative element (Cacchione, 2007;Duncombe & Marsden, 1996;Jackson & Scott, 2007;Jagose, 2010), where the required performance -of what sex/orgasm ought to be -is both learned and then necessarily displayed. Cacchione (2007) captured this by theorizing faking orgasm around the concept of 'performance work,' as one of three types of 'sex work' women with sexual 'difficulties' engaged in.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“It Feels So Good It Almost Hurts”: Young Adults' Experiences of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure

Opperman

Braun

Clarke

et al. 2013

The Journal of Sex Research

148

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Opperman, E., Braun, V., Clarke, V. and Rogers, C. (2014) Disclaimer UWE has obtained warranties from all depositors as to their title in the material deposited and as to their right to deposit such material. UWE makes no representation or warranties of commercial utility, title, or fitness for a particular purpose or any other warranty, express or implied in respect of any material deposited.UWE makes no representation that the use of the materials will not infringe any patent, copyright, trademark or other property or proprietary rights.UWE accepts no liability for any infringement of intellectual property rights in any material deposited but will remove such material from public view pending investigation in the event of an allegation of any such infringement. Abstract: Orgasm is a 'goal' of much sexual activity, a source of potentially intense pleasure and fulfillment, yet can be fraught with difficulty or distress. Relatively little social science research has explored people's experiences around, and their meanings related to, orgasm, and indeed other sexual pleasures, especially with young adults. This study aimed to provide a rich exploration of the meanings associated with orgasm and sexual pleasure during sex with a partner, to understand the socialpatterning of orgasm experience. A qualitative survey was used to collect data from 119 sexuallyexperienced British young adults (81% women, mean age 20; 92% heterosexual). A descriptive form of thematic analysis that prioritizes participants' meanings and experiences was used to identify and explore patterns in the data. Five main themes reported here are: 1) orgasm: the purpose and end of sex; 2) 'it's more about my partner's orgasm'; 3) orgasm: the ultimate pleasure?; 4) orgasm is not a simple physiological response; and 5) faking orgasm is not uncommon. These (mostly not gendered) themes demonstrate complex and contradictory meanings around orgasm, but also show meaning to be dependent on situation and context. However, they do resonate strongly with widespread discourses of sexuality which prioritize heterosexual coitus, orgasm, and orgasm-reciprocity.

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Section: Limitations and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: The Experiences Of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

“It Feels So Good It Almost Hurts”: Young Adults' Experiences of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure

Opperman

Braun

Clarke

et al. 2013

The Journal of Sex Research

148

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such a conceptualisation supports Jackson and Scott's (2007) distinction between objectified, sensory and sensate embodiment. However, we feel that in order to theorise …”

Section: The Studymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Jackson and Scott (2007) meanwhile have offered three ways of understanding embodiment itself within sexual relations (objectified, sensory and sensate). At one level, bodies are understood by a person to potentially be objects of desire which can be interacted with in a sexual way (objectified embodiment).…”

Section: The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Bodies and Agentic Practice in Young Women’s Sexual and Intimate Relationships

Maxwell

Aggleton

2012

Sociology

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This paper contributes to theorisations of agency through a focus on how understandings of power within young women's sexual and intimate relationships connect with their descriptions of feeling, reacting and sensuous bodies, to suggest why and how agentic practice takes place. Drawing on the narratives of 54 young women aged 16-18 years in one secondary school in England, findings concur with other literature which suggests that sensations experienced on or within the body can instigate (agentic) practice. Significantly, however, both physical and verbal practices are drawn on during agentic moments. Young women who discursively position themselves as 'powerful' integrate their bodies within such an understanding, using this integration to shore up the possibilities for agentic practice. Moving away from an understanding of practice as 'accommodating' and/or 'resisting' norms and inequalities, this paper identifies four strategies described by the young women (assertive, refusing, proactive and interrogative) for facilitating more sustained agency.

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Intellectual Continuities and New Directions

Scott

2020

British Sociology

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Faking Like a Woman? Towards an Interpretive Theorization of Sexual Pleasure

Abstract: Article:Jackson, Stevi orcid.org/0000-0001-6981-0712 and Scott, Sue (2007) Faking like a woman? Towards an interpretative theorization of sexual pleasure. Body and Society. p. 95.

Cited by 94 publications

References 27 publications

“It Feels So Good It Almost Hurts”: Young Adults' Experiences of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure

“It Feels So Good It Almost Hurts”: Young Adults' Experiences of Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure

Bodies and Agentic Practice in Young Women’s Sexual and Intimate Relationships

Intellectual Continuities and New Directions

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