Gary Bellamy
Sheffield University
Background
There are a paucity of studies that address women’s own
understandings of sexuality and sexual problems. Much of the research
and theory which underpin current diagnostic criteria for sexual
problems is based upon a set of sexual norms which are predicated upon
male experience. Moreover, these dominant understandings, entrenched in a
perspective that favours the material body, fail to take account of
contextual factors of women’s experiences.
Objectives
Within a diverse sample of women: to examine understandings of
sexuality and sexual problems; explore the importance of sexual activity
using their own definitions; and identify the influence of wider
socio-cultural factors upon understandings of sexuality and sexual
problems.
Methods
In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with
thirteen women recruited from the general public and ten women recruited
from a psychosexual clinic aged 23-72 years.
Data analysis
Data were analysed thematically using the conventions of template analysis within a material-discursive framework.
Findings
The findings of this study suggest that women’s understandings
of sexuality, sex and sexual problems should be understood as bodily
‘experienced’ and socially and psychologically mediated.
Participants also appear to be influenced by the relational context of
their experience and draw upon a patriarchal explanatory framework to
make sense of their own sexual functioning and satisfaction.
Conclusions
This study poses a challenge to the recent drive to medicalise
women’s sexual problems via the Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) label.
The findings dispute current diagnostic criteria for sexual problems
which presuppose a highly individualized framework and take very little
account of contextual factors. Consequently, this study concludes that
such criteria need to consider biological, social, psychological as well
as patriarchal and historical factors in determining the meaning and
importance to women of sexuality, sex and sexual problems.
End of research section