Sex has so many benefits to your health including improved heart health, reduced stress (stress can literally cause so many health issues), better focus and memory, boost your immunity, lower blood pressure, increased intimacy in a relationship and more!
Despite these amazing benefits, only 5% of women talk to their doctor about sexual concerns. It's not uncommon for women especially to feel guilt and shame around sex. If you're experiencing pain, discomfort or having difficulties reaching orgasm, it can be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about it. It's important to advocate for yourself because you deserve to feel comfortable during sex. The uncomfortable and awkward feelings around sex can be complicated.
Women are often feel embarrassed or ashamed to speak up about their sexual needs. This is a symptom of a larger societal issue. Within the patriarchy, female pleasure during sex is often ignored and disregarded (female orgasm gap). This is especially common in patriarchal religious communities, which often discourages women from liberation through shaming and suppressing their sexual desires. In many of these religions, women who have sex before marriage are seen as "impure" and they are often looked down on in religious communities. With religion being so widespread, this not only affects people from religious backgrounds, it also has impacts on government politics and societal views.
Historically the patriarchy has weaponized the use of religion to control women and control the narrative around reproduction. From the concept of monogamy/marriage, to lack of reproductive healthcare and in recent years, the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This concept of controlling the narrative around reproduction has also been used to oppress and incite hatred towards members of the LGBTQ+ community. The religious community rejects anyone who doesn't produce more church members, ("be fruitful and multiply.") This is essential to understanding the intersection of patriarchy/religion/capitalism, as each of these systems reinforces the other. Religion encourages more reproduction, which benefits the patriarchy through controlling women and thus controlling birth rates, which reinforces the power of the capitalist the ruling class (bourgeois). Essentially, religion and the patriarchy work to produce human capital (and increased spending from the working class) thus benefiting the ruling class.
Many women have feelings of guilt, embarrassment or hesitation to talk about sexual dissatisfaction. Even women who are comfortable with their sexuality may subconsciously feel embarrassed or awkward talking about sex. When we speak up about dissatisfaction in our sex life, we are rejecting the patriarchal view of sex. These conversations might be difficult but they are essential to being in tune with your body and supporting your health.
You can reject the patriarchal views of sex by embracing female sexual desire as a connection to the divine and a radical expression of femininity.
In a macro level, you can donate to abortion funds and support reproductive justice initiatives to help your community reach liberation and freedom from patriarchal oppression.
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