Female Sexuality: A Comprehensive Guide

The concept and understanding of female sexuality has been of significant interest in years. In this case, a considerable number of people have viewed the body and sexuality of women negatively. This view invites the conception that individuals suppress female sexuality. According to Baumister and Twenge (2002), the development of a civilized society invites the necessity of stifling female sexuality. In this light, a considerable number of women have been living with far less sexual pleasure than they would enjoy without the suppression of their sexuality. They have been feeling that they are not allowed by the society to express their sexual feelings. Based on this provision, it would be vital to look into two theories that focus on the suppression of female sexuality. The milder sex drive and the female control theories focus on the idea that men or women are considered as the fundamental proximal sources of influence towards the suppression of female sexuality.

Suppression Theories 

The two main theories that are considered in tackling the aspect of the suppression of female sexuality differ in terms of the gender that is primarily responsible for the suppression. In this case, either men, women or both cooperate to stifle the sexual desires of women. This view could be used predict that men and women can influence the suppression of female sexuality. The suppression theories considered are inclusive of the milder sex drive and the male control theory (Baumister & Twenge, 2002). These theories account for the idea that suppression can involve dissimilar patterns, motivations and means.

Milder Sex Drive 

This theory focuses on the idea that it is not definite to suppress female sexuality since naturally, females have less sexual desire than men do. For this reason, the theory considers that suppressing female sexuality is an illusion. According to Singh (2005), the male sex drive theory is complementary to the female choice theory in terms of sexual selection. The idea that women have an innate sexual desire than men is controversial based on the inadequacy of explanations regarding the biological predisposition of this argument. It is possible to point out that sexual revolution could be a reflection of the history of the suppression of female sexuality. The indication that female sexuality is shaped by the idea of sexual revolution could be indicative of the idea that female sexuality has been culturally suppressed ( Hislop et al ., 2010). The theoretical provision that Baumister and Twenge (2002) put forth is that women have a milder sex drive than men do, which is a provision that could be considered when arguing that the suppression of the female sex drive is a natural desire of weaker sex.

This milder sex drive hypothesis could be regarded as an alternative since it is conceivably the reason that could be accounted for when arguing that women have a less sexual desire. This reasoning accounts for the idea that women have a more restrained sexual behavior compared to men (Baumister & Twenge, 2002). If this is to be the case, it is possible to posit that women have a lower sex drive that contradicts the primary assumptions that characterize the different accounts of the male control theory. However, it is necessary to indicate that the views are restricted to the idea that the female sex drive is higher or stronger than the male sex drive, based on the concept of cultural suppression that is needed to ensure that female sexuality is controlled. The control has to be within the approximate range that characterizes male sexuality.

According to (Baumister & Twenge, 2002), it is essential for the mild sex drive hypothesis to be used as another explanation considered for some evidence. Even if this theory cannot account for all the evidence of the same, it is possible that it can account for some of the evidence. In this light, it is worth taking account of the fact that it is possible for the male sex drive hypothesis to operate in tandem with the female control theory. In this case, the conjunction sets the foundation for social exchange. In this regard, if women desire more sex than men do, then engaging in the act would involve men doing a favor to the females. On this note, Hislop et al . (2010) take note of the idea that women have to consider rewarding or compensating the men for the action. However, considering the theory that the female sex drive is milder than that of the men, it is possible to determine that a man can consider a woman as a being that has to offer something. For this reason, an individual could argue that a person that desires for less in a relationship has a negotiating advantage.

The Female Control Theory 

According to Baumister and Twenge (2002), the female control theory holds that women are responsible for cooperating to suppress female sexuality. The concept of stifling female sexuality relates to the cooperative as well as goal-directed activities of individuals that might contribute to the beneficial realizations of individuals. This conception disregards the idea that individuals might not have articulated the identified objective or that they might not have made conscious agreements to the goal. History serves the idea that men have been holding a superior as well as social power. If the society worked towards the suppression of female sexuality, it will mean that men will dominate the society, which is a provision that questions the role of women in the society. This consideration accounts for the revisionist approach in history, which assign an active role to women as agents that have genuine influence over the circumstances they experience rather than passive victims of the beliefs of the society.

As it is characteristic of the male control theory, it is essential for an individual to question the motivation regarding why women focus on suppressing female sexuality. One of the fundamental sources of pleasure is sex as well as fulfillment in life. However, when considering the aspect that women are more interested in stifling their sexuality brings forth the notion that they are self-destructive. In this light, it is possible to refer to the social exchange theory to posit that women are more focused on suppressing each other’s sexuality. According to Mark Redmond (2015), the social exchange theory looks into the different exchanges that constitute different parties that offer rewards to get what they want. This theory can be important in analyzing sex regarding the determination of the idea that women desire things that are in possession of the women (Redmond, 2015). For this reason, it is possible to determine that men are willing to offer women something else they desire in return for sex. In this case, men must provide women with money, the security that they might need, attention, respect, or commitment.

The identified provisions point towards the principle of least interests. According to Overall, Hammond, McNulty, and Finkel (2017), this principle contends that when an individual has less desire for a relationship, he or she has a higher power in the relationship. For this reason, it is possible to contend that if a woman desires to have a sexual relationship with a man, he is disadvantaged. In this case, he will have to provide the woman with other benefits that could induce her into having sex with him. This analogy points towards the idea that it is possible for female sexuality to acquire extrinsic motivations (Overall, Hammond, McNulty, & Finkel, 2017). This consideration follows the fundamental economic principle of supply and demand. In this case, when people consider sex as the primary asset that determines the acquisition of other benefits, they are likely to consider the price of sex to be high (Baumister & Twenge, 2002). Just as with any other available resource, the cost of sex is likely to increase with the increase of its scarcity. For this reason, the restriction of its supply to men is likely to be considered as a tactic that many monopolies use in availing their products to consumers. Contrastingly, if sex was readily available, women might be considered to be in a weaker position to make desired demands.

Concerning the arguments above, it would be possible for women to acquire two kinds of benefits related to the restriction of the supply made available to men. The first benefit relates to the extraction of better treatment as well as other desired resources from men (Baumister & Vohs, 2012). This idea follows the assumption that men can do anything to obtain sex, consequently making the minimum effort that is required. This assumption echoes the traditional advice leveled against premarital sex. Based on the social exchange theory, it is possible to determine that there are a considerable number of rewards involved in sex exchanges, which means that men would be willing to offer more things to women to ensure that they have sex. This argument is indicative of the idea that sexual scarcity has a way of improving the bargaining position of women concerning the rewards they are likely to receive.

The other benefit related to the concept of sex supply is that when there is a widespread reduction of the suppression of female sexuality, the risk that a female is likely to lose her male sexual partner to another female reduces ( Hislop et al ., 2010). In history, it is possible to determine that men have been willing to leave one woman for another, primarily because the other woman is sexually appealing. A study by Laumann, Gagnon, Michael, and Michaels (1994) reveals that marital infidelity takes place many times annually, which is a provision that could be considered as a risk factor of marital breakup. This situation could apply to dating couples. For this reason, the extent to which a man can choose to have sex with other women could be regarded as a justifiable concern about losing him. This concern mirrors the image of the threat existing regarding the theory of the male sex drive, which invites the conception of partner infidelity. In the light of this provision, it is possible to consider the male control theory as one that views the female partner as a source of danger. Conversely, the female control theory could be used to determine that other women are a source of danger in a relationship.

The Concept of Female Sexuality and Childhood Sexual Abuse 

The male control and female control theories could be used to indicate that childhood sexual abuse has a negative impact on the experiences of sexual contact in women. In this case, the theories could be linked to the economics aspect of demand and supply. Victims of sexual abuse have associations and memories that relate to a different aspect of sexual abuse (Marendaz & Wood, 1999). Their physiological and psychological responses can affect the associations. In this light, the victims can find it difficult to be physically intimate concerning sexual activities. On the other hand, Hislop et al . (2010) posit that they are likely to have orgasmic disorders. The sexual difficulties can affect the ability of a female victim to sustain long-term relationships. For instance, Lemineus and Byers (2008) contend that the severity of the effect is associated with the individual's maladaptive coping strategies. For example, women that have experienced sexual assault are more likely to involve penetration as well as the use of physical force to avoiding sex and sexual thoughts altogether.

Beth Moore’s (2008), the experience could be used to influence the choices that an individual makes after experiencing sexual abuse. The choice of a woman to have sex after such an experience casts courtship as well as social negotiations based on social exchange, which shifts the emphasis on a woman's sexual relationships. In this regard, the shift in social exchange presumably occurs regarding the time with which the decision of sexual exchange is decided. In this case, man is in a position of providing resources that can enable him to have sex with a woman. Even though this period can be important, the exchange of resources for sex can continue over a particular period during the relationship between the woman and the man (Baumister & Twenge, 2002). However, victims of sexual abuse can be dissatisfied with their sex life, meaning that they are more likely to have trouble with their sexuality. On the other hand, child sexual abuse can affect several key strands in the child's sexual development.

In the exploration of the dynamics that exist within a relationship between a violated child and an individual that sexually abused them, it is possible to determine that the dynamics affect the relationship between the adult woman and her partner. According to Marendaz and Wood (1999), these dynamics are displayed in an abusive relationship, during which an offender could be either a member of the immediate family of a victim or the extended family. Being a trusted person in the child’s life is one of the elements that can be used to determine the degree of affection or caring displayed by the offender. In spite of this provision, it is possible to indicate that religion is a strong force that could lend legitimacy to the concept of sexual suppression. This idea could be attached to the fact that the Bible discourages premarital sex. On the contrary, health and medicine provide alternative justifications that one of the elements that could promote sexual restraint is socializing agents, regardless of the idea that the justifications do not have the moral power that could be invoked by religion.

Conclusion 

To conclude, it is essential to point out that the milder sex drive and the female control theories focus on the idea that men or women are considered as the fundamental proximal sources of influence towards the suppression of female sexuality. The milder sex drive theory suggests that females have less sexual desire than men do, which is an indication that it is not definite that women can suppress their female sexuality naturally. On the other hand, the female control theory posits that women are responsible for cooperating to suppress female sexuality. The two theories could be used to explain the reason for differing sexual expectations between males and females, all of which focus on the cultural provisions of the society and the male and female preferences. The predispositions of women and men regarding embracing their sexuality are also determined by the economic concept of supply and demand. In this case, men are not likely to provide incentives to women when they can readily have sex with them, which is also indicative of the idea that they are likely to offer incentives to women to have sex with them when the women tighten sex supply. However, some of the external elements that can determine the supply and demand for sex are inclusive of the possibility of child sexual abuse and religious provisions.

References

Baumister, R. F. & Vohs, K. D. (2012). Sex Economics, Culture, Men, and Modern Sexual Trends. Society, 49 (6), 520-524

Baunister, R. F. & Twenge, J. M. (2002). Cultural Suppression of Female Sexuality. Review of General Psychology, 6 (2), 166-203.

Hislop, B., Breshears, G., Bruce, K., Davidson, K., & Dockter, C. (2010). Shepherding Women in Pain Real Women, Real Issues and What You Need to Know to Truly Help . Chicago: Moody. 

Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Lemieus, S.R & Byers, E. S. (2008). The Sexual Well-being of Women who have Experienced Child Sexual Abuse. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 32 , 126-144.

Marendaz, L. & Wood, K. (1999). The effects of childhood sexual abuse on female sexuality: A model of intervention. Paper presented at the Restoration for Victims of Crime Conference convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology in conjunction with Victims Referral and Assistance Service and held in Melbourne. Eastern Centre against Sexual Assault.

Moore, B. (2008).  A woman and her god : Life -enriching messages featuring. Nashville, TN: Integrity. 

Overall, N. C., Hammond, M. D., McNulty, J. K., & Finke, E. J. (2017). When Power Shapes Interpersonal Behavior: Low Relationship Power Predicts Men’s Aggressive Responses to Low Situational Power. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 111 (2), 195-217.

Redmond, M. V. (2015). Social Exchange Theory. English Technical Reports and White Papers. 5. Iowa State University.

Roller, C., Martsolf, D. S., Draucker, C. B., & Ross, R. (2009). The Sexuality of Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors.  International Journal of Sexual Health : Official Journal of the World Association for Sexual Health ,  21 (1), 46–60. doi:10.1080/19317610802661870

Singh, R. S. & Kulathinal, R. J. (2005). Mae sex drive and the masculinization of the genome. BioEssays, 27 (5), 518-525.