Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 9. May 4 1981

[Introduction]

Although both men and women orgasm, we receive very different conditioning and training. Most men are brought up to expect (and have) orgasms; women are not.

The male orgasm has been considered as the focus of heterosexual intercourse with the female orgasm an optional extra. Women's sexuality has been defined in terms of male sexuality which has in turn been defined in terms of male orgasm. Women's sexuality defined by men, to benefit men, has been downgraded, repressed, channeled, denied and abused until women themselves have been thoroughly convinced of their sexual inferiority to men.

Women are not taught to view their sexuality as active but as passive. The myth that women's sexuality was dependent on men's was fostered by the separation of orgasms into clitoral ('immature') and vaginal ('mature' and male-dependent). Despite subsequent destruction of this argument, the view that women's sexuality is dependent on men's has persisted. This is compounded by misinformation and ignorance about women's orgasmic potential.

  • Women are multiorgasmic
  • Female orgasm is as much an identifiable entity as male orgasm
  • There are as many varied female sexual responses as there are women.
  • Anatomically all orgasms are centered in the clitoris.

Women's genitals are like women's faces - all of the anatomical parts are there but everyone looks different. The parts may vary slightly in size and position but like your facial features, size and position do not affect functioning. With a hand mirror, find the different parts of your genitals. Locate the outer lips which are covered with pubic hair. The inner lips meet at the top and attach to the clitoris. The clitoris is equal in sensitivity to the head of the male penis. Move back the soft folds of skin over the clitoris (hood) and examine the clitoris. It is the single most sensitive area to sexual stimulation although the whole area is sensitive.