There's no time like the present to launch a movement for "orgasm equality." This week, the FDA approved female Viagra — arousing (ahem) serious discussions about female sexual pleasure — and megastar Nicki Minaj spoke out in Cosmopolitan about demanding orgasms from her partners. This confluence of events is no accident. When the desires of the medical establishment and the pop pantheon coincide, who are we to question? It's no doubt a long overdue sign from the god(desse)s that orgasm equality is a directive to which we should all submit.
In her cover Cosmo cover story, Minaj is quite candid about her views on reciprocity: "I demand that I climax. I think women should demand that." She then goes on to reveal how she spreads her sexual gospel to others in need. "I have a friend who's never had an orgasm in her life. In her life! That hurts my heart...We always have orgasm interventions where we, like, show her how to do stuff." Like Minaj, we all know someone (male or female) for whom the female orgasm is a stranger. Other feminist heavyhitters (like Jessica Valenti) are already on board, so in the spirit of gender equality and pleasure for all, here are five reasons why orgasm equality should be a real movement.
1. To encourage women to take charge of their pleasure
Sometimes sex can be a little DIY, as in: you have to do-it-yourself to know how to do it with someone else. Having the confidence to get yours — and ask for it loudly (or in a sultry whisper or baby talk or whatever the hell you're into) — is a feminist act.
2. To encourage men to learn more about female pleasure
It's not like getting a woman off is rocket science...wait, actually, sometimes it is. Every body is different, and some bodies require more precise techniques, intense studying, and communication to figure them out. For every girl out there doggedly working on her gag reflex, there should be a guy who is perfecting his tongue techniques.
3. To encourage communication
It's been over 15 years since Salt 'N Pepa released this hallowed jam/public service announcement, but their message is vital as ever. If two (or more) partners can talk about sex and what they're each putting into it (and getting out of it), we'll all be one step closer to bedroom gender equality, which can only help the situation outside the sheets.
4. To encourage better sex
This might be the best and most basic reason of all to make orgasm equality an actual movement, because everyone deserves to climax. Hetero folks are the ones most suffering from subpar sex, so anything to balance the scales and up the pleasure quotient for a large portion of the population is a good thing.
5. To encourage the idea that pleasure is a right not a privilege
Many people consider sex a secondary problem since we're still fighting for equal pay and reproductive rights and the like, but if you ask me, equality starts in the bedroom. Sexual activity is a time when men and women are at their most vulnerable, so if feminist thought can um, penetrate this area in the form of orgasm equality, who knows what (or who) will come next? If women are encouraged to advocate for their own pleasure more, and men are encouraged to ask about their partner's pleasure more, there will undoubtedly be an increase in respect and understanding across the board.
Images: Giphy (4); YouTube
