5 figures who have advanced the sexual well-being of women

If you read this blog or have already looked into the history of sexuality , you have noticed that for a long time female pleasure was taboo and shameful.

In laws, in culture, in social relationships, it was complicated to fully experience one's desires and flourish in one's sex life. Fortunately, some women decided to change things and bring positivity to women's sex lives . This article honors the work of five women who have strived to advance female sexuality and pleasure.

Shere Hite

Shere Hite was a renowned American sexologist , author, and researcher. She is best known for her groundbreaking study on female sexuality, The Hite Report.

Published in 1976 at the height of the sexual revolution , this report challenged many stereotypes about women's sexuality and highlighted their true needs and desires.

Hite used open-ended questionnaires to collect data on women's sexual experiences . Shere thus gives a voice to those who had never really been able to express their desires and preferences in a puritanical society.

Following the success of her first report, which sold over 35 million copies, she published a new, expanded edition in 2004. Covering topics such as masturbation , the clitoris, sexuality after menopause, vibrators, orgasm, and relationships with partners , she presents a comprehensive overview of women's thoughts and experiences at a time when sex appears to have been liberated.

Her work has opened a critical dialogue on sexual norms and contributed to the evolution of ideas about female sexuality, emphasizing women's pleasure and autonomy in the bedroom.

After enduring multiple attacks, both for her work and her stances, she renounced her American citizenship in 1995 and took German citizenship.

Simone Veil

French politician and Holocaust survivor Simone Veil played a crucial role in advancing women's rights , particularly through her advocacy for reproductive rights.

As Minister of Health in the 1970s, she led the campaign for the legalization of abortion in France . Her campaign resulted in the adoption of the landmark Veil Law in 1975.

Despite vehement opposition, including personal attacks and threats, she persevered to ensure that women finally had access to safe and legal abortion services . Until then, abortions in France often took place in dangerous and clandestine conditions, exposing women to risks of serious or even fatal complications.

Her efforts not only transformed the legal landscape but also sparked a broader debate on women's autonomy and bodily integrity. Her commitment to women's reproductive rights extended beyond legislation; she emphasized the need for comprehensive health services and supported initiatives to improve maternal health and family planning .

Furthermore, Simone Veil 's presidency and commitment to the European Parliament furthered the cause of gender equality, advocating for policies and legislation promoting women's rights and empowerment across Europe .

Dr. Joycelyn Elders

The first African-American woman appointed Surgeon General of the United States, Joycelyn Elders broke taboos and advocated for progressive public health policies , including comprehensive sex education.

She campaigned for sexual and reproductive education , particularly in African American communities. She criticized incomplete textbooks that claimed only Caucasian women had regular periods, pointing out that Black women did not readily seek out contraceptives due to widespread misinformation.

Despite her crucial work, Joycelyn Elders faced controversy, notably when she suggested including masturbation in discussions on sex education at a United Nations conference.

" Regarding your specific question about masturbation, I think it's part of human sexuality and perhaps it should be taught. But we haven't even taught our children the basics. And I think we've been feigning ignorance for far too long, and it's time to try education. "

This remark caused a debacle and led to his forced resignation by President Clinton in December 1994.

However, her advocacy for sex education and the recognition of sexual rights continues to inspire advocates for women's health and rights to this day.

In homage to her struggle, the sex-positive shop Good Vibrations proclaimed May 28th as National Masturbation Day.  

Betty Dodson

Born in 1929 in Wichita, Kansas, Dodson began her career as an erotic artist before turning to sex education in the 1960s.

She developed the Bodysex workshops in the 1970s to help women connect with their bodies, heal shame, improve their perception of pleasure, and promote self-love. These workshops included guided masturbation sessions where women explored their bodies together to learn how to achieve orgasm alone and with a partner.

Her method, known as the Betty Dodson Method , has helped thousands of women achieve orgasm. In partnership with lawyer Carlin Ross, Dodson organized these workshops for many years. In 2007, a study showed that 93% of anorgasmic women were able to achieve orgasm using her method. 

She is also the author of several books, the most famous of which is Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving, in which she encourages women to discover and take ownership of their pleasure.

Dodson inspires Puissante's philosophy, and her ideas resonate in every new product development. Proof of this is her mention in our magazine , where we discuss the similarities between masturbation and meditation. Simply put, we love her work!

Ovidie

Born Elise Carpentier on August 25, 1980, in Lille, Ovidie is a French director, author, and feminist activist . She first gained recognition as an actress in the pornographic industry. However, she quickly distanced herself from this industry, openly criticizing its flaws.

As a director and writer, Ovidie is committed to defending pornographic creation as a vehicle for sexual liberation when it is produced and distributed ethically. She is a vocal advocate for free access to streaming platforms. Among her most important documentaries are *Sex, the Sexual Life of the French* and *Porn: The Making of a Consumer Product*. In these works, she addresses topics such as ethical pornography , sexual consent, sex education, and gender stereotypes.

A leading author for the sex-positive publishing house La Musardine , she publishes books on sex education and exploring pleasure, including the brilliant Libres! Manifeste pour s'affranchir des diktats sexuels in collaboration with Diglee.

In addition, Ovidie has been an important voice in the #MeToo movement in France , denouncing abuses of power and sexist behavior in the film industry and beyond.

She has also been a lecturer in master's programs at the University of Limoges for several years, teaching courses on documentary filmmaking.

This selection of five figures who have contributed to promoting women's sexual well-being is, of course, not an exhaustive list. We could also mention personalities such as Audre Lorde, Virginia Johnson , and many others. We can draw inspiration from their determination to take action ourselves, by asserting our desires and sharing accurate, positive, and inclusive knowledge about women's sexuality. This can begin by sharing this blog or speaking out on social media.