International Women’s Day (IWD) is all about celebrating progress, empowerment, and gender equality. Held annually on March 8th, this global event highlights the achievements of women while also shedding light on the challenges that still need to be addressed. Yet, there’s still one area where inequality persists—pleasure. The pleasure gap refers to the disparity between how often men and women experience pleasure, particularly in the context of intimacy. While conversations around gender equality have advanced in many areas, women’s pleasure is still often overlooked, underprioritised, or even stigmatized. It’s time to change that.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is more than just a day of celebration—it’s a movement. It began in the early 1900s as women around the world fought for their rights, from voting and working conditions to equal pay and representation. Today, IWD is marked by global discussions, activism, and events focused on gender equality. Each year, the day has a different theme, addressing key issues affecting women across various aspects of life.
While many aspects of gender equality have seen progress, women’s sexual wellness remains an often-overlooked topic. The right to pleasure is just as important as other rights, yet women continue to face stigma when it comes to openly discussing their own desires and needs.
What is the pleasure gap?
The pleasure gap is a well-documented phenomenon, with studies showing that women are significantly less likely to reach orgasm than men. A variety of factors contribute to this disparity, including lack of education, societal taboos, misinformation, and the lingering effects of outdated attitudes toward female pleasure.
For years, women’s bodies have been discussed primarily in terms of reproduction rather than pleasure. This lack of focus on sexual wellness has led to myths, shame, and an ongoing reluctance to openly discuss female pleasure.
Why does the pleasure gap exist?
The pleasure gap stems from multiple societal and cultural influences:
Lack of education – Sex education often focuses on reproduction rather than pleasure, leaving many people without essential knowledge about their own bodies and the bodies of others. Many people, regardless of gender, are not taught about female pleasure, with topics like the clitoris, vulva, and orgasmic response often ignored in formal education. This leads to a widespread lack of understanding of female anatomy and how pleasure works. The lack of education doesn’t just impact women—it affects their partners too, leading to a cycle where female pleasure is misunderstood, deprioritised, or even dismissed altogether.
Stigma & shame – Talking about female pleasure is still taboo in many cultures, leading to discomfort and misinformation. Women are often made to feel ashamed for expressing their sexuality or for prioritising their pleasure, reinforcing outdated ideas that intimacy should be about fulfilling someone else’s needs rather than their own. This societal pressure can create guilt, embarrassment, or hesitation when it comes to exploring and advocating for personal satisfaction.
Unequal representation – Historically, media and pop culture have reinforced the idea that male pleasure is the default, while female pleasure is secondary. Movies, TV shows, and even literature frequently portray male orgasm as the end goal of intimacy, while female pleasure is often left out of the conversation. This further normalises the idea that women’s pleasure is optional, rather than an essential part of a fulfilling intimate experience. Pornography, in particular, exacerbates this issue by frequently misrepresenting female pleasure, prioritising male gratification, and perpetuating unrealistic expectations. Many depictions in mainstream porn ignore the importance of clitoral stimulation, leading to a widespread misunderstanding of what actually contributes to female pleasure.
Misinformation about anatomy – Many people, regardless of gender, don’t fully understand the importance of the clitoris in female pleasure. The clitoris, for example, is often overlooked in discussions about female pleasure, despite being the most significant organ for female arousal. Many individuals are unaware of its structure, function, or the fact that it extends beyond what is externally visible. This lack of knowledge leads to misunderstandings about what brings pleasure and how to prioritise it in intimate experiences.
How do we close the pleasure gap?
The good news? Change is happening, and there are tangible ways to bridge the pleasure gap:
Prioritising sexual wellness education – Understanding anatomy, pleasure, and what works for each individual is essential. This means advocating for inclusive, pleasure-focused sex education that goes beyond reproduction and provides people with accurate information about anatomy, consent, and communication.
Encouraging open conversations – Breaking the stigma means having honest, shame-free discussions about pleasure. Whether it’s between partners, among friends, or in wider public discourse, normalising these conversations helps to dismantle long-held taboos and create a culture where pleasure is acknowledged and valued.
Normalising self-pleasure – Masturbation is self-care, and exploring what brings you pleasure helps to close the gap. Understanding personal desires and preferences is an essential step in communicating them to a partner, and it helps remove the shame often associated with self-exploration.
Investing in sex toys – There’s never been a better time to embrace sex toys designed with female pleasure in mind.
Demanding equal pleasure in relationships – Open communication in intimate relationships is key to closing the gap. Discussing preferences, boundaries, and desires can lead to more fulfilling experiences for everyone involved. Prioritising mutual pleasure fosters intimacy and ensures that satisfaction is shared rather than one-sided.
Because your pleasure matters
Pleasure should not be a privilege—it should be a right. This International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate progress, challenge outdated taboos, and continue pushing for a world where women’s pleasure is taken as seriously as anyone else’s. Because equality should exist in every aspect of life—including the bedroom.
It’s time to close the gap.
