Proceedings of The 6th Global Conference on Women’s Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Muscle Memory: Exploring the Sociocultural Factors of Sexual Pain in People Assigned Female at Birth
Grace Beilman
ABSTRACT:
According to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “nearly 3 out of 4 women have pain during intercourse at some time during their lives” (2017). There is a broad lack of research about genito-pelvic pain/penetration (GPP/PD) disorders, especially when it comes to how they are affected by factors outside of biology. This research paper focuses on examining the most common sociocultural aspects that affect sexual pain in people assigned female at birth (AFAB) between the ages of 18 and 30. A survey was completed by 144 participants, 6 of whom participated in structured interviews. My analysis shows a strong impact of sociocultural factors on experiences of pain during sex in participants. Furthermore, I discuss the complex societal and cultural beliefs that contribute to the normalization of painful sexual experiences.
keywords: Sexual Pain, Female Sexual Health, Pelvic Pain, Sexual Dysfunction, Painful