Female Orgasm - Resources

Question: How could it even be *possible* for society not to have known about the female orgasm until a few decades ago?

(Posted by: Medlam on 2009-12-25 16:34:23)

Apparently women used to suffer from 'hysteria' and 'paroxysms', and need to occasionally be treated by doctors with special steam- powered, vibrating 'manipulator'. But in all this, and in all the millenia of human evolution, how could anyone have overlooked the female orgasm? I mean, I can totally understand men *ignoring* it, but even if every man ever born before the 20th century was hopeless in bed, wouldn't women still discover orgasms on their own? Surely someone must have pointed it out LONG before it became 'established medical fact', no? I ask because I'm writing an erotic story right now, set in the middle ages, and obviously I want to put some real emphasis on my female character having genuine orgasms, but... what? Is she supposed to be *mystified* by this magical feeling? Should the female orgasm be some wondrous discovery that goes against all established fact? Or should it be some special secret known only to women until someone finally told 20th century men that they were doing a bad job? Thanks for the snarky response elpi, but I (obviously, I thought) didn't mean that women DIDN'T HAVE orgasms, I just meant that it was only a few decades ago that it actually became common knowledge. I was questioning how this could possibly have been the case, because I thought that it would have been obvious to SOMEONE... Alright, I've solved my own question. The knowledge of the female orgasm wasn't 'just discovered', it was merely *suppressed* during the Victorian era (what a horrible time!) This page explains it: http:/ / io9.com/ 5142240/ the- biggest- sexology- breakthroughs- of- the- past- 130- years "The Victorian Era had given rise to the myth that women didn't have orgasms, and many medical researchers adopted this idea as truth because it was impossible to prove that women were orgasming the way you could prove men were. " There were even manuals written for the new bride that instructed her to “lie perfectly still and never under any circumstances grunt or groan while the act is in progress�

Posted by: Kelly W on 2009-12-25, 19:24:38

People have known about women's orgasms for FOREVER. as long as recorded history has been around, I'm sure. every culture has written about it- the egyptians, romans, greeks, japanese, etc. The issue I think you are facing it (or question)-- is you are looking at the 19th century's idea of women's sexuality. Basically they weren't supposed to have any. the relief of paroxysms to "treat " hysteria was induced because women were not supposed to have sex unless it was for procreation. men were encouraged to visit prostitutes for their needs, since they were the half of the relationship that was supposed to have needs, but the woman was expected to be stoic and pious, and the rational side. By having a doctor perform the deed, it made it less sexual. there were manuals that instructed doctors on where to place their gaze when doing the job (usually not at the crotch, but in the eyes or on a spot on the wall) and women were fully clothed except for undergarments during this. the hand went up the skirt and a while later, viola. of the first 10 patented electric domestic appliances, the vibrator was one of them. actually, I've never seen a picture of a steam powered vibrator- they would be too bulky. I know there were some that hung from the ceiling, maybe those were. but anyhoo, when writing, try not to mix up your context of one time period and culture and another. the victorian age (when women were first diagnosed with hysteria, fyi) was different from the middle ages. essentially, it wasn't until women weren't supposed to have sex with their husbands that their needs became met by doctors. by removing the actual sex, it was no longer an impure thing. this was also during a time when women were gaining political power (hello earliest suffrage) and by denying sex to their husbands, they could be more in control (no longer the flighty, passionate, romantic, irrational half).

Posted by: elpi on 2009-12-25, 16:47:12

Are you for real? Women have been having orgasms forever. Maybe you should choose another subject to write about; you're clueless on this one.

Posted by: hottylash 903 on 2009-12-25, 17:13:57

Ppl dont care about "society but your write women have been wearing sexy clothing and being so romantic and "soicty " didn't notice but i still kinda dont understand your question

Posted by: 78%sarcastic♥ on 2009-12-25, 23:05:06

Give Kelly the best answer lol she is right.