The Myth of the

Vaginal Orgasm
Anne Koedt

Nhi Ly
WGSS 300 - Feminist Perspectives and Theories
Table of contents
Strengths
Introduction of
01 Author
03 Weaknesses
Blindspots

02 Main argument 04 Applied Theory

● Sigmund Freud and Theory of Sexuality Porn, Female Fake Orgasm,
● Evaluate the myth of vaginal orgasm and and The Perpetuation of the
the challenging of this myth Myth of Vaginal Orgasm
● Women’s claims of achieving vaginal
orgasm prolongs the myth
● The maintenance of vaginal myth reinforces
male dominance and heteronormativity
Anne Koedt
● Anne Koedt is an American radical feminist.
● Connected to the group New York Radical Women
● A founding member of New York Radical Feminists.
● Her work of The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm has
been regarded as a classic feminist work on
women’s sexuality.
 01 Main
Argument
Koedt argues for the redefinition of
sexuality. She urges that we (referred
here as women) “must discard the
‘normal’ concepts of sex and create new
guidelines which take into account
mutual sexual enjoyment” (186).
 Sigmund Freud
● Austrian neurologist who founded the concept and method
of psychoanalysis.
& Theory of
Freud developed in 1905 the “Three Essays on the Theory of
●
Sexuality” Sexuality
● “Freud contended that the clitoral orgasm was
adolescent…The vagina…was able to produce a parallel, but
more mature, orgasm than the clitoris” (186).
● “The Explanation given was that women were envious of
men – ‘the renunciation of womanhood’” (187).
→ Freud’s theory focuses on the view of woman as “inferior
appendage to man” (187)
→ Engender the misconception of female sexual climax
 Men’s awareness of the function of the clitoris

“Men knew that the clitoris was and is the essential organ for
masturbation…Men also seem suspiciously aware of the clitoral powers during

Evaluate ‘foreplay’ when they want to arouse women and produce the necessary
lubrication for penetration” (187)
→ Men chose to ignore to enhance their domination while maintain female
the myth gender roles and expectations and subordination.

of vaginal Presenting scientific & anatomical evidence to

debunk the myth
orgasm → Her analysis of the differences in functions of female vaginal parts allows for
the understanding of how biological, more specifically anatomical differences
between men and women has been exploited by male supremacy, patriarchy,
and heterosexuality to deceive women.
→ The revealing of the rationale behind the upholding of the myth of vaginal
orgasm by men has again reaffirmed has perpetuated the male supremacy over
women and their bodies
Why women claim achieving vaginal orgasm?
Confusion
● Lack of knowledge on female anatomy → associate orgasm during sexual intercourse as vaginal
orgasm
● Causes of this confusion
○ the failure to locate the center of the orgasm
○ the desire to comply with the “male-defined idea of sexual normalcy”
Deception
● “The vast majority of women who pretend vaginal orgasm to their men are faking it to… ‘get the job’”
(188)
● “So as not to offend his ego, the woman will comply with the prescribed role and go through
simulated ecstasy” (188)
● Provoke two issues
○ “…women were simply afraid to establish their right to equal enjoyment, seeing the sexual act as
being primarily for the man’s benefit, and any pleasure that the woman got as an added extra”
(188)
○ “the women were told to blame themselves…for she is told by her analyst that not even in her
one role allowed in a male society – the role of a woman – is she successful” (189).
 Why women claim achieving
vaginal orgasm? (cont.)
→ This examination reveals the detrimental effect of heterosexuality and male
supremacy
→ The establishment of the “normal” standards of sexual pleasure that solely benefits
men and overtly or covertly enforce women to comply to this normalcy
→ Thus, the myth of vaginal orgasm not only reinforces the destructive systems of male
supremacy and heteronormativity which exacerbate female subordination, but also
hinders the realization of the core issues of women’s inability to achieve orgasm.
→ WEAKNESS: the binary categorization of “good” vs. “bad” women based on how they
obtain orgasm.
❏ What are other critiques for this argument of Koedt?
The maintenance of the myth reinforces
male dominance and heteronormativity
● Sexual penetration is preferred
● The Invisible Woman
● The penis as epitome of masculinity
● Sexually expendable men
● Control of women
● Lesbianism and Bisexuality
→ The prolonging of the myth of vaginal orgasm establishes heterosexuality as the
ultimate structure of sexuality, as well as ensures male dominance over women
→ the redefinition of female orgasm based on female anatomical
evidence rather than the ideals of proper womanhood will challenge the
existence of the vaginal orgasm as well as the understanding of frigidity
as women’s rejection of the female sex role
→ the reaffirmation of the clitoris as the center of female orgasm also
exposes the destructive structures of male dominance and
heterosexuality that aim to oppress women and their sexual freedom, as
well as reject other forms of sexuality
→ the links between patriarchy, male supremacy, and heteronormativity
and how they work in tandem to disregard female sexual desires and
thus maintain the women’s existence as subordinating to that of men
 Strengths Weaknesses Blindspots
● Opens up a conversation Push further the argument –
● Too focused on the physical ●
about orgasm and female how the myth of vaginal
aspect of orgasm and not
agency in reclaiming one’s orgasm has allowed for the
enough of exploring the
sexual pleasure structures of heterosexual
mental stimulation
● Challenge the myth of vaginal marriage and monogamy to
● Orgasm is NOT
orgasm and frigidity oppress women?
“one-size-fit-all”
● Showcase the exploitation of
● Reproduces the twofold
biological differences
concept of orgasm
● Encourage women to become
sexual agents that are
responsible for claiming their
own pleasure
● Urge for the reimagination of
heterosexuality as neither
compulsory nor tied to sexual
intercourse
Applied Theory - Porn, Female Fake Orgasm, and
The Perpetuation of the Myth of Vaginal Orgasm

Fake orgasm in
contemporary porn bolsters
the misconception of female
orgasm
● 5 female porn stars
opened up about their
experience on set
→ the myth of vaginal
orgasm is still prevalent
 Applied Theory (cont.)

of 14 to 18 y/o males have viewed pornography

84.4% (according to the National
National Survey of Porn Use,
Relationships, and Sexual
57% of 14 to 18 y/o females Socialization (NSPRSS))

reported believing 53%

A 2021 survey by Rothman et that pornography boys
al. finds that one in four was a realistic
24.5% 18-24 y/o (24.5%) list porn as depiction of sex
the most helpful source to (according to a 2016 39%
learn how to have sex survey by
Martellozzo et al.)
girls
Applied Theory (cont.)

These stats display the

ongoing struggle to
achieve sexual
pleasure,
especially for women
in heterosexual
relationships.

Courtesy of kinkly.com -
https://www.kinkly.com/faking-it/2/18407#rest-of-article
 QUESTION
● In what other context do you see the perpetuation of
the myth of vaginal orgasm in today’s society?
● How can we further advance Koedt’s analysis to help
challenge patriarchal and heterosexual norms and
empower women? (hint: The Erotic by Audre Lorde)
*I use “women” in the context of folks who have female genitalia
THANK
YOU!
 References
ELLE. “5 Female Porn Stars Sound Off On Orgasms.” Last modified February 19, 2015.
https://www.elle.com/life-love/sex-relationships/q-and-a/a26865/porn-stars-sound-off-on-orgasms/.

Kinkly. “Faking It: Our Readers’ Survey Reveals Some of the Reasons Behind Why We Do It.”
Last modified July 20, 2020. https://www.kinkly.com/faking-it/2/18407#rest-of-article.

Martellozzo, E. et al. “'I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it’.” London: NSPCC (2016).
Retrieved from
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/2016/i-wasn-t-sure-it-was-normal-to-watch-it.

Rothman, E. F. et al. “The Prevalence of Using Pornography for Information About How to
Have Sex: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey of U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults.” Archives
of sexual behavior 50, no. 2(2021): 629–646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01877-7.

Sigmund Freud. “Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, 1905 by Freud.” Last accessed
November 2, 2021. https://www.sigmundfreud.net/three-essays-on-the-theory-of-sexuality.jsp.