A book (📕 / 📀 / 🎧) by Mary Roach
The scientific hurdles of getting intimate
Science has been fascinated by sex for centuries, but studying it has not been easy. In exploring the penis, vagina, orgasm, and erection, researchers have always encountered prejudice. In 1851, American gynecologist James Piatt White got expelled from the medical society for inviting his students to watch a woman give birth. Twenty-four years later, the Gynecological Society condemned his colleague Emo Nograth for speaking about venereal disease. Fear of public opinion, religious beliefs, and political intolerance have long hindered sex research. Although it seems like things should have improved drastically today, they have not. Modern scientists often hide the true meaning of their research by using words like physiological instead of sexual. Such a change guarantees them more chances for funding and reduces the risk of public backlash.
Roach lifts the veil of sex science to reveal the inner workings of innovative researchers who dared to conduct intimate experiments against all odds.
She illuminates various aspects of sex research, including:
- Masters and Johnson’s groundbreaking work on human sexual responses.
- The development of methods to treat sexual dysfunction.
- The role of the clitoris in female pleasure.
- How the intersection of technology, medicine, and culture shapes our understanding of sex.
Roach emphasizes that sex is not taboo and that studying it can significantly improve our personal lives.
So, let’s begin our journey into the science of sex and use its insights to improve our intimate relationships!