Are there gender differences in the experience of sexual pleasure? How does sexual arousal work between partners? How can we go beyond the shame and create more openness about sex?

Pleasure is the most important reason to have sex and yet, this has been long ignored. Why is this? And where did the idea that women experience less sexual pleasure than men come from? It is remarkable that men and women experience sexual pleasure differently while their sexual systems work in the same way. There is a very clear pleasure gap in which men experience more pleasure than women.

In this talk, researcher Marieke Dewitte will delve into the world of sexual desire, arousal and orgasm and will discuss the differences and similarities that appear between genders. According to Dewitte, within discussions on the pleasure gap, too much emphasis is being placed on prevention and gender differences. We need a more positive approach. During this Science & Cocktails, Marieke will talk about the implications and how we can achieve more gender equality when it comes to sexual pleasure. In addition, she will also explore sexual pleasure and arousal in romantic relationships. In the sexlab at Maastricht University, Dewitte researches how partners stimulate each other's sexual arousal. Her aim is to challenge shame, taboos and myths around sex and to take us on a journey of her findings on sexual pleasure.

This event is an initiative by the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) with the support of NWA Route 2. Science & Cocktails Amsterdam is presented in cooperation with Paradiso Amsterdam.