THIRST IS A SHORT FILM ABOUT SEXUAL EQUALITY THAT OUTSMARTS SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP USING METAPHORS THAT CANNOT BE FLAGGED OR HIDDEN BY A.I.

For too long, women have been denied the right to access and enjoy their own sexual freedom. Our film follows a woman on a journey of self-exploration as she seeks what previously felt out of reach: pleasure. The film itself follows the rhythm of the sensation of pleasure and the building of a climax, but without using words or images that would trigger social media censorship biased against women’s sexual health. This is a film made to make you feel.

FIGHT SEXIST CENSORSHIP

PLEASURE INEQUALITY

 In our society, there are many inequalities between men and women – and our sex lives are no different. Women on average have fewer orgasms than men – a phenomenon known as the orgasm gap. Studies have found that 95% of straight cisgender men said they usually or always climax during sex compared to just 65% of straight cisgender women. This inequality is thought to be attributed to multiple factors. Because we live in a culture of over-privileging male sexuality and over-valuing penetrative sex, many women don’t feel empowered to explore their bodies or prioritize their own pleasure. Often, women are expected to be recipients of sex to service men, a common theme perpetuated in religion, media, and especially within pornographic content, rather than prioritizing what feels good for themselves. 

Race and ethnicity also play a role in pleasure inequality. There are many complexities, stemming from our country’s history as well as cultural influences, that make navigating the orgasm gap even more complicated as a person of color. For example, racism and religious views have impacted Black women’s sexuality and contributed to shame around their pleasure. In the Latino community, women are often taught to repress their sexuality and to rely on men to be in control of the sexual relationship. While every individual’s experience is unique, it’s clear that taboos around discussing pleasure are pervasive, and lack of knowledge can be detrimental to sexual health and awareness.

WHY PLEASURE MATTERS

The current narrative around sexual health and wellness overlooks pleasure as an important component. Sexual health discussions have traditionally focused on the negative outcomes of sex, like sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual dysfunctions, and unwanted pregnancy. While all incredibly important topics, pleasure matters too! Reframing the conversation to expand beyond just contraception, consent, and protection from STIs, and acknowledging the importance of pleasure for women, can lead to less shame around sexuality. Speaking up about what feels good while also considering sexual health empowers individuals to express what they do and don’t want.

When it is acknowledged and openly discussed that women have the same desire for, and right to, pleasure as men, they are more empowered to take ownership of consent and contraception. New research in public health supports the importance of sexual pleasure for sexual health and sexual rights. Integrating sexual pleasure into public health policies and sex education was found to increase people’s knowledge about sexuality, sexual communication, and safer sex behaviors — all crucial aspects of sexual and public health.

OWN YOUR RIGHT TO PLEASURE

It’s time to change the conversation. All participants in sex, regardless of gender expression or sexual identity, are equally entitled to experience and seek pleasure. It begins with learning and exploring to understand and identify what brings you pleasure.  

Social media has the potential to be a positive tool for sexual education and awareness. There are many products, services, and educational resources available that can help you explore your pleasure, but you may not have access to them because of social media censorship. On social media platforms, companies selling vibrators or pleasure products, and sexual wellness content creators, are routinely censored or faced with the banning of posts and ads, possible suspensions of their company accounts or removal of their social media profiles. Censorship of women’s sexual health content contribute to the “no’s” women hear when trying to take ownership of their sexuality and denies access to information and education that may help them access pleasure.

That’s why we are fighting to ban sexist censorship, and we need your voice. Demand social media change their practices censoring women’s health educational content and promotional posts, so that women can be more informed and empowered to seek pleasure and the benefits it brings.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

  • Dr. Jessie Ford

    Dr. Jessie Ford, PhD is a public health sociologist whose research explores how expectations around gender and sexuality shape sexual pleasure, health and violence. To date, much of Jessie’s research has focused on the way that social forces such as inequality, stigma and power profoundly affect sexual health. She holds a PhD in Sociology from NYU and an MPH from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She currently works as an Assistant Professor at Columbia University. Jessie has published in numerous academic journals and is committed to engaging with the broader public on various sexual health related topics.

  • Tara Michaela

    Tara Michaela is a black, queer sex educator based in New York. Her work focuses on how injustice manifests in sexual interactions, specifically racism. She also explores how stigma keeps us all from being our best selves, pleasure as a form of liberation, and how we can close the orgasm gap. She uses her social media platforms and written pieces to connect with her community on these issues. You can find more of her work on her website www.taramichaela.com, Patreon or her Instagram.

  • Rachel Lotus

    Rachel Lotus is a Brooklyn-based educator, speaker, and consultant who has always found her way to the most honest conversation in the room. Before founding The Talk, Rachel taught middle and high school in the New York City public school system, where she witnessed firsthand the urgent need for better sex ed. In addition to speaking frankly about gender and sex/uality to students, educators, and parents, Rachel also talks often and openly with her own three children, who - like all children - have lots of questions.

  • Madame Namio

    Madame Namio is former dominatrix and stand-up comedian—a dommedian—as well as an artist, writer, model, speaker, and licensed Esthetician. From her sharp-tongued takedowns of social media misogynoir to her various speaking engagements around the east coast, this proud pansexual has worked to amplify the voices of Queer, Black, and Brown survivors and sex workers alike.