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Women’s Experiences of Sexual Pleasure in Ghana

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Abstract

Although sexual intercourse is an important aspect of women’s sexuality, there is little knowledge on how women experience sexual pleasure in Ghana. In this paper we explore how women and men express sexual pleasure and highlight women’s experience of sexual pleasure based on the narratives of 20 women and 16 men. Specifically, we focus on describing how women and men understand sexual pleasure, the factors that stimulate sexual pleasure, and show how women experience it. The interviewee’s expressions of sexual pleasure were symbolic and had both direct and indirect manifestation. Ejaculation was reported to indicate a direct manifestation of sexual pleasure. Screams, facial and other expressions were reported to indicate indirect experiences of sexual pleasure, and were seen to be associated with female sexuality more than male sexuality. Women and men expressed sexual pleasure in a variety of ways (e.g., ejaculation, screaming, “good pain”, treating a partner nicely after sex, asking rhetoric questions during sex, and prolonged sex intercourse) and there were no differences in the meanings both women and men ascribed to sexual pleasure, regardless of their demographic profiles. Women reported experiencing sexual pleasure as their male partners did based on meanings they attach to erotic sensuality as expressed in romance, foreplay, and physical attractiveness. If sex is sexually stimulating (e.g., due to a partner’s agreeable personal hygiene), women would engage in it. Well-intentioned sexuality programmes emphasizing partners’ touching each other for pleasure, as well as educating partners to maintain erotic sensuality is compelling for inducing sexual pleasure.

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Notes

  1. These meanings also pertain to other cultures in Ghana (e.g., the Ga-Dangme, the Mole-Dagbani, etc.).

  2. These expressions also have different meanings depending on the context and the subgroups. For example, the expression among the Anlo can be used in relation to food or other general expressions. Hence, one should exercise caution beyond the interpretations offered in this context. This also pertains to the other languages used in this study, i.e., Twi, Ga, and Hausa.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all the women and men who voluntarily participated in the study. This study was supported by the CODESRIA-Small Grants Programme for Thesis Writing [Ref: SGRT.11/T11] and a Ghana Studies Association Research Grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Men’s Health and Sex Studies, Accra, Ghana

    Daniel Y. Fiaveh

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

    Michael P. K. Okyerefo & Clara K. Fayorsey

Authors
  1. Daniel Y. Fiaveh
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  2. Michael P. K. Okyerefo
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  3. Clara K. Fayorsey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Y. Fiaveh.

Appendix : Demographic Characteristics of Interviewees

Appendix : Demographic Characteristics of Interviewees

Interviewees #

Pseudonyms

Gender

Age

Ethnicity

Marital status

Duration of relationship

Education

Religion

Occupation

#1

Sumaya

F

36

Basaare

Never married

1 year

Primary

Muslim

Seamstress

#2

Fonyeh

M

39

Ewe

Married

10 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Lecturer

#3

Asantewaa

F

43

Asante

Married

8 years

Middle school

Christian

Trader

#4

Memuna

F

35

Mossi

Remarried

2 years

*SSS/SHS

Muslim

Trader

#5

Naa

F

37

Krobo

Remarried

3 months

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Lecturer

#6

Sitsofe

F

31

Ewe

Married

2 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Teacher

#7

Dism

M

25

Ewe

Divorced

2 years

Tertiary: Undergrad

Christian

Social Worker

#8

Dogl

M

28

Asante

Never married

Not in relationship

Tertiary: undergrad

Christian

Medical Doctor

#9

Dzidzor

F

38

Ewe

Never married

2 years

Vocational

Christian

Social Worker

#10

Natuama

M

31

Dagomba

Never married

7 years

Tertiary: Undergrad

Muslim

Consultant

#11

Babaana

M

28

Dagomba

Never married

4 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

Muslim

Civil Servant

#12

Kun

M

28

Krobo

Never married

Not in relationship

Tertiary: Undergrad

Christian

Medical Doctor

#13

Aida

F

37

Fante

Married

11 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Lecturer

#14

Hajia

F

53

Sisala

Married

26 years

Never attended

Muslim

Trader

#15

Zu

F

26

Dagomba

Never married

6 months

Tertiary: undergrad

Muslim

Student

#16

Azetiska

M

33

Sandema

Never married

Not in relationship

Tertiary: postgrad

Christian

Teacher

#17

Akosua

F

32

Asante

Never married

Not in relationship

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Business Woman

#18

Rev

M

67

Asante

Divorced

20 years

*SSS/JHS

Christian

Pub. Servant/Pastor

#19

Uncle

M

73

Asante

Divorced

8 years

Primary (Three)

**Not religious

Retiree

#20

Nuru

M

40+

Ewe

Married

5 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

Muslim

Health Admin

#21

Ante Nurse

F

56

Ewe

Divorced

10 years of divorce

Post Secondary

Christian

Nurse

#22

Oko

M

33

Ga

Never married

1 year

Tertiary: Undergrad

Christian

Student

#23

Koshie

F

36

Krobo

Married

1 year

Post Secondary

Christian

Admin Assistant

#24

Gyamfua

F

25

Kwawu

Never married

6 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Student

R25

Akofa

F

30

Ewe

Never married

2 years

Primary

Christian

Health assistant

#26

Korku

M

33

Ewe

Married

6 years

Tertiary: Postgrad

**Not religious

Teacher

#27

Gustaf

M

42

Gonja

Married

5 years

*SSS

Muslim

Businessman

#28

Baba

M

53

Sisala

Married

10 years

Technical

Muslim

Contractor

#29

Maimagani

M

46

Fulani

Married

12 years

Never attended

Muslim

Traditional Healer

#30

Aduro wora

F

79

Akwapim

Widow

25 years

Never attended

**Not religious

Traditional Healer

#31

Oye-Mansa

F

22

Akyem

Married

4 months

Tertiary: undergrad

Christian

Student

#32

Maame

F

30

Asante

Never married

5 months

Tertiary: Postgrad

Christian

Teaching Assistant

#33

Adwoa

F

33

Akwapim

Married

10 years

Undergrad

Christian

Teacher

#34

Jun

F

31

Ewe

Never married

Not in relationship

Postgrad

Christian

Nurse

#35

Wiafe

M

38

Asante

Never married

2 years

Postgrad

Christian

Businessman

#36

Absu

F

42

Fante

Married

8 years

Postgrad

Christian

Administrator

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Fiaveh, D.Y., Okyerefo, M.P.K. & Fayorsey, C.K. Women’s Experiences of Sexual Pleasure in Ghana. Sexuality & Culture 19, 697–714 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-015-9290-5

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