Women's sexual desire: a feminist critique.
This paper offers a critical feminist analysis of the biomedical conceptualization of women's sexual desire. The five major features of the biomedical model of female sexual desire examined and critiqued are: 1) use of the male model as the standard, 2) use of a linear model of sexual response, 3) biological reductionism, 4) depoliticalization, and 5) medicalization of variation. A "New View", an alternative to the biomedical model, is offered for reconceptualizing women's sexual problems. This analysis concludes with recommendations for feminist-based biopsychosocial research.
Wood
Jill M
JM
Women's Studies Program, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. jmw193@psu.edu
Koch
Patricia Barthalow
PB
Mansfield
Phyllis Kernoff
PK
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012922:Social Change; D013240:Stereotyping; D016387:Women's Health; D014933:Women's Rights