What exactly is a "Sexually Liberated woman"?

Question

Is it a woman who has sex? Women have done that as long as there have been women. Women who have sex with more than one partner? Women who don't require marriage to have sex? Women who have sex with other men despite being married? Women who enjoy sex?

All of these have happened throughout history.

Women who talk about it openly and make a grand show of being sexual, as if people wouldn't recognize that she was a sexual being otherwise?

If that's what it means, what's the fascination?

Claudia, I certainly don't support using demeaning names for people whose choices differ from my own. I wonder though about giving a name that seems to be a term of praise to such behaviors.

Twilight, why would someone refer to a moral code OTHER than their own? Or does "their own" mean they make the rules up as they go along, which isn't a "code" at all?

Asker, that sounds to me like someone who either isn't very discriminating or who lacks impulse control.

raffy, um... I think sexual ethics go back a bit further than conservative or right wing politics.

Juniper, I tend to agree to this extent: I think mutual respect and trust can make sex more meaningful and fulfilling for both sexes. Marriage or no, being fully with another human being and fully recognizing them as a human being with all that that entails is far richer than what is possible in "casual" encounters.

Lovey, I find that a VERY interesting insight! It would make sense that a sexually more conservative or repressed or simply discrete environment would prompt people to feel they must assert themselves aggressively.

Sigy, good that this "moral code" he spoke of also includes some self-restraint and discretion.

Lioness, respectfully: that sounds like a very eloquent and glamorous description of moral anarchy and a view of the self as somehow existing in a social and cultural vacuum.

Lioness, thank you.

I think we could only go further here by getting into a deep philosophical waters. Perhaps offline sometime, since they go beyond Gender issues.

(I sound conservative sometimes, especially when I am dismissive of "social constructs" and "false consciousness", but in fact, my philosophical views are rather more radical.)

Kate, that's my suspicion actually, but I am certainly open to other views.

Kate, one exception though: society at large only started acknowledging women talking openly about their sexuality at that time, but women did it long before, at least some women.

Lioness, sleep well.
I've no quarrel at all with the notion of owning one's own body (that's why it's your own!) nor with following your convictions. Of course, I concur with such principles. I was only troubled by the suggestion - which strikes me as incoherent - that moral reflection, self-ownership, conscience, et al, have any sense in a social and cultural vacuuum.

Indigo, interesting and , I think, important observations.

sum1, for the record, I am a staunch critic of irresponsible male sexual behavior, so no "double standard" here.

Answer 1

A sexually liberated woman is a woman who has full ownership of her sexuality. Her sexuality is not defined, restrained or tied down by social, cultural or other people's expectations. She is strong enough to determine what her sexual preferences, desires, habits, likes and dislikes are, on her own terms.

A sexually liberated woman can be anything that she wants to be without feeling guilt or obligation to anything or anybody but herself. She can be celibate or she can give it all away to whoever she pleases---her rules are the only rules that matter. There is no shame, embarrassment or guilt involved with her sexuality. That, to me, is a sexually liberated woman.

EDIT: To be sexually liberated as a woman in any society, you have to pretend to somewhat live in a cultural and social vacuum---otherwise, you won't be able to determine your desires independently. It requires you to re-write all the rules to determine what your real preferences are. Contrary to the "popular" belief, being sexually liberated has nothing to do with how much sex or how many partners you have---it makes me laugh when I read all these responses. As a matter of fact, for some women, the more you feel sexually liberated, the less you are attracted to having meaningless sex.

Great question by the way.

EDIT II: I understand your philosophical knowledge and readings are way beyond mine. Although I do know about false consciousness and feel OK discussing it, I really don't think the concept should be that complicated and deep. Basically, I own my body and feel comfortable treating it according to my own convictions and needs---can that just be good enough? :)

Good night all.

Answer 2

Growing up in the mid-west, I used to think it was a woman who spoke openly, making a grand show because I didn't think people recognized me as a sexual being otherwise. Now, I think a sexually liberated woman is one who doesn't feel the need to pretend that she's more or less prudish than she is. She's comfortable and confident being a sexual being, making no apologies or grandiose caricatures (ok, maybe sometimes for fun).

Answer 3

I say to each his or her own, but in most cases people (not just women) who are supposedly sexually liberated are simply people with poor impulse control. So, ironically, these are people who are ruled by their libidos and are therefore slavishly following through on every sexual impulse. I'm reminded of a certain character on Sex and the City who had decided that she would do it like many men have done it for centuries--impersonally, with no expectations of a relationship, with no restraint, jumping randomly and addictively from bed to bed, so to speak.

To paraphrase one answerer here, true liberation would also include the choice to be free of compulsory sex, which our society largely advocates. In other words, for the truly liberated celibacy would also be a viable option. The freedom to say yes would be balanced by the freedom to say no.

Answer 4

1/ Why is there this question?
2/ Is there such thing as "Sexually liberated man"?
Because if from the question and some of the answers, the "Sexually liberated woman" is called as a hoe or wateva lowering their morale (not that I meant to imply all whores are without morale), you are saying that man can go around shoving their dick into any open hole at any given tyme and it's 'ok' and 'will not affect their morale' while the woman can't thrust their vagina(or anal) when they want to? That is just hypocrisy.

Answer 5

I agree with twilight's answer and add that true sexual freedom includes being responsible to your self and who you are with.

BTW sexual freedom also means that you feel free not having sex until you are ready.

Edit Juniper I think you are describing what Some men think or wish was a "sexually liberated woman".

Answer 6

A sexually liberated woman is not necessarily a woman who mounts anything that moves. Rather, she is a woman who has freed herself from the constricts and confines of living behind the stained glass curtain of the sexual repression and guilt brought about by the conservative right (amongst other groups.)

Contrary to popular belief, being sexually liberated does not mean going out to get laid for the purposes of calling yourself "sexually liberated". Rather, it means knowing what your needs are, knowing how to fulfill them and not having to repress them.

Answer 7

I have absolutely no idea.
I believe the term "Sexually Liberated Woman" has its roots in the feminist movement of the 70's.
As you know , woman only started being open regarding discussing their sexuality at that point.
The term has no relevance in society today.

Possibly women did discuss their sexuality as I can remember my grandmother born 1863 having her friends around for a morning cup of tea and laughing. When as a 6 year old I inquired what they were laughing about, my grandmother said to me that I would understand when I grew up.
I cannot remember any woman openly discussing sexuality in the press at that time. As my grandmother was blind I used to have to read the newspaper to her daily. I did this from 1957 until she died in 1965.

Answer 8

A woman which sleeps around without getting tied down to a man. Of course a woman who does such, also doesnt have babies. So a woman who has lots of sex but no steady man or babies. Think Sex and the city.

Answer 9

If you're familiar with that show:"SEX and the CITY".That would pretty much in my opinion would be my answer to your question.

Answer 10

To me it means she is confident in making sexual choices without reference to any moral code but her own.