"It was the Best Sex of My Life": A Qualitative Analysis of Black Women's Most Pleasurable Sexual Experiences.

Abstract

Sexual pleasure is an integral component of sexual health, human rights, and overall wellbeing and can be a helpful lens for understanding the agency and freedom present at the individual, relational, and community level. Further, one's most pleasurable sexual experience can be a pivotal moment that allows for expanded understandings of pleasure and can change how one structures future sexual experiences. It is particularly important to study sexual pleasure among Black women, as much of the sex research on this population is focused on risk and disease and may reinforce harmful stereotypes. This study explored the most pleasurable sexual experiences (MPEs) of 25 Black women living in the Southern United States to understand the main characteristics present in pleasurable sex. Participants were between the ages of 27-44 (M = 29.7 years old). Participants completed semi-structured interviews about their MPEs and responses were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Six interconnected themes were developed: emotional intimacy, out of the ordinary experiences, physical intimacy, intentionality, open communication, and mindful presence. Orgasm was mentioned by only a small portion of study participants. Our findings show that Black women's MPEs are varied and multifaceted, and a deeper understanding of the characteristics present in these experiences provides important information in working toward sexual liberation.