Netflix’s brand new series, The Principles of Pleasure, starring Michelle Buteau, takes us on an eye-opening journey that aims to celebrate women’s sexuality.
Netflix describes the series as:
Sex, joy and modern science converge in this eye-opening series that celebrates the complex world of women’s pleasure – and puts old-fashioned myths to rest
– The Principles of Pleasure review does not contain spoilers –
In a world that constantly tries to berate women for seeking sexual pleasure and enjoying sex, casual or otherwise, The Principles of Pleasures endeavor to challenge gender-biased conventions surrounding women’s sexual pleasure. It offers solace to all the women around the world, afraid to act on their sexual urges or feeling guilty for doing so. Michelle Buteau, the narrator of the series, takes viewers on a fun ride, diving deeper into topics, that are perceived as something ‘illicit’ in our society, relating to women’s sexual well-being.
The viewers will get to listen to a bunch of women, sharing their sex lives and encounters with the stigma attached to it. The show will also see sex educators, scientists and sex therapists as advocates for exploring women’s sexual desires and having such conversations openly and unapologetically. They strive to educate audience on female anatomy and encourage women to indulge in healthy, pleasure-based activities.
Sexual pleasure, a subject as such, sounds extremely intimate, but The Principles of Pleasure did a note-worthy job at driving a positive discussion, initiating open conversations sans awkwardness, and making it fun for the audience. It promotes healthy sex drive in women and induce sex-positive ideologies; there’s no shame in enjoying sex as long as it’s consensual and it truly feels liberating to be able to explore your boundaries – what feels right for you or what doesn’t work for you.
It can be exhausting to live in a perpetual state of fear of being slut-shamed for wanting to be sexually expressive and feeling limited when it comes to attaining pleasure. It has become imperative for women to take complete ownership of their body and not let society dictate how they feel. The show puts an admirable amount of effort to naturalize the idea of women being vocal about their sexual needs without being shunned for the same, and that, to me, is as fascinating as it is important.
Women appearing on the show also reflect on traditional gender disparities and the narrow way we approach learning more about women’s pleasure and sexuality. Societal conventions often overlook the wants and needs of the women, and revolves around the urge to satisfy a man’s desire – in bed or outside. There is a wide orgasm gap between the two genders and the show aims to bridge that gap. They addresses how sex education classes at their schools failed to talk about LGBTQ+ experiences.
They also talk about the negative impact of colonization, systematic racism, religious beliefs and cultural constructs on our relationship with our bodies and our ability to be sexual. Women have continually fallen subject to various stereotypes and preconceived notions that dictates the degree of sexual entitlement, or lack thereof, which is absolutely enraging and sad at the same time. The show has a very clear message – it’s about time women break free from age old patriarchal norms that derail their sexual desire and withheld them from exploring their body.
The Principles of Pleasure teaches us the importance of proper sex education and having the basic understanding that sexual health goes well beyond sex itself. The show also sheds light on our brain’s role in our experience of pleasure; mind-body connection is critical to sexual desire – mindfulness of your body. It propagate self love and a healthy body image.
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The Principles of Pleasure – A woman’s new best friend.
The Principles of Pleasure is not only entertaining but it also empowers, educates and inspires women of all age. While I was watching the series, it felt like I was having a candid conversation, albeit one way, with my gal pals. It beautifully tackles and debunk myths surrounding women’s sexual pleasure. The biggest takeaway from the show – ‘attraction, sexual preference, pleasure, none of these things follow a script of normal and there is power in knowing your own body’. I loved every bit of it and is undoubtedly a game changer when it comes to addressing female well-being – sexual and overall, in mainstream media.
The Principles of Pleasure is now streaming on Netflix.
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Good intentions but Definitely not empowering
Limited
And disappointing. Title should include American USA culture only!
Starts off poorly; only two women appear over 50, and one of them states sex is “on the shelf”. No exploration of effect of negative societal messages on women’s sexuality after we turn 40, and none on post-menopausal sexuality messages. In some ways the first episode actually reinforces negative messages we get re: being older and enjoying sex. Major oversight and ageist.