RECONCEPTUALIZING ISSUES THAT AFFECT WOMENS SEXUAL DECISION-MAKING AND SEXUAL FUNCTIONING

This paper addresses five existing societal myths and their underlying faulty assumptions about women's sexuality. The following myths are e xamined: (a) women possess adequate sexual knowledge to understand the ir sexual needs, (b) they know how to communicate about sex, (c) they engage in sex because they want to do so, (d) if they are sexually act ive, they enjoy sex, and (e) they use their knowledge of sex to protec t themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. These m yths need to be considered when conducting research and developing int erventions designed to decrease women's sexual risk-taking. Research t hat assesses women's levels of factual sexual knowledge, comfort and s kills discussing sexual information, and literacy is needed. The impor tance of examining ethnic, cultural, economic, religious, relationship factors, and psychological issues is discussed in order to encourage research relevant to women's sexual decision-making.