Happenings Archive

Susie Jolly and Xiaopei He join us to discuss the book, Women, Sexuality and the Political Power of Pleasure. This collection brings together examples of activism, advocacy and programming from around the world that use pleasure as an entry point for enhancing equality and empowerment for all. In China, sharings on sexual pleasure help build solidarity between sex workers, lesbians, women with HIV and women married to gay men. A training in Turkey teaches women that sexual pleasure is their human right. A cabaret theater company in Mexico challenges gender stereotypes and improves people’s health through laughter. In the UK, service providers are advised how to support disabled people to enjoy their sexuality. And experiences from India and sub-Saharan Africa show how pleasure needs to be part of the picture if sexual violence is to be tackled effectively. Xiaopei He created the Pink Space Sexuality Research Centre, Beijing, to promote sexual rights and sexual pleasure among people who are oppressed due to sexuality or gender. Susie Jolly currently leads the Ford Foundation sexuality and reproductive health and rights grant making programme in China. Previously, she founded and led the Institute of Development Studies Sexuality and Development Programme, in the UK.