JANE: Why don’t sexologists welcome open discussion of sexuality?Considering the importance which sexual problems have , it is disconcerting to realize what scant bases there have been for overall statements that have been made. (Alfred Kinsey) Ronn: Your question assumes that the phenomenon exists. Given the volume of research in the area, what statements and by whom would you consider not supported by evidence? JANE: I have approached many sexologists to ask them about female sexual response. They have all refused to engage. The papers that are produced propose speculative theories that are never proven. There is no empirical evidence to support female sexual response with a lover. JANE (cont): The research that involved talking to women (Kinsey and Hite) has been ignored. They concluded (like Basson) that women have sex because they feel obligated or to maintain an emotional bond. Men typically initiate intercourse. Women please men to tie them into supportive relationships. Kinsey and Hite both found that female orgasm is most explicitly described by women who masturbate. Anita : Sexuality is complicated as our dilemmas go beyond the questions most people and professionals tend to ask. There is a wealth of evidence and discussions about most aspects of sexuality. What particular issue do you believe there is no evidence for? JANE: I am asking women to explain the orgasms with a lover that we see portrayed in erotic fiction that are supported by sexologists. I have approached many female sexologists and sexual therapists for explanations. Typically they refuse to discuss female orgasm, or they refer me to a book or they say they are too busy to respond. There is huge pressure from men on women to say that they orgasm with a lover. Ronn : Getting people to participate in qualitative research is a tricky art, and requires establishing credibility, neutrality, friendly interest and good intentions. Everyone in research has had to take no for an answer from prospective participants. All you can do is minimise the risk and when it happens, thank them for listening, smile and move on. Oh and reflect. JANE: I have asked sex therapists and sexologists to comment but they only engage on projects where they are paid. They do not have any interest in sexual response as a scientific topic. Ronn: If you want people to be honest, then you must hold out something in return. I am currently working on a qualitative research project. It puts the participants at their ease to find out that I am genuinely interested and I’ve done my homework. The fact that I am genuinely interested fascinated by what they have to say helps them to verbalise ideas. JANE: I am highlighting that for the most part only men are willing to discuss sexuality explicitly. But even men cannot explain how a woman achieves arousal. They cannot even explain the anatomy, which is odd since the male anatomy is easily identified. If women were having orgasms with a lover, men would know these basic facts as much as women would. JANE (cont): Other researchers into sexuality have assumed that women should orgasm with a lover. It is my personal experience that this does not happen over decades of regular sex. I am asking people to explain logically how women achieve these orgasms. Men have theories based on erotic fiction. But women have nothing to say. JANE (cont): I am challenging the misconceptions, the anomalies and the contradictions. I am not looking for orgasm claims. I am looking for logival and factual explanations. No one can name even one female erotic turnon. So if they are not aroused how on earth are women having these orgasms? JANE (cont): Most women dislike eroticism. They assume orgasm occurs from emotional connection. But this never reconciled with female masturbation. Men should know that orgasm does not depend on love or a relationship. Very few women masturbate to orgasm. Otherwise women would know that arousal depends on the mind being focus on explicit erotic stimuli. An interesting & fun way to learn about sexuality for all