Recent studies documenting a historic issue plaguing heterosexual intimate encounters dubbed the orgasm gap highlight society's ongoing discomfort with female pleasure. The significant disparity in the frequency of orgasms experienced by men and women during sexual encounters also reflects broader cultural attitudes stigmatizing women's sexual empowerment. Orgasmic Meditation (OM), a mindfulness-based practice utilizing clitoral stimulation, has been targeted for its emphasis on female power and desire. Although the meditative practice offers scientifically-supported benefits helpful in alleviating mental health symptoms, it has come under fire for the unconventional nature of the practice and concerns of exploitation. The Institute of OM, which spearheads training in the meditation practice as well as erotic philosophy education, argue that these allegations stem from pervasive social norms discouraging sexual liberation. Institute of OM CEO Anjuli Ayer said, "People – mainly men – attack the practice as exploitation because it's so hard for them to imagine that a woman would have full sovereignty over her body. Sexual energy is powerful energy, and our society largely doesn't know how to deal with it, so we demonize it."
A 2017 study found that about 95% of heterosexual men say they usually orgasm during sexual intimacy while only 65% of heterosexual women reported the same. These results underline persistent inequalities in women's sexual pleasure. They also speak to society's antagonism toward women who embrace their sexual energy, whether that's in recreational or therapeutic settings. These biases reinforce the stigma surrounding female power and sexuality, impacting how women can leverage their sexual energy to find fulfillment.
