Why are women having substantially fewer orgasms than men? Laurie Mintz discusses the cultural reasons for this orgasm gap and challenges us to close this gap by changing our language regarding sex, calling out false media images of women’s pleasure, and by equally valuing women’s and men’s most sure-fire routes to orgasm.

Laurie Mintz, Ph.D. is changing the conversation around women’s pleasure and working to help us bring gender equality to our most intimate encounters. She is a psychology professor at the University of Florida, where she teaches a popular Psychology of Human Sexuality course to hundreds of students each year. She is the author of Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters—And How to Get It, a groundbreaking and award-winning book exposing the cultural reasons for the orgasm gap and providing solutions to make sex an equal opportunity encounter. Laurie Mintz is a psychology professor at the University of Florida and a psychologist in private practice, who is passionate about spreading scientifically-accurate, sex-positive information. She teaches a popular Psychology of Human Sexuality course, and is the author of two books aimed at enhancing women’s sexual pleasure: Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters and How to Get it (HarperOne, 2017) and A Tired Woman’s Guide to Passionate Sex: Reclaim Your Desire and Reignite Your Relationship (Adams Media, 2009). Both books have scientific studies demonstrating that they enhance sexual functioning in women who read them. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx