Citation

Women Ther. 2002; 24(1-2): 1-8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J015v24n01_01

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This document was written by a group of 12 clinicians and social scientists and released at a press conference on October 25,2000. The first part criticizes current American Psychiatric Association nomenclature for women's sexual problems because of false equivalency between men and women, erasing the relational contact of sexuality, and ignoring differences among women. The second part offers guidance for new nomenclature from international sexual rights documents. The third part offers our new classification system. It begins with a woman-centered definition of sexual problems, "discontent or dissatisfaction with any emotional, physical, or relational aspect of sexual experience," and provides four categories of causes: socio-cultural, political, or economic factors, partner and relationship factors, psychological factors, and medical factors. The document is designed for researchers, educators, clinicians, and the public.

Keywords

nomenclature; medicalization; feminist politics; women's sexual problems; Women's sexuality