Sixty-two years ago today (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on the findings of Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. It was the first book of its kind to explore women's sexual attitudes and behaviors from a scientific perspective. Although this book initially came as quite a shock to the world and many viewed it as "obscene" at the time, it is now looked upon as one of the most important publications ever on human sexuality. Kinsey's research debunked so many myths and revealed that women are far more sexual than most people had previously assumed. For example, Kinsey found that women were pleasuring themselves, having sex outside of marriage, and engaging in same-sex behaviors. His landmark research showed that men aren't the only ones with sexual needs and desires--women have them too, and they're no less important to study.

As a result of Kinsey's willingness to stand up to the social norms and moral values of his time, female sexuality (and the study of sex more generally) gradually became a worthy area of scientific inquiry. To celebrate this important milestone in the history of sex research ("K-Day," as it has been dubbed), let's look back at some of the more interesting sex studies on women that have emerged in the last few decades as a result of the barriers Kinsey and his research associates shattered. Happy K-Day!

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology ? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons via Proyecto Historiador 2

You Might Also Like: