Faking Orgasm
From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality
Since orgasm is essentially a subjective experience with physical signs not always clear to a partner, it is possible for a woman—or a man—to moan, gyrate the body, and fake an orgasm. It is assumed that women are more likely to fake orgasms since most men can reach climax more quickly during intercourse. Since traditional sexual role performances called for the male to bring the woman to orgasm, the man’s sexual pride is often connected with an ability to bring his wife or lover to orgasm. This has created an undesirable situation in which some women, out of love and consideration for their husbands or partners, pretend that they had an orgasm either during their partner’s orgasm or shortly thereafter. Some women do not want it known that they are anorgasmic out of fear that their partner will think them to be less “womanly.”
Faking orgasms appears to stem from a lack of sexual literacy. These women have not learned to train their bodies to become orgasmic. In other instances faking an orgasm may result from conscious or unconscious problems in the relationship, while in still others, an inability or reluctance to discuss subjects such as orgasm may result in the wife failing to communicate to her husband the ways in which she can be brought to orgasm. If a person feels the need to fake orgasm, she or he should take this as a sign that something may be wrong in the sexual or emotional relationship and seek the help of a qualified health professional.
