Dr. Jessie V. Ford
Sociologist, researcher, and educator advancing sexual health, pleasure, and well-being across diverse communities.
About Dr. Ford
Dr. Jessie V. Ford is a sociologist and public health scholar whose research examines how gender, sexuality, and stigma shape health and well-being.
Drawing on over fifteen years of experience across global and U.S. contexts, her work seeks to reimagine sexual health as a domain of empowerment — centering pleasure, consent, and social justice. Her studies span unwanted sex, forced marriage, gender diversity, bisexual women’s health, and community-driven frameworks for sexual wellness.
United States
“Navigating Realities” introduces a pornography literacy and sexual health curriculum that equips high school students with critical thinking, media literacy, and contextual analysis skills for navigating sexual content online. Its three-level design links program aims, course objectives, and lesson goals to promote healthy relationships and responsible digital behavior.
Featured Projects
South Africa
The Declaration on Sexual Pleasure, issued by the World Association for Sexual Health at the 2021 World Congress in Cape Town, underscores the importance of centering pleasure within sexual health, rights, and well-being. This project provides technical guidance for implementing the Declaration, offering evidence-based recommendations, case studies, and advocacy tools to support the integration of pleasure into sexual health education, policy, and practice.
Mexico
Learning from Gender-Diverse Thriving among Third-Gender People in Juchitán, Mexico examines how muxe individuals gain cultural legitimacy, social value, and resilience through their recognized third-gender roles in Zapotec society. Based on two decades of ethnographic research, the project highlights how strong family and community acceptance support wellbeing and shape HIV/STI prevention.