Who Owns Pleasure?

Sexual liberation is often framed through a Western lens, yet some of the most transformative ideas and practices are emerging from the Global South. Research increasingly shows that centering pleasure in sexual health interventions not only reduces HIV and STI risk but also expands possibilities for self-expression, autonomy, and liberation. However, structural power imbalances—rooted in colonial histories, Global North dominance in research and funding, and the commodification of pleasure—continue to limit more holistic progress. Growing movements are pushing back by foregrounding lived experience, context-specific knowledge, and alternative epistemologies such as sensuous or embodied ways of knowing. From Somali poetry to Ghanaian storytelling, communities are redefining sexual freedom on their own terms. Achieving a truly liberatory sexual health movement will require challenging simplistic narratives, confronting racism and patriarchy, embracing culturally relevant methods, and centering Global South voices as leaders rather than peripheral participants.