Dr. Jessie V. Ford

Sociologist, researcher, and educator advancing sexual health, pleasure, and well-being across diverse communities.

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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.

In the Media

Dr. Jessie Ford joins Dr. Laurie for a candid conversation on sexual pleasure and sex positivity, including thoughtful responses to listener-submitted questions and commentary on current “Sex in the News.”

Hot Takes

  • Multi-Factor Authentication: Young Men’s Intuited Approach to Consensual Sex

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  • The Porto Proclamation: Advancing a Global Agenda for Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice

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  • Forced marriage, divorce, and the ecology of marital self-determination: findings from research with Orthodox Jews in New York

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  • Sexuality Education that Prioritizes Sexual Well-Being: Initiatives and Impact

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  • Gender-diverse male spirit mediums in Northern Thailand: intersection of spiritual role, societal acceptance, stigma, and discrimination

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