”The 10 Best Ted Talks About Sex
I love Ted Talks! Whether it’s a speech about women’s rights or space exploration, I always seem to learn something super interesting. In some cases, I feel like the speaker is talking directly to me—especially when the topic is sex. I’ve watched nearly every Ted Talk about sex, and luckily for you, I’m about to share the best.
These Ted Talks are some of the most captivating, mind-boggling and downright fascinating. I know that some people like to listen to Ted Talks at work, but let me warn you: a few of these are NSFW.
1. How Couples Can Sustain a Strong Sexual Connection for a Lifetime
I’ve met many long-term couples who seem to have lost the spark. I often ask myself, “I wonder if they still enjoy sex?” or “Do they even have sex anymore?”
Emily Nagoski answers just that question. She says that couples that sustain great sex over multiple decades don’t have sex often and don’t have wild sex. A good indicator that a couple maintains a healthy sex life is if they cuddle after they’re done making love.
Click here to read Karin Freeland’s blog about sustaining intimacy is a long term relationship.
2. What Young Women Believe About Their Own Sexual Pleasure
Peggy Orenstein is a huge advocate of open conversations about sex, especially amongst young women. Many women will agree with her statement that ‘girls define their satisfaction based on their partner’s satisfaction.’
She says that some young women give oral sex to get out of an uncomfortable situation, often leading to a feeling of shame. I agree with Peggy. Many women (especially those inexperienced with sex) care more about pleasing the man than themselves
3. One Woman, Five Characters and a Sex Lesson from the Future
Another sexuality Ted Talk that I had to put on the list is One Woman, Five Characters and a Sex Lesson from the Future. This Ted Talk is a bit longer, so make sure you have 30 minutes to spare.
Sarah Jones imitates four women and one man – giving each of their opinions about sex work. Some think sex work should be illegal, while others believe it’s empowering and liberating. As someone who writes about the sex trade, I find Sarah’s impressions extremely accurate. If you’re a sex worker or simply curious about the industry, this Ted Talk is a must-watch.
4. The Keys to a Happier, Healthier Sex Life
The Keys to a Happier, Healthier Sex Life is another speech by Emily Nagoski – a sex educator. In this speech, she talks about the two keys to authentic sexual wellbeing; confidence and joy.
According to Emily, confidence is knowing what’s true and joy is loving what’s true. Encompassing both confidence and joy leads to a better sex life.
5. A Little-Told Tale of Sex and Sensuality
Shereen El Feki, who is half-Egyptian, takes her audience on a journey to the Middle East in her speech A Little-Told Tale of Sex and Sensuality. In westernized countries, we often forget that sex is still a very taboo topic in some cultures. Shereen points out that virgin births are commonplace in the Middle East and that HIV and AIDS are rising in the region.
The passionate sex researcher also says that there’s a significant double standard when it comes to sex. Women are expected to be virgins until their wedding night, but this doesn’t hold for men. I loved listening to Shereen’s Ted Talk; it gave me great insight into how Islam views sex.
6. Why We Need to Stop Stigmatizing Mothers Who Do Sex Work
I’m all about empowering women to make their own life choices – including their choice to work in the sex trade. Juniper Fitzgerald’s sexuality Ted Talk explores the stigmatizations of sex workers, including the “Madonna-Whore Complex” – the concept of a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets.
Juniper is a mom and former sex worker. She’s a firm believer that sex working moms should have the same right to their kids as mothers that aren’t in the industry. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t always treat sex worker moms fairly (but I won’t ruin the stories for you). This Ted Talk is a great listen if you’re a mom or merely interested in learning about sex work.
7. We Need to Rethink Casual Sex
Okay – this is one of my favourite Ted Talks about sex because it debunks various misconceptions about polyamorous couples. Terri Conley explains that most people think monogamous couples don’t spread STIs (however, that’s far from true).
Terri’s research shows that one-third of couples that say they are monogamous are not genuinely monogamous. She then explains that consensually non-monogamous couples are more likely to discuss condoms and STIs than cheaters. Therefore, swingers and poly couples are often less likely to spread disease.
Whether you’re in a polyamorous or monogamous relationship (or single), this Ted Talk is definitely worth watching!
8. The Uncomplicated Truth About Women’s Sexuality
Did you know that more than half of women quietly suffer from sexual dysfunction? I had no idea before watching this Ted Talk by Sarah Barmak. Sarah also points out that less than 60% climax during intercourse (a number that should be much lower).
This Ted Talk is passionate about women’s rights, and Sarah makes that clear! She describes the significant social issues surrounding the clit – including the fact that many sex-ed diagrams don’t even show the clit. I enjoyed listening to Sarah speak, and I think you will, too.
9. The Virginity Fraud
Nina Dølvik Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl are two feminists and medical students on a mission to expose virginity fraud. While it’s appalling, people in many cultures still carry out virgin checks by examining the hymen. In some countries, a woman’s hymen is to bleed the night of her wedding when she has sex for the first time with her husband.
The two passionate speakers explain that the hymen doesn’t always get damaged during sex; therefore, virginity examinations are ineffective. Only two women out of a sample of 36 pregnant teenagers showed signs of intercourse through a hymen examination. If you’ve heard of the phrase “pop the cherry,” then you should watch this Ted Talk to learn the cultural stigmatization behind the words.
10. The Necessity of Normalizing Queer Love
I want to end the list by recommending an LGBTQ Ted Talk presented by drag queen Panti Bliss. This speech focuses on the acceptance of homosexual couples. Panti Bliss says that many people associate homosexual men with “anal sex” – a driver of homosexuality.
Of course, LGBTQ couples are no different from heterosexual couples when it comes to sex. Gay men don’t spend every day in bed having anal, yet homophobes still hold that viewpoint for some reason. Panti Bliss is exceptionally passionate and describes the everyday struggles that the LGBTQ community faces. Whether you’re straight, bi, or gay, you can’t miss this Ted Talk.
Make Time in Your Schedule for These Ted Talks About Sex
I don’t care if you’re a woman, man, bisexual, or demisexual – you’ll learn a ton of new information from these Ted Talks. Many of the speakers are academic professionals or individuals with years of experience in sex research. I hope you loved these sexuality Ted Talk topics as much as I did.