HistoryExtra podcast

E2557 - The hidden history of female sexual pleasure

Published: June 7, 2026

Duration: 48:04

How did women in the past experience sex and pleasure? Kate Lister reveals that this is a rather complicated question. Instead of simply lying back and thinking of England, women have long fought for their right to pleasure. But at the same time, women's sexual experiences have also been bound up in cultures of shame and control since antiquity. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Kate introduces us to these histories.



Please note that this episode contains a very frank and open discussion of sex and sexuality, and strong language throughout.

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