Women love sex as much as men do and shouldn't be afraid to admit it, say the organizers of tonight's celebration "Women, Sex, & Music."
The free event at the Union will feature local estrogenic entertainment and offer information on women's health issues, focusing on increasing sexual pleasure.
The event is part of Women's Healthy Sexuality Month and is the brainchild of both Olin Health Center and the University Activities Board.
"We're trying to raise awareness of the benefits of becoming a sexually aware woman," said Amber Wilson, an interdisciplinary studies in social science senior. "Basically we just want to get people talking and it's something most people don't talk about and that's part of (the reason) why women have a harder time reaching orgasm."
Wilson, who worked with Olin to plan the event, said the health center has been working all month to educate women on emergency contraception, gynecological check-ups, healthy body image and date rape.
In light of such serious issues, Wilson said, it was decided the two groups should sponsor a fun event.
"Women, Sex, & Music" kicks off at 9 p.m. with Chicago-based songwriter Stolie. Some of the Lansing-area performing musicians are MSU alumni, including Carmen Electra Paradise, Kate Peterson and Millenary.
"It should be a pretty fun night and laid back with great live music," said studio art sophomore and UAB member Lauren Patterson.
Even if the event was created for and by women, Patterson said there's no gender discrimination.
"Hopefully there will be some guys there," she said. "I hope that people will be able to come and just have a good time and enjoy the music.
"It's not just for women, but if people want to talk to representatives who are there, they can have that opportunity as well as hang out for the night."
Philosophy Professor Judith Andre said events such as "Women, Sex, & Music" are a big step in stopping the shame and suppression often associated with expression of female sexuality.
"We need to be able to talk about sex and get help with it in order to make mature choices and to have it be a good part of life," she said. "I'm 61 and I have seen customs and ways of behaving about sex change absolutely radically in my life and most of that I think is for the better."
Andre said open discussions of sexual health are important to make sure sex is healthy.
"There was a worry that women were now unable to say 'no' because a lot of people were saying 'yes,'" she said. "We're getting to the stage where women can say 'no' and 'yes' and can do it in terms of their own sense of what a full life is, and not just responding to their boyfriend or what everyone else is doing."
