Journal of Sex & marital therapy: review of rethinking sex: a provocation

"Pain, in Emba’s framework, is harm, and Herbenick’s data is used to gird Emba’s claim that all bad sex is inherently harmful (if not via physical pain, then emotionally or spiritually). Her solution takes the form of restricting their sexual choices and agency, rather than addressing the physiological origins of the pain she describes or encouraging greater self-awareness and improved intimate negotiations skills. Because she takes the position that “some things should just be off limits” rather than advocating for increased agency and empowerment of women; her conclusions feel short-sighted and agenda-driven, rather than genuinely interested in understanding the causes of and remedies for sexual pain. For this woman reader, Emba’s view of women as passive victims of men, of capitalism, and of their own foolish choices felt degrading."

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