THE SUBJECTS

The strong women in our film are committed to the truth. Call it “cliteracy” – the acknowledgement and understanding that the clitoris is fundamental to the female orgasm. College professor, Dr. Stacey Dutton, is dedicated to studying the biology of the clitoris. Through her art, Sophia Wallace is changing the way we talk about female pleasure. Dr. Lisa Diamond is dismantling outdated notions about women's arousal and desire with 22 years of ground-breaking research. Designer and entrepreneur Ti Chang is passionate about designing products by women for women.

DR. STACEY DUTTON 

Stacey Dutton, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology at Agnes Scott College, is committed to taking on the scientific and medical establishment, which for decades has ignored the legitimacy of the clitoris. 

SOPHIA WALLACE

Conceptual artist Sophia Wallace uses her art to challenge the misconception that the clitoris is not absolutely fundamental to female pleasure. She’s confronting the fact that even in a culture that sexually objectifies women, discussion of female sexuality remains taboo.

DR. LISA DIAMOND

How do we fall in love? Where does desire come from? Why this person and not another? Dr. Lisa Diamond, an associate professor of psychology and gender studies at the University of Utah  has spent her career studying the brain science behind lust, love and infatuation, hoping to answer these very questions.

TI CHANG

Ti Chang, an industrial designer, is elevating female pleasure by creating elegant, beautifully designed vibrators, including one that women can wear around their neck as jewelry. 

UMNIA, SUNNY, BECCA, JASMINE & CORIAMA

Working in concert with the work of these four women are the personal stories of Umnia, Becca, Jasmine, Sunny and Coriama. For nine months we have filmed these women at work, at school, with friends and family and in their dating lives, intimately exploring what it means for them in “real life” to find their voice and the courage needed to own their sexuality. With their participation, The Dilemma of Desire enters a deeply personal space. 

"For the longest time growing up I was told God doesn’t like when a woman exposes her body. God doesn’t like when a woman tries to create attention for herself and so, you coverup."

—UMNIA

"I’ve heard several of my male friends say their ideal woman is someone who’s a lot of fun in the bedroom, but then you know, very put together for the family. That's the struggle of a modern 20-year-old girl - you’re supposed to be this porn star in the bedroom but then a total  virgin, Madonna at the same time. And that’s a lot to put on a girl."

 —SUNNY

"How I get dressed is a huge choice ‘cause it determines how I feel, determines how other people are going to see me, determines how much attention I’m going to garner on a street whether I like it or not.  It’s kind of fun to act sexy, dress sexy in a certain way for a while, but I feel sexy when I feel really smart."

—BECCA

"It’s insane that a woman putting her foot down about what a man can and cannot do to them is out of the ordinary and often shamed.  And, I want that to stop. I want girls saying no when they want to say no."

—JASMINE

"When I think about pleasure, I think about it in everyday context. That way people can be more liberated and actually enjoy being a human. If you want to enjoy your full experience as a human, you have to see pleasure in a practical everyday sense."  

—CORIAMA