Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadège Pleasure Science.
Hi Nadège, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was always a sex person, I just didn’t know it.
Growing up, I never got embarrassed about bodies or sexual behavior. As I entered my teen years, I became the go-to person that friends sought out when they had an STI or were having a sex crisis. I loved supporting my friends and didn’t realize that my gift to listen without judgment was so helpful.
In 2012 I arrived at UC Berkeley to study literature, I’m a writer and my dream was to become a fiction novelist, but this quickly turned sour. One of my professors was a creep and all my classes had me rereading books from high school or community college.
Then, I had a gut reaction…what if I studied human sexuality instead?
I decided to change my major not realizing that I was actually changing my life.
In my spare time, I found myself interning with my school’s Gender Equity Resource Center. I began learning about holistic forms of sexual healing and dove deep into feminist porn to research consent and BDSM. I even trained to be a Dominatrix when the opportunity presented itself!
After graduation, I worked at some great companies, but I felt unfulfilled so I started writing articles online about sex, science, and wellness. Did you know that only 17 states require sex education to be medically accurate? This statistic really pissed me off, it also inspired me to write about sex on the internet despite the fear of harassment, slut shaming, or being seen as unhireable.
In the winter of 2019, I finally took the plunge to open my business Pleasure Science. Where erotic wellness meets science so that you can feel healthier in your sexuality. What started with articles on the internet grew into public speaking, coaching, and a #1 bestselling book.
The best part about following my instincts and my dreams was that I eventually came back to creative writing. Today I have my sex business and someday soon my debut fiction novel will be available in stores. It’s wild to see what can happen when we have the audacity to honor our lust for life.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Being a sex scholar is a bumpy ride, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve learned how to tune out online bullying and harassment from people who are triggered by sex education or sexually empowered people.
I live with the understanding that all my social media accounts could disappear without warning because of a “community violation” – even though my educational content does not violate guidelines and is essential knowledge that all adults should have already learned.
There is also the very real emotional labor of being a pleasure activist. We live in a sex-negative society that capitalizes on sexual shame and “whore-phobia” (the fear of sex workers and sexually empowered people). Something I learned at Berkeley from a lecture with Gloria Steinem: if you control sex and birth, you control the population, if you control the population you control the economy. Our society capitalizes off of sexual shame and sexual repression, making the work I do feel like an uphill battle sometimes. Still, my belief that you deserve to feel sexually normal will always drive me forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of Pleasure Science. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Pleasure Science, erotic wellness meets science so that you can feel healthier + empowered in your sexuality.
I write articles and books, speak at events, and coach people who want to empower their erotic life.
With the help of my work, you can evolve your sexual shame, co-dependent patterns, and low self-esteem into independence, confidence, and trust that you are sexually worthy.
I’m very proud of my 60-Day Sex Breakthrough program. When sex blocks feel overwhelming and are interfering with your life, this private coaching program helps you step into your sexual truth and stop self-sabotaging your desires.
You can also read my #1 bestselling book Sextrology: the Astrology of your sexual subconscious, secret erogenous zones, and lust compatibility – available on Amazon.
https://pleasurescience.com/60-day-sex-breakthrough
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The industry is expanding in beautiful ways and will continue to do so.
I see more people seeking the help of a sex coach, therapist, or educator.
I see schools realizing that they have a responsibility to teach accurate, comprehensive sex education.
I see media & content shifting to be body-positive, inclusive, and sex-positive.
I see people understanding that all genders are valid.
I see queer communities expanding and connecting across the globe.
I see people realizing that “the one” is a scarcity mindset and questioning if monogamy is the right fit.
I see people ethically exploring polyamory, “throuples”, and other relationship styles.
As a culture, I see us embracing the idea that sex is normal. People are ready to feel sexually healthy and to face the internalized body shame, whore-phobia, and sex shame we grew up with.
Sex is still taboo, so the path forward won’t necessarily be easy, but the general feeling of “enough is enough” has occurred amongst too many individuals. We are ready to be the change we want to see in the world and more sex experts are rising together to help guide us toward positive change.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pleasurescience.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasurescience/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sexscholarnadege/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Sextrology-Astrology-Subconscious-Erogenous-Compatibility/dp/B0BRLVMYNT/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1673312316&sr=8-1
Image Credits
Photos at my desk or from events were taken by friends. Three of the photos taken (my headshot in the green slip with the roses, the photo of me with the yellow smiling cup, and the photo of me in the white dress) were taken by Ana Ciubara you can credit @anaciubara_photography on Instagram.
