Big pharma, women, and the labour of love

In 2010, Thea Cacchioni testified before the US Food and Drug Administration against flibanserin, a drug proposed to treat low sexual desire in women, dubbed by the media the "pink Viagra." She was one of many academics and activists sounding the alarm about the lack of science behind the search for potentially lucrative female sexual enhancement drugs. In her book, Big Pharma, Women, and the Labour of Love, Cacchioni moves beyond the search for a sexual pharmaceutical drug for women to ask a broader question: how does the medicalization of female sexuality already affect women's lives? Using in-depth interviews with doctors, patients, therapists, and other medical practitioners, Cacchioni shows that, whatever the future of the "pink Viagra," heterosexual women often now feel expected to take on the job of managing their and their partners' sexual desires. Their search for sexual pleasure can be a "labour of love," work that is enjoyable for some but a chore for others. An original and insightful take on the burden of heterosexual norms in an era of compulsory sexuality, Cacchioni's investigation should open up a wide-ranging discussion about the true impact of the medicalization of sexuality. Moves Beyond The Search For A Sexual Pharmaceutical Drug For Women To Ask A Broader Question: How Does The Medicalization Of Female Sexuality Already Affect Women's Lives? Using In-depth Interviews With Doctors, Patients, Therapists, And Other Medical Practitioners, Cacchioni Shows That, Whatever The Future Of Flibanserin (a Drug Proposed To Treat Low Sexual Desire In Women, Dubbed The Pink Viagra), Heterosexual Women Often Now Feel Expected To Take On The Job Of Managing Their And Their Partners' Sexual Desires. Her Investigation Opens Up A Wide-ranging Discussion About The True Impact Of Sexuality's Medicalization. --from Publisher Description. Preface : Testifying At The Us Food And Drug Administration -- Introduction : The Labour Of Love In The Sexual Pharmaceutical Era -- The Rise And Decline Of Big Pharma's Sexual Revolution -- Treating Women's Sexual Pain : Biomedicalized, Demedicalized, And Do-it-yourself Approaches -- The Limits Of Normative Heterosex -- Sex Work : A Labour Of Love -- Refusing Heteronormative Sex Work -- A Woman's Work Is Never Done -- Epilogue : The Sexual Pharmaceutical Industry And Its Discontents. Thea Cacchioni. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 133-152) And Index.