In the pre-feminist world, women were viewed, and expected to behave as, the weaker sex. This meant that they were to be passive in nature, and were never to pursue any man. Naturally, their sexual lives were non-existent and were never acknowledged, as they were expected to never behave in a sexual manner by any means.

Sex was a masculine, carnal desire. But now, after the third wave of feminism, women have become autonomous in both private and public facets of life. This spreads to many areas, like their careers and family lives, but also includes their sex lives. Women have taken charge of their sexuality, changed its definition from the traditional patriarchal bounds, and liberated themselves from societal expectations for their bodies.

Starting with the increased availability and use of female contraceptives, women’s control over their sexual activities has grown exponentially. From controlling pregnancy to stimulating arousal, the field of female sexuality has been dramatically transformed.

No longer are women the passive playthings from the pre-feminist era; now more than ever, they are aware of their bodies, its functions, and what pleases it. Women’s sexuality is no longer a dark, evil continent. Females have learned to explore and no longer feel shameful about sex.

In previous time periods, any woman who actively engaged in an autonomous sex life was considered defiant. Her autonomy was taboo. She was shunned in the city for being what was then considered promiscuous. Even simply having knowledge of their sexual parts was odd for women.

Now, women have access to extensive knowledge about their bodies, sex, contraceptives, and protection. As the saying goes, knowledge is power; these tools have given women the power to take control of their sexuality. There is even a large market for female sex toys, where before there was none. Women have been liberated in many ways, sexuality included.

The ability to make autonomous decisions about pleasure and relationships serves to better level the playing field between the sexes. The consciousness raising carried out in Third Wave feminism united women by acknowledging the many similar experiences they have, even in the area of sex.

This wave pushed for more autonomy for the woman in all areas. This new power to decide when to have children, to pursue relationships instead of passively waiting, and to protect one’s self from the dangers of sex allowed women to make informed decisions that freed them from the shackles of patriarchal society.