The Shocking Truth About How We Study Sexual Health

by mandymorgan February 4, 2025

Picture this: You walk into a bookstore, grab a book about relationships, and realize every single page is written from one perspective—one culture, one worldview, one way of thinking. That’s kind of what’s been happening in sexual health research for years!

For too long, studies on sex, relationships, and reproductive health have been designed through a Western lens, often ignoring the voices, experiences, and knowledge systems of communities worldwide. But science is catching up, and researchers are finally asking: How do we decolonize sexual health research?

A new scoping review took on this challenge, analyzing nearly 1,800 studies to figure out what’s working, what’s missing, and how we can create a more inclusive, accurate, and empowering approach to studying sex and relationships.

So, what did they find? Let’s break it down.👇

💡 What Is “Decolonized” Sexual Health Research, Anyway?

First things first—what does it actually mean to decolonize research? It’s not just a trendy academic buzzword. Decolonized research flips the script by:

• 🔥 Centering community voices instead of imposing outside perspectives.
• 🏛️ Challenging Western scientific dominance in how we study and understand sex.
• 💪 Empowering historically marginalized groups to define their own narratives.
• 🤝 Using collaborative methods like community-based research instead of top-down studies.

Think of it as shifting from “Let’s study these people” to “Let’s study WITH these people.”

🧐 What This Study Found (And Why It Matters!)

Researchers reviewed 1,775 articles, and only 35 actually followed decolonized principles in studying sexual health. Yes, you read that right—just 35! 😱

Here’s what they discovered:

1️⃣ Most Studies Focused on HIV & STIs

• Over 30% of the studies examined HIV/AIDS.
• Other common topics: adolescent sexual health and STIs.
• Almost no studies addressed birth control, menstruation, circumcision, or female genital mutilation.

🔍 Why it matters: When research ignores entire aspects of sexual health, it means policies, funding, and education might also miss the mark. Decolonizing research = expanding the conversation!

2️⃣ Western Methods Still Dominate

• 63% of studies used qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, etc.).
• Only 17% used Indigenous research methods (like storytelling or talking circles).
• Western frameworks still shaped how data was collected and analyzed.

🧐 Big question: If research is supposed to empower communities, why aren’t more studies using their own knowledge systems?

3️⃣ Research Happened In Communities, But Not With Them

• 66% of studies partnered with community organizations, but most partnerships were still led by academic institutions.
• Few studies gave decision-making power to local people.
• Most communities were involved in data collection, but not in designing the study.

🤨 Translation: Many studies claim to be decolonized, but the power still stays with universities and researchers. Real decolonization means letting communities take the lead!

4️⃣ The Term “Decolonization” is Rarely Used

• Only 9 studies (25%) explicitly mentioned “decolonization.”
• Few studies clearly defined how they decolonized their research.

🧐 The problem: If researchers aren’t even comfortable saying “decolonization,” how can they fully embrace it?

🎯 How Do We Actually Decolonize Sexual Health Research?

This study didn’t just expose problems—it pointed to real solutions! Here’s how researchers (and all of us!) can push for better, more inclusive research:

✅ 1. Let Communities Lead

• Research should be designed and led by the people it’s meant to serve.
• Community advisory boards should have real power, not just be a checkbox.
• Funding should go directly to local organizations—not just universities.

✅ 2. Expand What We Study

• More research is needed on contraception, sex work, menstruation, LGBTQ+ health, and cultural perspectives on pleasure (not just disease!).
• Studies should focus on low- and middle-income countries, not just North America and Europe.

✅ 3. Use More Inclusive Research Methods

• Indigenous knowledge systems should shape the way we collect and interpret data.
• Instead of relying on Western surveys, researchers should explore storytelling, oral histories, and participatory methods.
• Community members should help analyze the data—not just be study subjects.

✅ 4. Call It What It Is: Decolonization

• Researchers should explicitly use and define “decolonization” in their work.
• Transparency matters! Clearly explaining how a study decolonizes its approach will help build better methods in the future.

💬 Let’s Talk About It! What Do YOU Think?

This study reveals a huge opportunity to rethink how we study and talk about sexual health. Now, we want to hear from you:

• Have you ever felt like mainstream sexual health research doesn’t reflect your reality?
• What topics do you think researchers should focus on more?
• How can we make science more inclusive for everyone?

Drop a comment below or share this article with someone who needs to read it! 🚀

📢 TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

💡 Decolonized sexual health research means centering communities, challenging Western dominance, and expanding what topics we study.

📊 New study analyzed 1,775 papers—only 35 actually used decolonized methods!

📢 Biggest issues: Research still favors Western methods, communities aren’t leading, and major sexual health topics (lik!*e contraception & LGBTQ+ health) are missing.

🎯 How to fix it: Let communities lead, study a broader range of topics, use Indigenous research methods, and call it what it is—DECOLONIZATION!

🗣 Now it’s your turn: What do you think? Let’s get this conversation going! 👇👇