Not Your Mami’s Sex Ed: Pleasure as a Form of Resistance

This week on Entre Tías y Amiguis, I’m joined by Dr. Jessica Sánchez, a Latina sexologist, licensed sex therapist, and unapologetic pleasure advocate. Together, we dive into the radical concept of pleasure as a form of resistance and explore how we can reclaim our bodies, sexuality, and joy—especially as women of color navigating cultural scripts like marianismo and machismo.

About Dr. Jessica Sánchez:

Dr. Jessica Sánchez, a proud and passionate Chingona, is a sex therapist, professor, and pleasure advocate with over a decade of experience in human sexuality, sexual trauma healing, and sexual violence prevention. She specializes in helping women reconnect with their bodies and reclaim their sexual agency, particularly within historically oppressed and underserved communities. Through her work, Dr. Sánchez decolonizes mental health and sexuality by integrating holistic and ancestral healing practices.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why prioritizing pleasure is a radical act of self-love and resistance
• How cultural narratives shape our relationships with sex and pleasure
• The connection between pleasure and healing from trauma
• Practical tools to reconnect with your body and embrace your sexuality
• How to rewrite outdated scripts and become a cycle starter in your family

Dr. Sánchez’s Take:

"Pleasure is power. It’s not just about sex—it’s about reclaiming agency over our bodies, lives, and identities in a world that often denies us that right."

Mentioned in the Episode:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski
• Principles of Pleasure on Netflix
• Dr. Jessica Sánchez’s dissertation: Chingonas and Sex: A Qualitative Study on Mexican-American Women and Sexual Subjectivity

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction & Dr. Sánchez’s Story

10:45 – The Radical Act of Reclaiming Pleasure

22:00 – Dismantling Cultural Scripts Around Sexuality

35:15 – Cycle Starters: Breaking Generational Patterns

44:30 – Pleasure as a Healing Practice

55:00 – Practical Tips to Embrace Pleasure