The Dodson Method for Helping Women Orgasm

There’s more conversation around female sexuality than ever before, thanks in large part to pioneers like Dodson. Born in 1929, Dodson became active in the sex-positive movement of the 1960s.

She organized her infamous “Bodysex workshops,” where she encouraged women to connect with their bodies and erogenous zones while healing shame and promoting self-love. Her somewhat controversial workshops involved encouraging women to masturbate, often in groups.

Dodson saw the gaps in knowledge that so many women had about their bodies and the female sexual response model, which inspired her educational material and published works.

The orgasm gap

One of the driving forces behind Dodson’s work was the orgasm gap, which examines the differences in female and male orgasm during sex. Researchers found that in one sample of Americans ages 18 to 59, over 90% of men reported having an orgasm during their most recent sexual encounter, compared to only 65% of women. Other studies estimate that 5-10% of women have never had an orgasm, solo or with a partner.

While hosting orgies in the 1960s, she realized just how many women were faking pleasure. Once dubbed the “godmother of masturbation,” Dodson saw pleasure as a key tool in the fourth wave of feminism and advancing gender equality.

Up close and personal

Dodson’s sessions often started with an anatomy lesson featuring a handheld mirror so that clients could get familiar with their vulvas. In group workshops, this turned into a “genital show-and-tell,” helping normalize vulvas of all shapes, sizes, and colors.

Just identifying the vulva, clitoris, and vagina is an important step for many people. Especially considering that one study on U.S. college students found that 80% of men and 73% of women were unable to correctly locate the vagina.

The vagina is the internal canal, while the vulva is everything you see on the outside, including the labia majora, labia minora and clitoris.

How To Do the Dodson Method

The Dodson method uses a weighted dildo, lube, and a wand clitoral vibrator. Facilitators then guided participants through Dodson’s “Rock ‘n Roll” orgasm technique.

Dodson Method Steps

1. Lie on your back with your legs bent hip distance apart. Make sure you’re comfortable, using a pillow under your head.
2. Start rocking your pelvis forward toward your belly button while alternating squeezing and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles and rolling your pelvis back to the ground.
3. Inhaling as you rock your pelvis forward and squeeze, exhaling as you move your pelvis back to the ground and release your pelvic floor muscles.
4. Once you get the hang of the motion combined with the breathing and squeezing techniques, you can start to add vaginal penetration using the weighted dildo and clitoral stimulation using the wand.