Ideas worth spreading

A little-told tale of sex and sensuality

2,460,762 views | Shereen El Feki • TEDGlobal 2013

“If you really want to know a people, start by looking inside their bedrooms," says Shereen El Feki, who traveled through the Middle East for five years, talking to people about sex. While those conversations reflected rigid norms and deep repression, El Feki also discovered that sexual conservatism in the Arab world is a relatively new thing. She wonders: could a re-emergence of public dialogue lead to more satisfying, and safer, sex lives?

“If you really want to know a people, start by looking inside their bedrooms," says Shereen El Feki, who traveled through the Middle East for five years, talking to people about sex. While those conversations reflected rigid norms and deep repression, El Feki also discovered that sexual conservatism in the Arab world is a relatively new thing. She wonders: could a re-emergence of public dialogue lead to more satisfying, and safer, sex lives?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Shereen El Feki

Arab sexuality expert

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Shereen El Feki works and writes on sexuality and social change in the Arab world.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.