South Africa
She/Her
2023 Cohort
Kylie Marais is a feminist anthropologist and a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town, based in South Africa. Her doctoral research critically explores the sexual subjectivities of (self-identified) coloured women from Cape Town.
Pleasur-ed: an A-Z guide to Sexual Pleasure 
Kylie Marais is a South African feminist anthropologist and pleasure activist. As a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town, her research explores the sexual subjectivities of racialised women through “pleasure narratives” – intimate stories of how women come to learn about sex, sexuality, and pleasure within systems of shame, silence, and misinformation. Her work reveals how sociocultural constraints shape sexual agency – and how women navigate and resist them. Kylie’s mission is to transform conversations around sex by centring pleasure as a form of knowledge and power. She brings academic research into public life through accessible, pleasure-focused education and storytelling.
During her Fellowship, Kylie developed the foundation for Pleasur-ed: An A-Z Guide to Sexual Pleasure. This digital resource offers research-backed information on sex and pleasure, complemented by reflection prompts and practical tools. Each entry outlines key aspects of sexuality – arousal, boundaries, and consent – inviting personal exploration and a shame-free understanding of one’s sexual body and desires. The guide addresses a critical gap in sexuality education in South Africa and beyond, empowering individuals to reclaim sexual agency through honest and accessible information.
Kylie is currently preparing for the launch of the Pleasur-ed website in September 2025. Alongside the A-Z guide, she is expanding the platform to include a range of visual and written content based on her doctoral research, while growing a supportive community. She is also developing downloadable and printable tools, translating academic research into accessible resources. Her work focuses on building sustainable, inclusive, and pleasurable pathways to sexual wellness through feminist research, creative content, intimate storytelling, and deep commitment to social change.
Highlights
South Africa suffers from a “culture of sexual shame” which is evident through the silence and silencing of conversations about sex and sexuality.
Pleasur-ed was born from an unspoken, but urgent truth: sex is everywhere, yet honest, inclusive, and pleasure-focused information remains hard to find, especially in South Africa. Too many young people are left to figure out sex and sexuality alone, relying on porn, peers, or silence. Pleasur-ed was created to fill that gap. At its heart, Pleasur-ed: An A-Z Guide to Sexual Pleasure is a digital resource designed to make sexual knowledge more accessible, relatable, and empowering. Each entry in the guide offers basic research-backed insights, practical tools, reflection prompts, and inclusive language that invites curiosity rather than shame. From arousal to aftercare, from consent to communication, the guide makes space for everyone to learn, question, and connect – with themselves and each other. Rooted in both academic research and lived experience, Pleasur-ed brings feminist theory and pleasure activism into everyday life. It’s not just about sexual acts or anatomy – it’s about boundaries, pleasure, self-knowledge, and the cultural contexts that shape how we understand intimacy and desire. Since the fellowship, the Pleasur-ed database has continued to grow behind-the-scenes. The public website will launch in September 2025, with future offerings including printable guides, digital downloads, and a supportive sex-positive online community. The bigger vision is to change the culture of sex – from fear, shame, and risk to curiosity, empowerment, and wellness. By providing tools and stories that centre sexual pleasure, Pleasur-ed invites users to reclaim their sexual knowledge and rewrite what sex means to them – on their own terms.
Being a Pleasure Fellow was an affirming and transformative experience. It connected me with a global community committed to challenging sexual shame and centring pleasure as a vital part of sexual health and well-being. The fellowship gave me the support and inspiration to bring my academic work into everyday life, encouraging me to trust my voice – not just as a researcher, but as a storyteller, educator, and advocate. It reminded me that pleasure is not only political – it’s powerful.
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© 2025 The Pleasure Project. All rights reserved.
The Pleasure Project is an initiative by Taking Action for Sexual Health CIC.
© 2025 The Pleasure Project.
All rights reserved.
The Pleasure Project is an initiative by Taking Action for Sexual Health CIC.
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