A note from the editor: Hey, y’all — this is The Artist Formerly Known as Trisha Cheeks. I want to start off by apologizing to the homies at WBQC for the delay in this upload. I got into my head about editing when I woke up today and said “f**k! I can edit the thing IN Substack. I am such a loon.”
Anyway, this topic is right on time, apparently. We talk about ADHD and navigating the world as a neurodivergent Black woman with our neurotypical friends.
Thank the Black Jesus that I already prepped this blog. Enjoy.
— The Tizzle
TW: The Hotties discuss for the listeners the following: sexual content, police/state violence discussion, and the presence of explicit anecdotes. We also discuss peer reviewed studies and medical definitions. We are not doctors, but we do suggest therapy. Listener discretion is advised.
You know the gist, but we’ll say it again:
Welcome to the table—a safe, sexy, and unapologetic space where Black joy, creativity, community, and pleasure are always on the menu. The Unfriendly Black Hotties are here to educate & stimulate — and we love using our words to amplify Black voices through bold, unfiltered conversations.
Here at the lunch table, we keep it flavorful, colorful, and always authentic, diving deep into:
* Erotica
* Kink
* Love & Intimacy
* Romance
We’re not here to compromise our truths — we’re here to get off. So, turn us on. Lunch is served!
🤵🏾♀️This Episode’s Hotties
* Doc Dubs
* Regina Starr
* The Artist Formerly Known as Trisha Cheeks (aka The Tizzle)
📖 Definitions and Key Words
Hypersexuality is generally defined as a pattern of excessive, persistent, or distressing sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviors that interfere with daily life, relationships, or overall well-being.
Social Links:
* Hypersexuality vs. Hyposexuality in Austim
* What do Autistic Meltdowns Look Like in Black Women
* Black Women Are the Only Women Who Are Intersectional
* Tips for Neurodivergent Black Women
Here are some nuances from different sources:
* Psychiatric/Psychological Lens: The American Psychiatric Association does not officially recognize “hypersexual disorder” in the DSM-5, but it has been described in clinical research as:
* “Recurrent and intense sexual fantasies, urges, and behaviors that are time-consuming and difficult to control, often continuing despite negative consequences.”
* Medical Lens: In neurology and psychiatry, hypersexuality can also appear as a symptom of certain conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, frontotemporal dementia) or as a side effect of some medications.
* “An unusually increased or inappropriate preoccupation with sexual thoughts or behaviors.” (Cleveland Clinic)
* Everyday / Cultural Lens: Outside the medical setting, “hypersexual” is often used, sometimes problematically, to describe people (especially women and marginalized folks) who are perceived as having higher-than-average sexual desire or activity, even if it’s not clinically excessive.
So in short:👉 Clinically, hypersexuality = compulsive, disruptive sexual behaviors.
👉 Culturally, hypersexuality = being labeled “too sexual,” often unfairly and based on stereotypes.
🔍 Studies & Articles
1. A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Psychosexual Functioning in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Young, Cocallis et al., 2023) (PMC)
What it covers:Look at how neurodivergent people, specifically with ASD or ADHD, experience psychosexual functioning — i.e., orientation, behaviors, experiences — including risk, sexual selfhood, etc. Good source for connecting neurodivergency + sexual behavior/hypersexuality risk.
Pull quotes:
* “The scientific literature on psychosexual functioning shows a range of outcomes for individuals with neurodiversity.” (PMC)
* “...to prioritize further research and identify interventions to reduce risk.” (PMC)
Relevance:Helps with understanding how ADHD/ASD might correlate with hypersexual behavior, or how sexual desire, regulation, and risk differ among neurodivergent people. Might be missing race/demographic breakdowns (i.e., fewer studies specific to Black women).
2. Association of ADHD and Hypersexuality and Paraphilias (Systematic Review) (PubMed)
What it covers:Explores whether ADHD is associated with hypersexuality and paraphilic behaviors. Reviews multiple studies comparing ADHD individuals with non-ADHD individuals, etc.
Pull quotes:
* “Subjects with ADHD suffer from inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Clinicians often assume that specific symptoms of ADHD are bound to affect sexual desire by increasing the frequency of hypersexuality.” (PubMed)
* “Some individuals who suffer from ADHD report hypersexuality and paraphilias, but no clear data emerged supporting the idea that hypersexuality and paraphilias are more frequent in an ADHD population.” (PubMed)
Relevance:Helps bring nuance: ADHD can correlate with hypersexuality / unusual sexual urges, but causation isn’t well established. This is relevant especially in considering neurodivergent identities and how hypersexuality might be over-pathologized or misunderstood.
3. ADHD prevalence in patients with hypersexuality and paraphilic disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis (PubMed)
What it covers:Estimated how common ADHD is among people with hypersexuality or paraphilic disorders.
Pull quotes:
* “The overall estimate of the prevalence of ADHD in patients with hypersexuality or paraphilic disorders was 22.6% (95% interval: 17-29.4) with high heterogeneity (I² = 63%).” (PubMed)
* “No significant difference in ADHD prevalence between the following subgroups: hypersexuality vs. paraphilic disorders, studies exploring the history of childhood ADHD vs. adult ADHD, US studies vs. others.” (PubMed)
Relevance:Shows that ADHD is relatively common among people with hypersexuality/paraphilias, though “common” doesn’t mean universal, and designs/methods vary. Helpful in exploring the neurodivergent context for hypersexuality.
4. Investigating the Associations Of Adult ADHD Symptoms, Hypersexuality, and Problematic Pornography Use Among Men and Women on a Large-scale, Non-Clinical Sample (PubMed)
What it covers:Looks at how ADHD symptoms relate to hypersexuality and problematic pornography use (PPU), comparing men and women in a large, non-clinical sample (~14,000 people).
Pull quotes:
* “Results indicated that hypersexuality had a positive and moderate association with problematic pornography use among women … and a positive and strong association among men.” (PubMed)
* “ADHD symptoms had positive and moderate associations with hypersexuality in both men and women …” (PubMed)
Relevance:Shows gendered differences: while ADHD correlates with hypersexuality in both sexes, the relationship with PPU is weaker for women. Could be useful when talking about Black women + neurodivergent + hypersexuality: perhaps women face additional layers (stigma, underreporting, fewer resources) that impact risk expression.
5. Hypersexuality in neurological disorders: A systematic review (PubMed)
What it covers: Examines hypersexuality in the context of neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s, dementia, etc.) rather than developmental neurodivergence, but informative for how brain/neurology impacts sexual behavior when regulation, impulse control, etc., are affected.
Pull quotes:
* “Hypersexuality (HS) accompanying neurological conditions remains poorly characterized despite profound psychosocial impacts.” (PubMed)
* “HS was defined as a condition characterized by excessive and persistent preoccupation with sexual thoughts, urges, and behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment in personal, social, or occupational functioning.” (PubMed)
Relevance:While not specific to Black women, this helps with understanding definitions, criteria, and what “hypersexuality” means in clinical/research settings (distress, impairment).
6. An investigation of Jezebel stereotype awareness, gendered racial identity, and sexual beliefs and behaviours among Black adult women (Taylor & Francis Online)
What it covers:Looks at how awareness of the “Jezebel” stereotype (a hypersexual stereotype applied to Black women) interacts with gendered racial identity beliefs and influences sexual beliefs/behaviors (sexual assertiveness, satisfaction, guilt, relational attachment). Good for the intersection of Black women + stereotype/hypersexual narratives.
Pull quotes:
* “Black women who felt more positively connected to their Black woman identity reported greater sexual assertiveness and satisfaction.” (Taylor & Francis Online)
* “More awareness of the Jezebel stereotype was associated with higher sexual guilt and attachment avoidance.” (Taylor & Francis Online)
Relevance:Very directly relevant. Helps ground discussion about how societal stereotypes contribute to sexual self-image, shame, and behavior among Black women. Connect this to neurodivergency by considering whether neurodivergent Black women might have heightened vulnerability or different responses to these stereotypes.
7. Race-Based Sexual Stereotypes, Gendered Racism, and Sexual Decision Making Among Young Black Cisgender Women (PMC)
What it covers:Focuses on young Black women (18-25), exploring how racialized sexual stereotypes and experiences of gendered racism shape sexual decision-making: safer sex, partner selection, empowerment, etc.
Pull quotes:
* “Due to their intersecting racial identity and gender identity, Black women are characterized by stigmatizing race-based sexual stereotypes (RBSS) that may contribute to persistent, disproportionately high rates of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes.” (PMC)
* “Participants reported that RBSS may lead Black women to be resistant to learning new information about safer sex practices, feeling less empowered in the sexual decision making …” (PMC)
Relevance:Bridges stereotype + behavioral impact. Though not explicitly about neurodivergence, the overlap is rich: how marginalized identities (race, gender, disability/neurodivergence) might amplify negative outcomes or internalized shame.
🔦 Key Relevant Sources & Quotes
1. Sisters Doing It for Themselves: When Neurodivergence, Disability, and Race Collide
(Wiley, forthcoming / “in press” article or case study)
* This paper is among the few that attempt to situate culturally specific consistencies when “[d]isabled or neurodivergent Black women graduate” students exist in academe. (Wiley Online Library)
* Excerpt: “The case study appearing in this paper will highlight culturally specific consistencies that disabled or neurodivergent Black women graduate …” (Wiley Online Library)
* Utility / Limitations:
* Useful in framing how neurodivergent Black women navigate institutional spaces.
* Doesn’t (as far as the abstract or visible preview suggests) deeply tackle sexuality/hypersexuality, so you may need to extrapolate or connect to other sources on sexual experience.
2. The Gendered, Racialized, & Dis/Abled Experiences of Black Women Graduate Students
* This is an unpublished thesis (or internal university research) focusing on Black women in graduate school who identify as disabled or neurodivergent. (ScholarWorks UMass)
* Excerpt: “Black women graduate students with disabilities, specifically those identifying as neurodivergent, are barely visible in contemporary research.” (ScholarWorks UMass)
* Utility / Limitations:
* Good for building an argument around invisibility, under-representation, and the structural marginalization of neurodivergent Black women.
* Does not appear, from what’s visible, to directly address hypersexuality or sexual identity/desire.
3. An Investigation of Jezebel Stereotype Awareness, Gendered Racial Identity, and Sexual Beliefs and Behaviours among Black Adult Women (Leath et al., 2022)
* While not neurodivergence-specific, this is one of the strongest pieces on hypersexual stereotypes and the internal dynamics among Black women. (PubMed)
* Excerpts:- “Black women who felt more positively connected to their Black woman identity reported greater sexual assertiveness and satisfaction.” (PubMed)- “More awareness of the Jezebel stereotype was associated with higher sexual guilt and attachment avoidance.” (PubMed)- “Evidence suggests that the intersectional nature of Black women’s race and gender identities influences their awareness of sexual scripts such as the hypersexual, Jezebel stereotype.” (PubMed)
* Utility / Limitations:
* Very helpful for discussing how hypersexual stereotypes (like the “Jezebel”) operate psychologically, socially, and relationally for Black women.
* Doesn’t engage neurodivergence explicitly, so you’ll need to synthesize or juxtapose with neurodivergent sexuality literature.
4. A Content Analysis of Black Women’s Sexuality Research (Hargons et al., 2020)
* This is a more meta/review-level analysis of how Black women’s sexuality is represented and conceptualized in scholarly work. (PMC)
* Excerpt: “Regardless of depictions related to Black women’s hypersexuality, research often suggests they are void of sexual pleasure and satisfaction, which may reflect …” (PMC)
* Utility/Limitations:
* Very useful critique: it helps you name the “holes” in how Black women’s sexuality is (mis)represented, which you can contrast with neurodivergent sexual experience.
* Doesn’t focus on neurodivergent identity or hypersexuality per se.
5. Hypersexuality and the Black Woman in the Workplace (Morrow, 2023, capstone/research paper)
* This is not a peer-reviewed journal article (rather, a capstone / qualitative research project), but it explicitly engages Black women + hypersexuality. (hrgradcapstone.oucreate.com)
* Excerpts: - “Black women, as a historically marginalized group, have long endured stereotypes and biases that have infiltrated society … The sexualization and objectification of Black women have been deeply ingrained in popular culture, perpetuating harmful stereotypes that influence their experiences.” (hrgradcapstone.oucreate.com)- “These include decreased self-esteem, increased vulnerability to harassment, limited career opportunities, and hindered professional growth.” (hrgradcapstone.oucreate.com)- “The hypersexualization of Black women can lead to a range of negative outcomes …” (hrgradcapstone.oucreate.com)
* Utility/Limitations:
* Strong for your conversation around how hypersexual stereotypes impact Black women in a professional setting.
* Doesn’t incorporate neurodivergence, so bridging work will be needed.
6. Examining the Mental Health Symptoms of Neurodivergent Persons Across Social Identities
* This article examines how various social identities (race, gender, etc.) interact with neurodivergence, though not narrowly focused on sexuality. (PMC)
* Excerpt: “This study seeks to fill this gap by examining how various social identities interact with neurodivergence to mediate mental health symptoms.” (PMC)
* Utility / Limitations:
* Helps you frame a broader intersectional lens: e.g., neurodivergent Black women may experience mental health differently because of layered marginalization.
* Does not engage in sexual behavior specifically, so it’s more supporting than central to your episode theme.
7. Sexual Minority Identities in Autistic Adults: Diversity and Well-Being (McQuaid et al.)
* This examines sexuality among autistic adults, including non-heterosexual identities, though not specifically by race or gender. (PMC)
* Excerpt: “Sexual minority autistic adults reported poorer mental health and lower subjective QoL across all assessed domains relative to heterosexual autistic adults.” (PMC)
* Utility / Limitations:
* Useful for discussing how neurodivergent people’s sexual identities (beyond normative sexual behaviour) can be a site of vulnerability, difference, or stress.
* Because it lacks a racial breakdown, it doesn’t tell you how Black autistic women fare differently.
🧭 Observations, Interpretations & Gaps
* Sparse direct overlap: Despite a plausible need, the literature rarely examines all three axes (Black women + hypersexuality + neurodivergence) in a single empirical study. Most work treats two at a time (e.g., Black women & hypersexuality, or neurodivergence & sexuality).
* Emphasis on stereotypes/representation: Much of the work on Black women and hypersexuality is concerned with how the “Jezebel” stereotype, objectification, and cultural sexual scripts shape behavior, shame, and identity (e.g., Leath et al., Hargons et al.). These provide a robust foundation for exploring how a neurodivergent sexual experience might be interpreted or misinterpreted in a Black female body.
* Invisibility of neurodivergent Black women: Many sources note that Black women with neurodivergent identities are underdiagnosed or overlooked (e.g., the thesis from Stephens, “Examining mental health symptoms” article). The result is a dearth of data on how they navigate sexual desire, dysregulation, or hypersexuality specifically.
* Need for qualitative or narrative work: Given the lack of quantitative studies, narratives, case studies, and qualitative research may be your richest terrain for centering lived experience. (The Sisters Doing It for Themselves case study is promising in this regard.)
* Bridging theories: To fill the gap, you’ll likely need to draw upon:
* Black feminist theory (on sexual scripts, controlling images)
* Neurodivergence/sexuality scholarship (on how autism, ADHD, impulsivity, and sensory needs affect sexual behavior)
* Intersectionality theory to navigate the interplay among race, gender, and neurological difference
🎶 Ep. 10 Spotify Playlist
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