``But sex generates fear in our society and is something about which there is gross ignorance all around. Our society does not encourage pleasure and families have a conservative approach to it,'' she said.

De referred to the hostile and scathing reactions her writings on sexuality had evoked. After the release of the special issue, a panel discussion was held on `Sex and Woman's Psychology'. The panelists included seniorsexologist Dr J V Bhatt, psychiatrist Dr Hemangi Dhavale, gynaecologists Dr Jyoti Taskar and Dr Meenal Pathak, Dr Kamal Padgaonkar, Dr Hitesh Shah and Dr Bhosale, who spoke about the basic difference in male and female sexuality.