Nancy Friday (1933–2017)

An account of changing cultural attitudes during the 1980s based on information contributed by self-selecting women, but the author’s commentary has too many dated Freudian psychological assertions that ring untrue, and the curated voices sound suspiciously similar. A chronic problem for such studies, too, is to relate the sample to wider sociological cohorts - how representative (and consequently meaningful, for contemporary American women) was this collection, and does it have much relevance in the social media era?… (more)

This is a fun little book. As others have stated, it purports to be about "research" but I also know it was the kind of book I used to find stuffed down under the basket of magazines in my parents' washroom. My step-dad was into this stuff.

Because yeah, it's also basically light porn. Yeah, it goes some places I don't dig (mutilations, and a shocking amount of sex with dogs, donkeys, and horses). But most of it, while I'm sure it was mind-blowing for the 70s, is now stuff you can access with a few clicks of your mouse (after putting your browser into incognito mode).

As for the subject matter and the writing...the writing is average, and most of the fantasies are quite truncated, seeming to finally get to the good stuff, and just...end. The subject matter is quite enjoyable, and as a guy, got the desired effect out of me on several occasions.

I guess the thing that I found the most shocking about this is the premise that women weren't expected to have rich, sexual fantasies in the first place. I mean...what? Guys can, but women can't?

Pardon the pun, but...fuck that.

I've never understood this stupid, arbitrary split between the sexes when it comes to sex. A young male is encouraged to go out and "sow his wild oats" (and what a stupid expression that is), where a young woman is supposed to stay away from exactly that sort of guy, keep her legs crossed and never think of sex.

A guy who's had a lot of sex is a stud, or a cocksman (yet another ridiculous expression) and is admired. A woman with a similar amount of experience is a skank, a slut, a whore (or "hoo-er" as my mother used to say). Why? Why is that?

So, if this book helps to break down those stupid stereotypes, and lets someone feel better about their thoughts, fantasies, and sexual cravings, then good. The book has done its job.

But yeah, it's also a fun read.… (more)