Notes from the presentation by Dr. Elizabeth Rae Larson at the WR SSSS meeting in April, 2008
Dr. Larson asked the same three questions of each of these modern sexual revolutionaries; here are their replies.
SHERE HITE
1. How would you describe (or illustrate) your contribution to our current understanding of female sexuality, in the scientific/scholarly world(s) and/or in the broader culture(s)?
My work shows the importance of clitoral stimulation for female orgasm, via in-depth research. It was the first work, and still remains one of the only works, to detail in women's own words, how they masturbate to reach orgasm. For most women, this does not involve vaginal penetration, but rather massaging without stopping the clitoral area or pubic area of their external genitals with their hand. I believe this should be integrated into the "lovemaking" process, in that partners should learn from women how they do it (since each woman is individual). My research report shows that the great majority of women—over 92%—know how to reach orgasm in private, so the supposed "problem" women have with orgasm lies merely in sharing this information with partners; it is the society that has the problem, not women. Masters and Johnson showed first that "all orgasms in women are clitoral," yet they later (in Human Sexual Inadequacy) outlined their treatment program saying they believed that women should get sufficient clitoral stimulation for orgasm from "vaginal thrusting"—yet my research a few years later showed that this is not the case for most women. Indeed, my work showed/shows that almost all women can easily reach orgasm via a more "direct" gentle clitoral massage. My conclusion is that women should not fear expressing themselves in this way sexually, that women have the right to be sexual in their own way.
2. What impact has your work had on your own life/career, positively or negatively?
I have learned how differently my work is seen in various parts of the world, i.e., how differently sex is viewed in various cultures. In some cultures, "penetration" is viewed as more important to men than in others. The success of my 1976 book (part of the women's movement) may have led many magazines "for women" to scream in headlines that they offer information about female orgasm, so that today we are mostly overfed with this hyped sensationalism. To me, this is the wrong direction for women's liberation, as the hype does a disservice to women and men. In private, I have learned how important it is to be seen for oneself, not simply as "a sex writer" or one who believes in the screaming of the headlines.
3. What advice/request would you give to those who will follow?
Don't be afraid to follow your own interests and explore the world, give all you can.
Clips of Dr. Hite's interview by Margo Smit, a reporter for KRO Dutch public television can be seen at http://reporter.kro.nl/uitzendingen/2007/0930_lust/intro.aspx. Scroll down to a picture of Shere Hite and click the blue lettering "haar oproep" in the text.
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LEONORE TIEFER
1. How would you describe (or illustrate) your contribution to our current understanding of female sexuality, in the scientific/scholarly world(s) and/or in the broader culture(s)?
In the 1980s I insisted on a feminist perspective within sex therapy and aligned it with the social constructionist movement in sociology, history, literature, etc. I began working in a urology department and saw how men's sexual expectations and values were partly constructed by a medical model ignorant of political, emotional and spiritual processes. I reread Masters and Johnson and realized that they had imposed a simple response cycle model on sexual diversity through various methodological tricks such as sample selection, coaching, and semantics. All of this helped me see why women's sexual emancipation would be a long, complex project. When Viagra was unleashed onto the world in 1998, I was ready to launch a public campaign to explain why the era of sexuopharmaceuticals would not be a boon to women—or to men.
2. What impact has your work had on your own life/career, positively or negatively?
I am living a politically engaged life in many ways, small and large, and it is perfectly appropriate that my work fits into this political framework. Being so political tends to be a very uncommon perspective in psychology and in professional life in general, and so I often find myself alienated from professional activities and from professional friendships. It has been crucial that I also have many friendships and activities based on feminism rather than sex therapy or psychology in order to feel connected to a community.
3. What advice/request would you give to those who will follow?
Sexuality is a very political topic, and trying to teach it or study it or do therapy about it in a "neutral" way is really impossible. I believe that you are either part of an emancipatory project or you are part of regimes of social control. It's best to study sociology and philosophy as good preparation for a career in sexology and not have to discover late in life, as I did, how to swim in politicized waters.
The clip of Dr. Tiefer's lecture is from Marketing Female Sexual Dysfunction 01, which was recorded and produced by ScribeMedia and can be seen on their Web site: http://www.scribemedia.org/2007/02/05/marketing-female-sexuality/.
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BETTY DODSON
1. How would you describe (or illustrate) your contribution to our current understanding of female sexuality, in the scientific/scholarly world(s) and/or in the broader culture(s)?
I mounted the first one-woman art exhibition of erotic art in '68 in NYC demonstrating that a woman was as interested in creating sexual imagery as a man. Insisting that the clitoris is the center of female sexual pleasure and promoting masturbation as a primary form of sexual expression in drawings, interviews and articles. Creating the first slide show of the female genitals and showing it at the NOW sex conference in '74 and showing the slides across the country. My self-published book Liberating Masturbation became a feminist classic. Sex for One was published by Crown in '87 and over the next twenty years sold over a million copies with 15 translations. In '92, I received a PhD in sexology based on 22 years of running Bodysex Groups for women that focused on discussing, learning and sharing masturbation skills to enhance women's orgasms. I began creating erotic sex-ed video tapes in the early nineties and have produced 6 titles to date. Since '98, I have answered questions on my website that now receives over 10,000 unique visitors a day. My private practice of Sex Coaching has become a model for sexologists. In '07 I taught a group of women sexologists in Copenhagen my approach to teaching women about orgasm. I am currently setting up an internet television show with a new media partner. The Betty Dodson Show with Carlin Ross will begin to air in the early part of 2008. The bettydodson.com website will also get revamped soon with all the bells and whistles that will include community, FAQ’s, articles, e-commerce, downloads, message board, photography, art and podcasts.
2. What impact has your work had on your own life/career, positively or negatively?
Both positive and negative. Teaching women about orgasm through the practice of self-stimulation was a huge challenge that often bordered on impossible in terms of social acceptance. However, that's what innovative creativity is all about: The artist's struggle to discover and manifest her personal vision that will help to alter people's perception of reality. I believe this is at the heart of all creative art forms, a pursuit that can sometimes become lonely, often plagued by self-doubt, but also paced by moments of self-assurance that you're on the right track. The challenge is what makes it so exciting.
3. What advice/request would you give to those who will follow?
Continue to question all authority, be prepared to break the rules, trust your intuition, experiment with recreational drugs, be willing to go to extremes, take care of your body and enjoy moving it, be aware of what you eat, put orgasms and sexual pleasure in your top ten priorities. After forty, re-invent yourself every decade. Always remind yourself that you have a lifetime to achieve your desires and goals.
The clip featuring Dr. Dodson is from Betty Dodson: Her Life of Sex and Art, produced by Mark Schoen, PhD. The DVD is available from www.bettydodson.com