And yet, when someone says girl power, my immediate thought is the Spice Girls—platform sneakers and Union Jack mini-dresses and the God-awful infectious pop music that hatched a zillion wretched ear-worms. It inspires no intrinsic bond with members of my gender.
In fact, from Posh, my mind moves immediately to Beckham, and the long list of downright appalling things I’d thank him for doing to me. I suppose that means sexual empowerment is now officially the very last thing on my agenda.
Or is it?
“Giving up our power superficially is really just that. It’s a game we play with our partners,” says Rhee, 37. Rhee considers herself exceptionally sexually empowered, not in spite of the fact that she is one of three monogamous female slaves in a relationship with the same male master, but because of it. “There is, for me, an almost a Zen-like peace that comes from symbolically giving away my power. From the outside, it might look like subjugation, but it frees me.”
I may not wear a collar, but as someone who’s always felt exceptionally in charge on her knees, I see her point. Rhee and her “sisters” often enjoy social time together outside the bonds of their keeper over drinks. “We laugh about it, our crazy little ‘family,’ and in many ways,” she says, “he’s really our slave—a slave to three pussies instead of one.”
Real Live Nude Girl
by Carol Queen
"Insightful essays that make you think and challenge your views on sexuality." by Jul!a
"Interesting essays, full of information and insight." by Sammi
"A challenging, engaging and thought-provoking book." by Red Roulette
It’s an interesting theory with a mountain of evidence to support it. One needn’t look past the headlines. Even the mightiest among our modern Titans—athletes, artists, geniuses in the realms of science and politics—intractable men who tower above countless others on their respective playing fields are, with a frequency that is painfully comical, into useless, drooling serial sexters by the vagina.
In fact, from Posh, my mind moves immediately to Beckham, and the long list of downright appalling things I’d thank him for doing to me. I suppose that means sexual empowerment is now officially the very last thing on my agenda.
Or is it?
“Giving up our power superficially is really just that. It’s a game we play with our partners,” says Rhee, 37. Rhee considers herself exceptionally sexually empowered, not in spite of the fact that she is one of three monogamous female slaves in a relationship with the same male master, but because of it. “There is, for me, an almost a Zen-like peace that comes from symbolically giving away my power. From the outside, it might look like subjugation, but it frees me.”
I may not wear a collar, but as someone who’s always felt exceptionally in charge on her knees, I see her point. Rhee and her “sisters” often enjoy social time together outside the bonds of their keeper over drinks. “We laugh about it, our crazy little ‘family,’ and in many ways,” she says, “he’s really our slave—a slave to three pussies instead of one.”
by Carol Queen
"Insightful essays that make you think and challenge your views on sexuality." by Jul!a
"Interesting essays, full of information and insight." by Sammi
"A challenging, engaging and thought-provoking book." by Red Roulette
It’s an interesting theory with a mountain of evidence to support it. One needn’t look past the headlines. Even the mightiest among our modern Titans—athletes, artists, geniuses in the realms of science and politics—intractable men who tower above countless others on their respective playing fields are, with a frequency that is painfully comical, into useless, drooling serial sexters by the vagina.
Advocates & Admirers
by Violet Blue
"Offers a lot of detail and information to those who are looking to re-educate themselves or those who are just curious about porn." by Mistress Kay
"Full of practical and useful info for the porn newbie." by Alan & Michelle
“Female sexual empowerment,” says Gwen, an Arizona therapist who began her career as a volunteer counselor for victims of sexual assault, “is merely an extension of traditional feminine empowerment—understanding that you have dominion over your sexuality. There’s no formula. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out there making the rounds like it’s Sex in the City, or flashing cleavage for cocktails. It just means you do what’s right for you and you don’t feel badly about it. And make sure you print this: This isn’t feminist bullshit.”
It’s not an ideology meant to steal power away from men, she says, but to bring about gender equality. “The evolved male doesn’t merely accept the idea of a woman’s sexual power, he relishes it. Perhaps not all men ‘get it,’ but a lot of them do. Sexually adventurous women aren’t just playthings.”
Indeed. According to Max—53, divorced and looking for Ms. Right—they’re marriage material. “My ex and I were terribly incompatible in bed,” he says. “She was very closed-off.” Max hoped that in time, she’d come out of her shell, but she never did, despite a couple of years in counseling near the end. He’s still unsure whether she didn’t like sex, or if she just didn’t like it with him. “Either way, it wasn’t working.”
Max jokes that he’s looking for a serious, long-term relationship—“with a woman willing to sleep with me on the first date. It’s not that much of a joke. Yes, I want someone I’m compatible with on other levels, too. That’s really important. But I would very much like a partner who loves sex and has no hang-ups about it.”
Power Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry
In 1987, I had a male friend who would drive me to my job after school. It wasn’t a big deal, he said. He had to pass the place on his way home. He was sweet, and I appreciated it, genuinely. At the close of senior year, we exchanged yearbooks and I was dumfounded to read a passive-aggressive note about how he “forgave me” for using him for his car, since I’d known he had a crush on me.
I was astonished.
Had I known, via some innate female intuition, that he liked me? And even if I had, did I really owe him something for thoughtfulness borne of a desire to get into my pants? Was I supposed to be sorry for being a wanton temptress who’d driven him to the crime of chivalry by virtue of the satanic lusciousness between my creamy adolescent thighs?
Okay, so pussy has power.
It’s only the font from which all life springs. What did you expect? As of this writing, in fact, members of the European Union were clamoring to save an Iranian woman from a stoning sentence she most certainly brought upon herself via the man-eating Kryponite in her panties. The witch. With shameful medieval twaddle like this still going on, is it any wonder, really, that a few of my sisters get a bit drunk on it from time to time?
I was astonished.
Had I known, via some innate female intuition, that he liked me? And even if I had, did I really owe him something for thoughtfulness borne of a desire to get into my pants? Was I supposed to be sorry for being a wanton temptress who’d driven him to the crime of chivalry by virtue of the satanic lusciousness between my creamy adolescent thighs?
Okay, so pussy has power.
It’s only the font from which all life springs. What did you expect? As of this writing, in fact, members of the European Union were clamoring to save an Iranian woman from a stoning sentence she most certainly brought upon herself via the man-eating Kryponite in her panties. The witch. With shameful medieval twaddle like this still going on, is it any wonder, really, that a few of my sisters get a bit drunk on it from time to time?
| The Naked Reader Book Club | Selections for September 2010 |
| Girls On Top, edited by Violet Blue | The Smart Girl's Guide to the G-spot, by Violet Blue |
 | ]  |
| Real Live Nude Girl by Carol Queen | The Smart Girl's Guide to Porn, by Violet Blue |
| |
Time and time again, Cherry scores with her insights and wry humor. She makes her people come to life with their quotes. Good job!