Jane Sexes It Up: True Confessions of Feminist Desire

By Merri Lisa Johnson

In Jane Sexes It Up, 20 young, progressive feminists reflect on the limitations they think are imposed by establishment feminism on their bodies and their behavior. In these essays, headed up by editor Merri Lisa Johnson's "Generation X Does the Sex Wars," the writers confess their seemingly antifeminist longings and question what role feminist ideals should play in women's sexuality. In "Spanking and the Single Girl," Chris Daley wonders whether it's acceptable to play the submissive role in an S/M exchange. In "Vulvodynia -- How Porn Made Me a Woman," Katinka Hooijer reveals her affection for porn and the inner conflict her predilection inspires. Sex toy store owner Sarah Smith declares a "dildo revolution" -- for women and men, gay and straight -- in her essay of the same name. Whatever the angle, the authors all champion a sex-positive feminism.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568581807
• ISBN13: 9781568581804
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Seal Press (CA)
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Truly like a conversation with a best friend!

I thought for awhile what to write for this review... There is just so many pieces of this book that jumped out to me. Stumbling across this book, randomly, was for me, like running into a best friend, just when I needed her most. This collection of "confessions of feminist desire" was one of the best essay collections I've ever read. Almost every essay was engaging and had me considering something through a new lens. I would have loved to read this book as a part of a book club or a gender studies class, debating and discovering even more depth than when I got from the first read. For me, one of the best parts of this book was how easy it was to relate to the different perspectives - or know someone who could relate. I constantly found myself wanting to lend the book to friends (but not before I was done reading it) so they could read that one particular essay that reminded me of them. Some of my favorites: Cutting, Craving and the Self I was Saving, by Jennifer Lutzenberger - This essay offered such a unique perspective of self-injurious behavior and the way in which it truly became a defiant, saving act of agency. Of the Flesh Fancy: Spanking and the Single Girl, by Chris Daley - A great essay about the power in pleasure and what that means when women mix a little domination into the mix. The feminist Wife: Notes from a Political "Engagement," by Patricia Payette - This is one of the essays I wanted a few friends to read - it's a great piece about a feminist woman who is struggling with what her marriage (to a man) means for her feminist identity. Vulvodynia: On the Medicinal Purposes of Porn, by Katinka Hooijer - A great piece about a woman's experience with vulvodynia and the way she experiences her sexuality. Liquid Fire: Female Ejaculation and Fast Feminism, by Shannon Bell - In light of current "research" disproving female ejaculation, I found this essay particularly insightful and ever-more relevant. In short - Read this book! Particularly if you are a feminist with an interest in female sexuality.

Insightful and empowering

This book was a very interesting and fun read. Perspectives from a diverse group of individuals on balancing being a feminist and being sexual. Well worth a read

Perfect.

This book is extraordinary. It provides first-person narratives on a wide variety of sex-positive practices/experiences, and also argues that such practices/experiences are normal. Reading this book should make any woman feel more comfortable with the thoughts/wants/needs she has that may seem to be anti-feminist in nature. Personally, as a feminist-identified stripper, I was thrilled to see that such a book had been compiled. Each narrative is intelligent and edited perfectly. At times the stories are hilarious, at other times sad. Its honesty is unbelievably refreshing (feminists DO experience seemingly-anti-feminist feelings), and inspiring. You can read this book all the way through, or you can peruse different subjects and read the (relatively) short essays one-by-one. I would recommend this book to any woman...especially those with internalized feelings of sexual guilt, or even those who are merely curious about topics like stripping, spanking, marriage, surviving abuse, controversial masturbation fantasies, female ejaculation, prostitution, , pornography, etc. There are enough narratives to make the book flow well and stay entertaining, yet there are also enough analytical segments to place the book in an intelligent, revelatory sphere. Buy this book if you have an open mind, or even if you want to gain a different perspective on a variety of sexual issues. I cannot thank the editors/essayists enough for putting such a daring and HONEST book on the market. Women are so much more complicated than sex-negative feminist perspectives would like to think.

Empowering

A must read for any woman today. It explores the topics of girlhood, sex, sex work and single women. Any one who reads these essays relates in one way or another even men. Women from across the nation contribute to this awe inspiring book with one thing in common..... they all love sex. They make you rethink your ideas and explore new ways to look at sex and yourself. If your curious at all pick this up it will change your life.