We’ve been thinking about sex all wrong. Mainstream media, movies, and porn have taught us that sex = penis + vagina, and everything else is just secondary. Standard penetration is how men most reliably achieve orgasm. The problem is, women don’t orgasm this way. We’ve separated our most reliable route to orgasm—clitoral stimulation—from how we feel we should orgasm—penetration. As a result, we’ve created a pleasure gap between women and men:
50% of 18-35-year-old women say they have trouble reaching orgasm with a partner
64% of women vs 91% of men said they had an orgasm at their last sexual encounter
55% of men vs. 4% of women say they usually reach orgasm during first-time hookup sex
In Becoming Cliterate, psychology professor and human sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz exposes the broader cultural problem that’s perpetuating this gap, and what we can do about it. Pulling together evidence from biology, sociology, linguistics, and sex therapy into one comprehensive, accessible, and prescriptive book, Becoming Cliterate features:
Cultural & historical analysis of female orgasm (spoiler: the problem’s been going on for ages)
An anatomy section (it’s all custom under the hood)
Proven techniques for cliterate sex (it starts with training the sex organ between your ears)
A comprehensive final chapter for men (because you don’t have to have a clitoris to be cliterate)
By dispelling the lies, misunderstandings, and myths that have been holding us back, Becoming Cliterate tackles both personal and political problems and replaces them with updated outlooks and practical skills needed to change our collective perspective on sex. It’s time to finally inform women and men on how to have satisfying experiences in bed that benefit both parties.
The revolution is cuming—and Becoming Cliterate offers a radical, simple solution to progress and pleasure for all.
LAURIE MINTZ, Ph.D., is a college professor at the University of Florida, has received numerous professional and teaching awards, and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. She has published over fifty research studies, writes a popular Psychology Today blog, and has been quoted extensively in Parenting, Cosmopolitan, Prevention, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, CNN.com, Oprah.com and The Huffington Post.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Hello and I Want You to Orgasm 1
Sextion 1 Your Orgasm Problem is a Cultural Problem
1 The Pleasure Gap 7
Lies About Getting Laid
2 Dirty Talk 21
Redefining the Language of Sex
3 It's Been Going On Too Long! 37
Cliteracy Through the Ages
Sextion 2 Increase your Cliteracy
4 Let's Look Under the Hood 53
Sextion 3 The Time has come for you to Cum
5 Training the Sex Organ Between Your Ears 89
6 Taking Matters into Your Own Hands 105
7 Equal Opportunity Orgasms 127
8 The Other C 155
Communication
Sextion 4 Wait, There's more (Cum Again)
9 Your Endless Erotic Education 181
10 Spread the Word 189
Sextion 5 You don't have to have a Clitoris to be Cliterate
