by Rebecca Chalker, Reviewed by Melissa Balmer
Copyright © 2006, Seduction Insider, www.seductioninsider.com.
The Clitoral Truth
Published by:
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street
New York, NY 10013
www.sevenstories.com
For my very first recommendation in the “Seduction Insider Reading Room” I chose Rebecca Chalker’s fascinating and enlightening book “The Clitoral Truth”. A small and easy to read book “The Clitoral Truth” gets right to the heart of a matter that’s still very confusing to both men and women – female sexual plumbing and how it receives pleasure. Chalker (an internationally renowned women’s health writer and activist) has written this book not only as a primer on the clitoris, but also on how the view of women’s sexuality has radically changed throughout history (you’ll be fascinated to learn that for 2,500 years the clitoris and the penis were considered equivalent in all respects expect their arrangement, but all that changed after the eighteenth century when this knowledge was repressed, ignored and forgotten) and how and why both men and women are well served to step back and take a broader view of sex than just to focus on the heterosexual intercourse obsessed version that’s so popular in our modern culture. Introducing the book Chalker writes:
“The task of transforming the male-centered model of sexuality and developing a more equitable ideal is a challenging endeavor. It requires, in part, reclaiming information about women’s bodies and sexual response that has been lost or ignored under the antique phallyocentric model. It also demands a broader understanding of what sexuality is and isn’t, that it isn’t just mood, body parts, revealing underwear, and orgasms. It’s a part of who we are as sentient human beings, and it varies from person to person, culture to culture. Constructing a new model requires a thorough evaluation of the psychological, social, and biological facets of sexuality.”
The Clitoris – Far More Than We Thought It Was!
The preface of Chalker’s book is that the clitoris is actually far more than that little nub of nerve endings above the entrance of the vagina. She contends that the clitoris is actually quite a large and complex organ which exists in both men and women, and that the better understanding of its structure within the female sexual organs will bring better understanding to both men about the female sexual response. From the introduction again Chalker writes:
“While the larger part of sexuality is certainly psychological, “The Clitoral Truth” focuses on the physical aspects of pleasure. The text and illustrations are designed to give women and their partners information, tools, resources, and ideas about how to understand and expand their sexual interests and potential.”
The book includes illustrations, which diagram the full eighteen parts of female sexual plumbing that Chalker contends make up the complete clitoris. I say, “contends” because there is still a debate going on female sexual anatomy. Why? Because it’s been given a scant attention by the male dominated medical body in modern science. There are still those doctors who are completely convinced that the “G-spot” absolutely does not exists (nor that female’s can ejaculate), and those who (along with their female patients) swear it does. Chalker, however, has done her homework. The information she provides in “The Clitoral Truth” is largely from research done while she was a part of the Federation of Feminist Women’s Health Centers (FFWHCs), but also quotes a variety of medical research that supports her findings from both ancient and modern research.
In “The Clitoral Truth” Chalker takes such subject as the “G-spot” and whether or not females ejaculate head on and describes both clearly. She also delves into masturbation, the use of sex toys, and writes a whole chapter on “Beyond Intercourse - New Erotic Possibilities.” She also delves into ancient Tantric and Taoist methods of sex and how incorporating them into modern love making can take things to a whole new level for both partners. In the “Beyond Intercourse” chapter Chalker writes:
“Most experts agree that spectacular sex isn’t something that just happens, but rather is consciously cultivated. Under the male-centered, heterosexual model of sexuality, men feel a sense of failure if they can’t “get is up”, “get it in,” and “get off”. But according to the Tantric and Taoist models, men are considered failures when they don’t put their partner’s pleasure first and provide the types of stimulation that lead to her sexual satisfaction.”
Why You Need To Read This Book
Not too long ago I watched a program on hysterectomies on “20/20”. The program spelled out (with some very sad personal stories) how many hysterectomies are completely unnecessary, can completely destroy a woman’s ability to feel sexual pleasure, and yet they are still standard fare for many doctors to practice. I was completely appalled to see doctors admit (both male and female) that modern science is far behind in understanding female sexuality compared to male. I encourage all of our Seduction Insider readers to check out “The Clitoral Truth” and find out for themselves just what is ignition that gets the female sexual engine to purr. Education is power, and in this case the power brings pleasure.
