"Delicious...women can share in their sisters' secrets and not feel that they are alone." Los Angeles Times
Contents
Introduction Twenty-five Years in the Garden 1. "Tell Me What You Are Thinking About," He Said. 2. "Why Fantasize When You Have Me?" FRUSTRATION: Madge, Dot INSUFICIENCY: Louella, Irene, Annette, Maria SEX ENHANCEMENT: Patricia, Suzanne FOREPLAY: Bertha, Bellinda APPROVAL: Sally, Vicki, Francesca, Sondra EXPLORATION: Karen, Abbie, Hilda, Heather, Kitty SEXUAL INITIATIVE: Carol, Faye INSATIABILITY: Clarissa, Annabel, Iris, Nora DAYDREAMS: Corinne, Molly, Alicia, Lily, Eliza, Esther, Shirley, Lillian, Viola MASTURBATION: Patsy, Norma, Adair, Mary Beth, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Amelia, Alix THE LESBIANS: Marion, Jeanne, Lisa, Zizi, Kate, Anna, Susan, Melanie 3. The House of Fantasy ROOM NUMBER ONE: Anonymity, or, "Taken by the Faceless Stranger" Linda, Pamela, Marie ROOM NUMBER TWO: The Audience Caroline, Elspeth, Mary Jo, Melanie, Celeste ROOM NUMBER THREE: Rape, or, "Don't Just Stand There, Force Me!" Julietta, Gail, Dinah, Sadie ROOM NUMBER FOUR: Pain and Masochism, or, "Ouch, Don't Stop!" Barbara, Edith, Rose Ann, Amanda ROOM NUMBER FIVE: Domination, or "How Humiliating! Thank You." Nathalie, Poppy, Heather, Ingrid ROOM NUMBER SIX: The Sexuality of Terror, or, "Help! I'm Out of Control, Thank God!" Johanna, Anne ROOM NUMBER SEVEN: The Thrill of the Forbidden, or, "No, You Must Not!...Here, Let Me Help You." Emma, Donna ROOM NUMBER EIGHT: The Transformation Room, or, "Life Can Be Beautiful." Monica, Betty, Phyllis ROOM NUMBER NINE: The Earth Mother Room Vivian, Marina ROOM NUMBER TEN: Incest Bella, Dominique, Lola ROOM NUMBER ELEVEN: The Zoo Jo, Rosie, Dawn, Wanda ROOM NUMBER TWELVE: Big Black Men Margie, Raquel, Lydia ROOM NUMBER THIRTEEN: Young Boys Evelyn, Victoria ROOM NUMBER FOURTEEN: The Fetishists Faith ROOM NUMBER FIFTEEN: Other Women Christine, Dolly, Bee, Venice, Lilly, Rita, Mary Beth, Viv, Lee, Willa, Dana, Cara, Celia, Theresa, Tania, Michelle, Sandra, Patty, Stella, Claire, Gwen, Rebecca ROOM NUMBER SIXTEEN: Prostitution, or, "Sadie Thompson Doesn't Live Here Anymore." 4. "Where Did a Nice Girl Like You Get an Idea Like That? CHILDHOD: Theda, Lindsay, Fiona, Felicia, Sonia, Phyllis, Marlene, Kay, Trudy, Mona, Stella SOUNDS: June, Nina, Meg, Holly, Evie WOMEN DO LOOK: Fay, Sukie, Constance, Deana, Anna, Vera, Una, Lois, Liz, Winona, Ruby, Gale, Imogene, Francine, April, Myrna, Laurie, Jeanie SEEING AND READING: Mary Jane, Miranda, Margaret, Alexandra, Stephanie RANDOM ASOCIATIONS: Susie, Adrienne, Doris, Lulu, Daisy, Kit, Flossie, Josie, Brett, Sarah, Maud, Gelda 5. Guilt and Fantasy, or, "Why the Fig Leaf?" WOMEN'S GUILT: Christiana, Hope, Lil, Alison, Clare, Penelope MEN'S ANXIETY: Tina's husband 6. Fantasy Accepted "OF COURSE I FANTASIZE, DOESN'T EVERYONE?" Gloria, Hannah, Sophie, Bobbie, Paula FANTASIES THAT SHOULD BE REALITY: Martha ACTING OUT FANTASIES, PROS AND CONS: Sylvia, Babs, Elizabeth, Winnie, Loretta, Sheila, Claudine, Jocelyn SHARING FANTASIES: Lynn, Jacqueline, Doris, Bonnie, Jessie, Esther, Posie, Mara, Joan, Adele's husband 7. Quickies AFTERWORD "IN DEFENSE OF NANCY FRIDAY" by Martin Shepard, M.D., psychiatrist