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.
Author Info
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.
Reviews
“An excellent, thorough, inspiring and much needed guide to the source of our deepest energy, pleasure, and power—the clitoris. Everyone needs to read this book and become CLITERATE.” — Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues and In the Body of the World
“This read doesn’t just zero in on the politics of pleasure inequality, it also offers up solutions that help the reader become more hands on (literally) with their own sexuality.” — Bust Magazine
“Down with ill-cliteracy! The tongue is mightier than the sword! Brothers and Sisters-in-arms (and legs and butts and hearts and souls), bring your huddled masses to this book and embrace orgasm equality! Think outside HER box! Viva la Vulva!” — Ian Kerner, PhD, LMFT, New York Times bestselling author of She Comes First
“Brilliant.” — GOOP
“Becoming Cliterate will change how we think and talk about female sexual pleasure. The orgasm gap isn’t a consequence of women not knowing how—it’s a cultural problem that we should be reading about to discover what went wrong in the first place.” — Betty Dodson, sex educator and author of Sex for One
“What a fascinating and deeply empowering book. I wish every woman could read what Dr. Laurie Mintz has to teach us about our bodies.” — Sara Benincasa, comedian and author of Real Artists Have Day Jobs (And Other Awesome Things They Don't Teach You In School)
“Women experience sexual pleasure - and, often orgasm - from diverse ways of physical and mental stimulation. This book provides a wealth of information on the clitoris and ways of imagining and creating a more fulfilling sexual life.” — Debby Herbenick, PhD, associate professor at Indiana University and author of Because It Feels Good
“For too long, men and women have assumed that a penis inside a vagina is the holy grail of sex.Women’s sexual satisfaction depends on way more than this. Fortunately, Mintz provides helpful suggestions to increase women’s pleasure. I encourage both men and women read this valuable and insightful book.” — Paul Joannides, Psy.D., author of Guide to Getting it On
“If you sometimes feel lost on the way to your orgasm, Becoming Cliterate is the map (and the cheering section) you need to find your way. Grounded in research and packed with real-world tips, readers will thank Mintz for her truth-telling.” — Dorian Solot, co-author of I Love Female Orgasm
“This book is set up like a college textbook for female orgasm, with some philosophy and pep talks and then some hands-on experimenting. And a chapter at the end for male partners to read. What more could you need?” — Book Riot
“A fun and empowering reminder that sexual dissatisfaction is not inevitable….Becoming Cliterate does a good job questioning these basic assumptions, re-orienting us to another vision of what sex can be, and giving practical advice on how to be a boss bitch during sex.” — Feministing
“Laurie Mintz, a professor of psychology at the University of Florida, wins this year’s award for best book title.” — New York Times
“You’ll be reading for pleasure in more ways than one.” — Bustle
“A manifesto for today’s orgasmic insurrection….Mintz is unpretentious and intuitive….Becoming Cliterate will help many women reach their orgasm objectives.” — Los Angeles Review of Books
“Fun, funny, and empowering. A must-read for people with clits, especially those who are having sex with people with penises.” — Buzzfeed
“Personable, witty, and easy to read … Becoming Cliterate could be considered a book for anyone with a vulva as well as anyone who is interested in having sex with someone with a vulva.” — Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
Dr. Laurie Mintz draws up biology, sociology, and sex therapy to provide a comprehensive manual for both achieving orgasm and raising awareness about female orgasm. Readers will walk away with suggestions for changing our culture of sexuality and, more specifically, female orgasm. — PsycCRITIQUES
