Nancy Friday (1933–2017)

This is a fun little book. As others have stated, it purports to be about "research" but I also know it was the kind of book I used to find stuffed down under the basket of magazines in my parents' washroom. My step-dad was into this stuff.

Because yeah, it's also basically light porn. Yeah, it goes some places I don't dig (mutilations, and a shocking amount of sex with dogs, donkeys, and horses). But most of it, while I'm sure it was mind-blowing for the 70s, is now stuff you can access with a few clicks of your mouse (after putting your browser into incognito mode).

As for the subject matter and the writing...the writing is average, and most of the fantasies are quite truncated, seeming to finally get to the good stuff, and just...end. The subject matter is quite enjoyable, and as a guy, got the desired effect out of me on several occasions.

I guess the thing that I found the most shocking about this is the premise that women weren't expected to have rich, sexual fantasies in the first place. I mean...what? Guys can, but women can't?

Pardon the pun, but...fuck that.

I've never understood this stupid, arbitrary split between the sexes when it comes to sex. A young male is encouraged to go out and "sow his wild oats" (and what a stupid expression that is), where a young woman is supposed to stay away from exactly that sort of guy, keep her legs crossed and never think of sex.

A guy who's had a lot of sex is a stud, or a cocksman (yet another ridiculous expression) and is admired. A woman with a similar amount of experience is a skank, a slut, a whore (or "hoo-er" as my mother used to say). Why? Why is that?

So, if this book helps to break down those stupid stereotypes, and lets someone feel better about their thoughts, fantasies, and sexual cravings, then good. The book has done its job.

But yeah, it's also a fun read.… (meer)

Als Nancy Friday Anfang der 1970er Jahre mit ihrer Forschung für Meine Mutter/Mein Selbst begann, gab es keine Arbeit, die die einzigartige Interaktion zwischen Mutter und Tochter erforschte. Heute erkennen Psychotherapeutinnen auf der ganzen Welt an, dass Frauen, wenn sie in der Lage sein sollen, zu lieben, ohne etwas zu besitzen, eine Arbeit zu finden, die sie erfüllt, und ihre volle Sexualität zu entdecken, zuerst ihre Identität als von der ihrer Mutter getrennt anerkennen müssen. Das Buch von Nancy Friday spielte eine wichtige Rolle bei dieser Akzeptanz. Das größte Geschenk, das eine gute Mutter machen kann, bleibt die bedingungslose Liebe, die tief in das erste Lebensjahr hineingepflanzt wird, so tief und unangreifbar, dass das kleine Kind, das zur Frau heranwächst, niemals von der Furcht zurückgehalten wird, diese Liebe zu verlieren, ganz gleich, welche Wahl es selbst in Bezug auf Liebe, Sexualität oder Arbeit trifft.
Durch offene Selbstauskunft und Hunderte von Interviews untersucht der Freitag ein Generationenvermächtnis und enthüllt die widersprüchlichen Gefühle von Wut, Hass und Liebe, die die Tochter für ihre Mütter empfindet - und warum sie so oft selbst zu dieser Mutter "werden".… (meer)

Warning: if words like cock, fucking, cunt & prick in being used to describe sexual body parts and/or actions, then this book is not for you. This author is VERY blunt (which in my opinion you have to be when being honest about sex). I can honestly say that after reading this book I feel better about myself as a woman as well as a sexual being with sexual thoughts, needs and even... dare I say... fantasies! I agree wholeheartedly with the author that women's sexual fantasies have been repressed, surpressed and denied for far too long. By the way guys, our fantasies don't stop short of a cliche rape scene 😉 I HIGHLY recommend this to women who seek to validate their sexual urges and definitely to men who wish to understand the female side of sexuality a bit more. We have a lot more in common than it seems guys. 💘… (meer)