This anthology argues women should not only know what they don’t want, but they also should seize their freedom to explore what they do want.
Of all the arguments out there that propose how to end rape, embracing women’s sexual pleasure may not sound like a likely solution. But Yes Means Yes argues otherwise. By investigating the myriad ways the sexual choices of women can take shape, this anthology argues, not only should women know what they don’t want, but they also should seize their freedom to explore what they do want. By challenging blanket claims, like that all males are sexual aggressors, and taking the shame away from females who are bona fide sexual submissives, Yes Means Yes says the conscious decisions we make about sex in its many forms are the best medicine for the illness that is rape culture.
The anthology includes a diverse range of perspectives, including Kimberly Springer’s investigation of black female heterosexuality and Julia Serano’s deconstructing of the “nice guy” from a transsexual’s perspective. The work also moves beyond the front-to-back organization of your typical anthology, grouping the essays by subject and referencing related works within the anthology after each essay. This allows the reader to explore the work more freely (If you liked “How Do You Fuck a Fat Woman?” you may also enjoy similar titles such as “Sex Worth Fighting For” or “Who’re You Calling a Whore?”) This hyperlink-style of organizing is effective—moving the reader past passages that she may not care for and on to ones that are more relevant to helping her understand sexuality as a powerful tool instead of a congenital burden.
