Book

Women Who Love Sexby Gina Ogden, Ph.D.

Have sex a lot and love it tool! Women of the world, unite! Let go of that conventional morality which constrains you and accept your full sexual being! In her book,Women Who Love Sex,Dr. Gina Ogden spreads her gospel of liberated female sexuality from the soapbox of social science. Intent of "enhancing your sexual pleasure and enriching your life," Ogden utilizes a mixture of psychotherapy, personal anecdotes and earth--woman vibes to convince women that they can overcome centuries of conditioning to rediscover their complete, lusty selves.

Ogden begins on a scientific note, discussing her sampling techniques and academic interest in the matter of female sexuality. For example, the Venn diagram on page 73 looks convincingly technical, apart from its symmetrical, aesthetic appeal. Normally first seen in high school math textbooks, the three intersecting circles help clarify the mess of human sexuality that people cannot seem to avoid. As the caption reads, the diagram presents an "alternative sexual response cycle--an ongoing continuum of pleasure, orgasm and ecstasy." Although this continuum requires some further explanation, the visual aid provides a critical framework for discussion. To corroborate the scientific nature of the writing, the book includes an appendix with flow charts, graph and sample questionnaires.

But despite the talk about statistical analysis and random populations, the book strays suspiciously from the standard scientific Protocol. Perhaps the cover, a lurid, close-up shot of a woman's navel surrounded by pink orchids, gives it away. Or the font used in the title lettering, highly reminiscent of a Harlequin romance novel. The interior of the book also betrays any serious scientific aims. Ogden's prose is casual, interrupted by sporadic fits of lyricism: "We allow the energy to reverberate in our consciousness and beyond." Now how exactly does that fit into a Venn diagram?

This tendency towards transcendence characterizesWomen Who Love Sex.Ogden patterns her book on personal discussions with various women who represent the opinions and comments from hundreds of women that she has recorded in her research. These conversations are a mixture of group therapy, lessons in ecology and New Age karma. Rosa likes to rub Tibetan monk singing bowls while talking about the "old patriarchal sexual equation"; Maya, 70 years old and going strong, shouts out '"Skin hunger!" to get her point across.

The dialogue between the women is blunt, bordering on rowdy, and often humorous; occasionally, the jokes will offer insight into the proverbial battle between sexes or safe love in the age of AIDS. Ogden chooses her participants carefully, representing a wide range of backgrounds and lifestyles. Many of the conversations focus on alternatives to the conventional models of sexuality, including lesbian life and "mental masturbation."

Unfortunately, these novel revelations about emotions and erotic desire seem to be accidental. Ogden spends the bulk of her time waxing poetic on the beautiful possibilities of sexual liberation, rather than presenting concrete ways to achieve those ends. At times, her analogies and explanations can be downright silly; Myrtle the Muskrat would fit better in a children's book rather than this presumed exploration of female sexuality.

In the last chapter titled "Reflections on Self, Spirit and Social Change," Ogden suddenly widens her scope. All within a few pages, she addresses feminist backlash, mass media and power hierarchy and raises some interesting questions about the political implications of changing gender roles. Yet by this time, near the very end of the book, these topics on longer seem appropriate with the mood set from the beginning, a navel in high relief. Overall, the book does not fulfill its original stated mission, but reduces itself to an entertaining article on sexual hocus-pocus.