Playboy magazine is celebrating their 55th year this month by publishing a list of the "most important people in sex" over the same period— since 1953. Kinsey is #1, Hefner, #3.
There are some interesting tidbits— quick, name the devout Catholic who was the "father" of the birth control pill!
Why, that would be Dr. John Rock, who was terribly hurt when the Vatican didn't see things his way.
But the list, as Playboy's critics might suspect— is lacking names from the foundations of radical sex: uppity women and flaming queers.
Most of the women on Playboy's 55 aren't sexual leaders, but rather women whose youth and beauty were exploited at some crystalline moment by an older male Svengali. Brigitte Bardot, Monica Lewinsky, and Farrah Fawcett— as examples— are not, and never were, eager to lead the Sexual Revolution.
Chip Rowe, Playboy's longtime Advisor, encouraged me to review their list and write a scathing letter! Okay, but that was like shooting come-shots in a barrel. (Chip invites you to send your critique, too.)
More fun was to try and make my own list of female sexual role models. Where to begin? My most profound influences were surely my first lovers, the men and women who provided thrills and reassurance. There was also my groovy-big-sister figure, who offered a safe place to confide. A salute to my babysitter, Carole Rothbart!— who taught me what all the "four-letter" words were, with great sensitivity to my shocked ears.
I'm sure my picks will say more about my age and bookworm qualities than any last word on the subject. I'd probably make a whole other list if I delved into music, science, and theater. Help me out— who would you add?
"Susie's Most Influential Women in Sex of the Past 50 Years"
(in no particular order)
Joani Blank, founder of Good Vibrations and Down There Press. The author of the only book for kids about sex that isn't about disease or pregnancy.
Club 90, the porn star support group that inspired the feminist erotic video wave: Candida Royalle, Annie Sprinkle, Nina Hartley, Veronica Vera, among talented others...
My alma mater, On Our Backs, the first stab at "sexual entertainment for the adventurous lesbian." Our cell included: Nan Kinney, Deborah Sundahl, Honey Lee Cottrell, Shar Rednour, Jill Posener, Lulu Belliveau, Greta Christina, & Lisa Palac,
Andrea Dworkin, a sexual revolutionary who influenced every American on this list, if only in rebellion.
Shere Hite, The Hite Report — the first time I ever saw the word "clitoris."
Lonnie Barbach: For Yourself, along with Betty Dodson, a pioneer in women's masturbation. I personally sold thousands of these to desperate women.
The Bend Over Boyfriend crew
Breaking the anal sex taboo for women, teacher/author Tristan Taormino
Samois, Coming to Power, the lesbian feminist S/M group that changed every dialog about kinky sex
Patrick (Pat) Califia, most prolific sexual theorist of our time
Gayle Rubin, "Thinking Sex: Notes for a Radical Theory of the Politics of Sexuality"
Pauline Réage, Story of O
Margo St. James and all the COYOTE women
Tits and Clits, and all the underground women comix artists
Anne Koedt, for 1970's "The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm"
Valerie Solanas, author of The SCUM Manifesto, who provided what's gotta be one of the greatest opening lines of all time:
"Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of society being at all relevant to women..."
Pioneering Porn Scholars: Linda WIlliams, Constance Penley
Carol Queen, guru and founder of The Center for Sex and Culture
The OurBodies OurSelves Collective
Anais Nin, Delta of Venus, Little Birds
Ellen Willis, "No More Nice Girls" I miss her every day!
Inga Muscio, CUNT
The Caught Looking crew, on "Feminism, Porn, and Censorship": Nan Hunter, Lisa Duggan, Abby Talmer, Barbara O'Dair, Beth Jaker, Kate Ellis
Tee Corinne, The Cunt Coloring Book
The Babes at Babeland
Avedon Carol, "Feminists Against Censorship"
Ann Snitow, for disemboweling the romance, and editing Powers of Desire
Carole Vance, editor and activist, Pleasure and Danger
Dossie Easton, sex educator and author of The Ethical Slut
Nadine Strossen for putting it on the line at the ACLU
Susan Sontag, for Notes on Camp
Plus, the Women on the PB list who deserved to be there:
Beverly Whipple, "The G-Spot"
Nancy Friday, "My Secret Garden"
MacKinnon, as a footnote to Dworkin
Anita Bryant, as a footnote to Harvey Milk
Estelle Griswold, the Planned Parenthood director who went to the Supreme Court to guarantee a married couples right to purchase birth control.
All right, I'm going to give my scrapbook a rest! Who comes to your mind?
Photo: Art Shay, "Simone de Beauvoir in Chicago, 1952"
Poster: "From the Golden Age of cycling in the 1880s when bicycles became both a symbol and a means of women's liberation," Majikthise's blog.
I immediately thought of Susan Stryker and Heather Corinna.
Posted by: BethanyAnne | December 17, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Sylvia Rivera and Leslie Feinberg!
Posted by: Ng Yi-Sheng | December 18, 2008 at 06:55 AM