Women on Top

Women on Top is a 1991 study of female sexual fantasies by Nancy Friday, following her earlier works My Secret Garden and Forbidden Flowers. The book combines research, analysis, and first-hand accounts to examine the evolving nature of women's sexual imagination. The work is structured in three main sections: an analytical overview, an examination of masturbation, and an extensive collection of women's fantasies. These fantasies are organized into distinct thematic categories exploring power dynamics, same-sex encounters, and sexual desire. Friday compiles and presents authentic fantasies shared by real women, documenting their intimate thoughts and desires through direct testimonials. The research spans diverse backgrounds and experiences, creating a comprehensive study of female sexuality in the late 20th century. The book represents a significant contribution to feminist literature and sexual psychology, examining how social changes have influenced women's relationship with their own sexuality and desires.

Readers describe the book as frank research into female sexual fantasies, based on hundreds of first-hand accounts. Online reviews note the academic yet accessible writing style and Friday's matter-of-fact treatment of taboo subjects. What readers liked: - Validates women's sexual thoughts and desires - Helps reduce shame around fantasy - Contains diverse perspectives and experiences - Balances research with readable prose What readers disliked: - Writing style can feel repetitive - Some passages read like erotica rather than research - Focus skews toward heterosexual experiences - Psychoanalytic theories feel dated Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (230+ ratings) Representative review: "An important book for understanding female sexuality, though the Freudian analysis sections haven't aged well." - Goodreads reviewer "The personal accounts are enlightening but Friday's interpretations sometimes oversimplify complex issues." - Amazon reviewer

My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday An earlier work that collects women's sexual fantasies through extensive interviews and personal letters.

Forbidden Flowers by Nancy Friday A follow-up collection of women's sexual fantasies that expands on themes of empowerment and desire.

Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin A collection of female-centric erotic stories written from a woman's perspective during the 1940s.

Female Sexuality by Shere Hite Research-based examination of women's sexuality through surveys and firsthand accounts from thousands of respondents.

Sex and the Psyche by Brett Kahr A compilation of data from interviews with 2,000 people about their sexual fantasies and inner mental life.

🔸 The book's research included over 3,000 anonymous written responses from women across the United States, making it one of the largest studies of female sexual fantasies at the time. 🔸 Nancy Friday's first book on sexuality, "My Secret Garden" (1973), was initially rejected by multiple publishers who believed women didn't have sexual fantasies. 🔸 The three main categories Friday identified in women's fantasies were: Seizing Control, Pleasure in Pain, and Breaking Taboos—themes that challenged prevailing 1990s feminist theories. 🔸 The publication of "Women on Top" coincided with the rise of Third Wave Feminism, contributing to broader discussions about female empowerment and sexual autonomy. 🔸 Following its release, the book spent 26 weeks on various bestseller lists and has been translated into over 20 languages, demonstrating global interest in understanding female sexuality.