The Hite Report

A reproduction of the classic text, unavailable now for more than a decade, with a new introduction by the author. The Hite Report, first published in 1976, was a sexual revolution in six hundred pages. To answer sensitive questions dealing with the most intimate details of women's sexuality, Hite's innovation was simple: she asked women, a lot of them, everything--and published the results. One hundred thousand women, ages fourteen to seventy-eight, were asked what they do and don't like about sex; how orgasm really feels, with and without intercourse; how it feels not to have an orgasm during sex; the importance of clitoral stimulation and masturbation; and to name the greatest pleasures and frustrations of their sexual lives, among many other questions. The Hite Report declares that orgasm is easy and strong for women, given the right stimulation; that most women have orgasm most easily during masturbation or clitoral stimulation by hand; that sex as we define it is a cultural institution, not a biological one; and that attitudes must change to include the stimulation women desire.

SHERE HITE, one of the great feminists and cultural anthropologists of our time, is internationally recognized for her work on psychosexual behavior and gender relations. Hite has lectured at universities around the world including the Sorbonne, Harvard, Columbia, Cambridge, Oxford, the London School of Economics, and others. Hite also writes regularly for international newspapers and journals. Director of the National Organization for Women's feminist sexuality project from 1972 to 1978, since that time she has directed Hite Research International. Her continuing study of sexual behavior includes major new discoveries on, for example, male sexuality, teen sexuality, and the relationship of sexuality to globalization. The Hite Report, first published in 1976, has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide.