Want
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 〰️
🍑 Feminism 📚 Short Stories and Essays 🧠 Psychology
❓ Anonymous Collection 🗃️ Nonfiction 🌶️ Sexual Fantasies
Synopsis
You may know her as Otis’s mother, Jean Milburn, from Sex Education on Netflix; this time Gillian Anderson has put together her very own masterpiece! Want is a collection of stories and essays from women all over the globe, diving into the truths of their sexual fantasies and desires. What can you allow yourself to dream about when you’re allowed to fantasize beyond the stigmas of society? Gillian was determined to find out, providing a safe space for women of all sexualities, age, religion, and ethnicity, to anonymously submit their deepest and darkest desires.
“Great sex starts long before a single item of clothing hits the floor. Sex is anticipation, sex is longing, sex is pain and the baring of years upon years of insecurities and desire, all bundled into an act of squeaking passion and sweat.”
Favorites
This project is an absolute work of art and I cannot thank Gillian Anderson enough for putting it together. The vulnerability and emotion within these pages are truly eye-opening. It’s so special to dive into the minds of others to see the ways in which we are totally alike and yet so different.
Some pages had me tearing up, completely in awe of the emotions someone else was able to put into words for me. Others made me laugh out loud, while quite a few even left me stunned, mostly by the creativity and depth of so many women’s’ submissions.
It truly brought to perspective how, regardless of age and culture, we are simply people. In the same way that men desire, women do, too. We fantasize. We crave. We yearn. We dream. We, as people, all relate in this way, and yet society tells us that we don’t. The idea of a woman’s fantasy is taboo - it is not up for discussion. Gillian Anderson has squashed this norm and given us such a powerful leg to stand on. This collection of essays has allowed me to feel so empowered and seen.
I loved to see so many entries that allowed space for women to question their own wants and feelings. Many submissions were from women who identified as straight, and yet openly fantasized or expressed curiosity of being with someone of the same gender. Whether or not they had interest in acting upon these desires, it was so refreshing to read these admissions and bring life to such, again, “taboo” topics.
“I practice lucid dreaming. Every night I dream I have sex with the actor Pedro Pascal.”
Final Thoughts
It’s the conversation that we have all want to have, but will never feel comfortable enough to do. I respect Gillian so much for bringing the reality of our thoughts to the public. With the safety of anonymity, she allowed women to share their words with the world and I simply cannot fathom that overwhelming feeling of relief and power. The vulnerability of this book is truly empowering and validated so many of my own feelings and thoughts. I recommend this outstanding read to anyone who has ever felt an inkling of doubt or self-consciousness around their own sexuality or fantasies. You are not alone. You are powerful and beautiful. You want in the same way we, as people, all want.
“I’ve taught my children that you love a PERSON, regardless of whether they have a penis or a vagina.”
