Faking It

The Lies Women Tell about Sex - And the Truths They Reveal

By: Lux Alptraum

Narrated by: Lux Alptraum

From Out of the Binders co-founder Lux Alptraum, a controversial look at women, sex, and lying - why myths about women's deceit persist, how they came to be, and ultimately why we must trust women.

When we talk about sex, we talk about women as mysterious, deceptive, and - above all - untrustworthy. Women lie about orgasms. Women lie about being virgins. Women lie about who got them pregnant, about whether they were raped, about how many people they've had sex with, and what sort of experiences they've had - the list goes on and on. Over and over we're reminded that, on dates, in relationships, and especially in the bedroom, women just aren't telling the truth. But where does this assumption come from? Are women actually lying about sex, or does society just think we are?

In Faking It, Lux Alptraum tackles the topic of seemingly dishonest women; investigating whether women actually lie, and what social situations might encourage deceptions both great and small. Using her experience as a sex educator and former CEO of Fleshbot (the foremost blog on sexuality), first-hand interviews with sexuality experts and everyday women, Alptraum raises important questions: Are lying women all that common - or is the idea of the dishonest woman a symptom of male paranoia? Are women trying to please men, or just avoid their anger? And what affect does all this dishonesty - whether real or imagined - have on women's self-images, social status, and safety? Through it all, Alptraum posits that even if women are lying, we're doing it for very good reason - to protect ourselves ("My boyfriend will be here any minute", to a creep who won't go away, for one), and in situations where society has given us no other choice.

©2018 Lux Alptraum (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Must read! Great book!

This book is a must read. Alptraum has an incredibly unique perspective on some of the most pressing topics today. I’ve read so much feminist literature that feels like “feminism 101” and I’m tired of it! So, if you are craving nuance, listen to this book right now. With candor and confidence, Alptraum unabashedly dissects the most personal (and sexual) myths underpinning femininity; as a reader, you can be sure that you are in good hands. I do believe that most writers are too skittish to write about such explicit and personal topics. It’s rare to read such a smart take on the lived and felt experiences of sexuality and gender. Alptraum has done extensive research, interviewing a huge selection of the most fascinating contemporary feminist public figures, and I’m so inspired by how she pushes her thesis while being sensitive and respectful of all opinions — even dissenting ones. She handles each of her interviewees with tact and delicacy. Reading this book has taught me so much about the social constructs that make me who I am. Alptraum’s writing has made me feel ever more confident in speaking my “truth”, and — perhaps more importantly — my “lies.”

white hetero american liberal feminism

I've learned a lot with it, don't get me wrong. The beginning of the book felt fresh and interesting, but after chapter 4 or so, it was boring. It felt like tumblr 101 feminism, like half baked thoughts. A nice compilation at that, but still superficial.

Recommended!!

Loved It!! Read it for my Womens & Gender Studies college class and it has been one of the most interesting books I have ever had to read for a class.