Yes Means Yes: Getting Explicit about Heterosex

Yes Means Yes explores female sexuality from a cultural studies perspective. It argues that the so-called mass media are streets ahead of theory in terms of recognition of women's diverse desires and pleasures. Both pyschoanalytic and sexological writing assume that a woman who actively wants or seeks out sex, particularly 'bad' or slutty sex, is in some way unfeminine, or masculine. In other words, she identifies more with men than women. Surprisingly, this assumption is reproduced in feminist writing, which sees a sexually active woman either as 'duped' by her male object of desire, or as 'colluding with the oppressor'.

Queer theory and writing have been very generous in providing frameworks for re-thinking heterosexuality. In approaching heterosex as represented in 'normal' popular culture, Kath Albury aims to open up some new ground, where heterosexual women can explore their sexuality's pleasures and dangers.