In this bold and thought-provoking work, Inga Muscio reexamines a word once rooted in reverence that has since been burdened by stigma and controversy. Blending sharp insight, humor, and personal narrative, she traces the cultural and historical shifts that transformed the term, while inviting readers to reconsider its meaning through a lens of empowerment and self-ownership.

With candor and wit, Muscio explores the complex social forces shaping women’s relationships with their bodies, sexuality, and identity. Both provocative and affirming, the book challenges convention and encourages women to reclaim language, pleasure, and power on their own terms.