Okay, you might be a little confused, and that’s okay! Let me start by explaining the term Cliteracy.
Cliteracy (n.)
The art of being knowledgeable and skilled in the workings and details of female anatomy.
Many of you may be thinking, “Okay, well I know what I’ve got going on down there. The clitoris is that button, right? DONE.” You may be aware of its existence, but knowing that it exists does not make you knowledgeable or skilled in Cliteracy. That’d be like saying “I know where the eggs, sugar and butter are in my pantry – Hey, I’m a chef!”. Cliteracy involves an understanding of where the clitoris is, how it works, and most importantly, how to please it. But first, let’s talk some little known facts about the clitoris…
1. It has one job and one job only…
The clitoris is the only part of the human body that exists solely for the purpose of pleasure. It does nothing to aid in reproduction and doesn’t carry out any other function. It’s just there for us to enjoy, and enjoy it we shall!
2. It wasn’t fully “discovered” until the late 90’s… At least not in its entirety
Since the 1500’s male scientists have discovered and then forgotten and then re-discovered the clitoris, but could never really decide exactly what it did and why it mattered. Freud thought it was just another crutch for women’s penis envy, and a sign of sexual immaturity. Kinsey (1950’s) and Masters and Johnson (1960’s) decided that the clitoris was definitely involved in female pleasure, but never really though to check under the hood, so to speak.
Finally, Australian Urologist Dr. Helen O’Connell did some actual research and used an MRI machine to uncover the full anatomy of the clitoris. Then she published her findings to inform the world. #Hero
3. It is so much more than meets the eye.
Often referred to as a button or a bean, it’s easy to write the clitoris off as a small facet of our sexual equipment. However, as asserted by artist and creator of the Cliteracy project Sophia Wallace, “the clitoris is exponentially larger and more complex than commonly thought. What we think of as the clitoris, is only the tip of the iceberg.” As in, the bulk of its mass remains hidden beneath the surface. All in all, the entire clitoris extends about 3-4 inches inside the body.
4. The glans is LITERALLY pleasure-packed.
So the little button that you actually can see is called the glans, and makes up only a fourth of the entire clitoris. Even though it is small, don’t let the tiny surface area fool you. It is packed with 8,000 nerve endings (twice as many as on the head of the penis!) These nerve endings connect to 15,000 more that service the entire pelvic region. That’s a lot of pleasure!
5. It’s all Greek to me
The word itself – Clitoris – is derived from the Greek word for “key”… As in the clitoris is the KEY to unlocking your orgasm? Very clever, Greeks. Very clever.
As you can see, the clitoris is kind of a big deal, and it’s absolutely worth taking the time to get to know. As women, we have such a huge capacity for pleasure. The clitoris might just be the key to unlocking that potential.
So how do you go about getting acquainted with this magical entity in your nether regions and finally become Cliterate? First off, you’re going to need to do a little hands on exploration. You’ll find this pleasure button directly above the vaginal opening, cloaked in mystery by a flap of skin known as the clitoral hood. Test its magic by taking your pointer and middle finger and placing them on the clitoris and clitoral hood. Start moving slowly in circular motion to see how it feels, and go from there! Every lady is different in how she likes to be touched, but there are no wrong ways to get started. Test out different strokes and varying pressures to discover what you respond most pleasurably to. Once you’ve manually gotten the lay of the land, then you can start bringing toys into the mix!
My current clitoral vibrator obsession is the Tango by We-Vibe. The Tango is not your ordinary bullet vibrator. Sure it’s only three inches long, but don’t let its size fool you: With its multiple intensity levels and vibrating patterns, the Tango really packs a wallop, making it the perfect travel companion on your journey to Cliteracy. You can find the Tango and tons of other clitoral vibrators at GoodVibes.com – Use code: Emily for 15% off your toy!
Want more Sex With Emily? Check out my podcasts for free on iTunes. Also, check out my book Hot Sex and my iPhone app Kegel Camp for stronger orgasms. For some sexy products to enhance your sex life: try an Emily & Tony massage candle that turn into luxurious massage oil and DownUnder comfort to stay fresh and dry down there. Use Coupon Code SEXWITHEMILY for 20% off your first order.
Looking for new additions to your goodie drawer? Use code EMILY for 15% off at Good Vibrations where you can find all my favorite toys in my store.
Have a question? Email me feedback@sexwithemily.com.
