Gillian Anderson's Exploration of Women's Fantasies

Gillian Anderson delves into women's sexual fantasies in her book Want, uncovering a significant prevalence of shame associated with expressing desire. Many women struggle to voice their fantasies not only in public but even within their private lives, revealing a societal inhibition that still exists today. This exploration is informed by Anderson's request for women to share their erotic secrets, prompting her own reflection on her discomfort in articulating personal fantasies. The book serves as both a collection of anonymous letters and a commentary on the evolution of women's sexual expression since the 1970s, particularly in how open or restricted women feel about their desires.