The idea of it is exciting, the reality might be devastating. Yet somehow we give ourselves permission to watch action movies and enjoy the car chases and explosions, but when we read erotic fantasies many of us are worried about being aroused by fantasies – even though we wouldn’t want to be on a pirate ship in real life any more than we’d want to be in a high speed car chase. People who love action movies or superheroes don’t problematize their interest in the fantasy world.
This need for fantasy extends way beyond sex – think about how many of your favorite books, movies and shows are fantasies at heart! Fantasy is an essential part of human sexuality, allowing us the freedom and catharsis to explore and be aroused by situations we would never want in our real lived lives. The best erotica is often based in fantasy, and transports the reader to a new world where anything is possible. From the first cave paintings to the kindle craze of Fifty Shades of Grey, human beings have used the technology available to them to express and explore sexuality. Erotica is read by women all around the world, and has been part of human sexuality for centuries.
