Penile Imperialism
Sheila Jeffreys
Radical Feminist Analysis of Male Sexuality
The book is a radical feminist analysis of male sexuality, patriarchy and women's subordination. Jeffreys' central concept is what she calls the “male sex right” — the idea that societies have historically treated men's sexual access to women's bodies as something men are entitled to.
The provocative title refers to her argument that male sexual power operates like a form of imperialism: men's perceived entitlement to women's bodies is embedded not simply in individual behaviour but in cultural, economic and political institutions.
She argues that the sexual revolution did not necessarily produce the sexual equality that many expected. Instead, in her view, it expanded and normalised forms of male sexual freedom while leaving women vulnerable to exploitation and violence.
