HOT DOCS 2023 | "The Disappearance of Shere Hite" And The Road To Destigmatizing Female Sexuality

May 16, 2023 Marty Millman

11/12 ForReel Score | 4.5/5

The majority of recorded human history has been told through the eyes of men. It was believed that men were the revolutionaries, explorers, and creators of all. Conversely, women have been historically marginalized and made to seem less significant than men. Women have generally been portrayed as a mother or caretaker, always subservient to men. Dissatisfied by a society built upon male chauvinism and inequality, feminist sex researcher Shere Hite was determined to make a significant reform on our culture. Director Nicole Newnham’s (The Revolutionary Optimists) latest documentary, The Disappearance of Shere Hite, sheds new light on her role in advocating for widespread knowledge about female sexuality. Making sure that all women are aware of their rights to enjoy sexual pleasure and to do so without feeling shame about it.

While Hite was enrolled in her Master’s program in the late 1960s, she took notice of men's blatant sexist and classist attitudes towards her and her ideas. Historians and educators she regarded as role models often dismissed her almost immediately based solely on her gender. Due to her inability to comprehend the present, she studied history as a means of understanding what caused our society to arrive at this point. Getting a college education is an expensive endeavor, especially in New York, so Hite turned to modeling to help her survive. As a model, she was able to take control of her body and how others perceived it. Audiences are given a candid view of this revolutionary through the lens of Michael Wilson's photography. Even more so with the addition of producer Dakota Johnson (Cha Cha Real Smooth) lending her voice to Hite's diary entries.

Hite found that even in safe spaces, most women were uncomfortable discussing masturbation, orgasms, and clitorial stimulation openly. This sparked the idea to send anonymous questionnaires to women regarding their sexuality. Due to the anonymity, women were able to answer honestly without fear of judgment. Hite ran a printing press all by herself, mixing inks to match her nail polish color, breathing life and love into every survey. It is important to note that Hite was more than just a revolutionary, she was an artist as well. Together with other visionaries, she uncovered a vast array of photographs, paintings, and literary works by women, queer artisans, and women of color from all eras of history.

With all the information Hite had acquired from her surveys, she was able to develop a much more comprehensive picture. The most glaringly obvious observation was that women had adapted their bodies and sexuality to suit the pleasures of men. It took her several years to organize and categorize all of her findings. Hite hoped this knowledge would help women and men alike rewire their thought processes after centuries of misuse. When published in 1976, The Hite Report sold like hotcakes, and according to the filmmakers it would go on to be the 30th best selling book of all time. Her findings were considered extremely radical at the time, with many news stations still unable to talk about these hot topics on the air. Hite never considered herself as a radical, she just understood that this was basic knowledge that the general public should be aware of and discuss extensively. Breaking a functional silence.

Hite was a forward-thinker, decades ahead of her time. She brought “taboo” topics to the forefront of public knowledge. Nevertheless, as is always the case with such high accomplishment, the pendulum swings in the opposite direction. Upon publishing her second book, The Hite Report on Male Sexuality, thousands of men found millions of ways to discredit her work without even having read it. Hite tried to focus on the positive impact the work had on women, but after years of belligerent disrespect by the media she fled the states. While she remained at the forefront of feminist issues, her work was not widely published in the US for a considerable period of time because American publishers refused to sell her work.

Being a part of Hite's journey and watching her achieve such grand accomplishments felt like a special honor. Editor Eileen Meyer (Crip Camp) adoringly guides the audience through Hite’s journey. Every bit of information is given time to be digested and seamlessly flows into the next. At times not all of it seems so relevant and feels like the film could have been cut down fifteen minutes or so, but I never found my mind wandering. The meat of the film is strong and alluring.

During a time when book bans and new legislation are targeting marginilzed groups like women, people of color, immigrants, and the trans community, revisiting Hite's work is even more pertinent than ever. Hite’s “radical” ideas and cognition are essential to inspiring significant action. The Disappearance of Shere Hite is a must-see for women and men alike. We should not fear one another or our bodies, but reclaim our power; make strides towards a more harmonious future.