The Disappearance of Shere Hite

A ground-breaking study of the intimate experiences of women published in 1976, The Hite Report challenged restrictive conceptions of sex and opened a dialogue in popular culture around women’s pleasure. Its charismatic author, Shere Hite, a feminist sex researcher and former model, became the spokesperson of women’s secret confessions. But few remember her today. What led to her erasure?

Digging into a trove of archives Nicole Newnham transports viewers back to a time of great societal transformation around sexuality and the role of women in society. Her revelatory portrait is a rediscovery of a pioneer who has had an unmistakable influence on current conversations about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy, as well as a timely, cautionary tale of what too often happens to women who dare speak out.