The Disappearance of Shere Hite

The Hite Report, 1976, a groundbreaking study of the intimate experiences of women, remains one of the bestselling books of all time. Drawn from anonymous survey responses, the book challenged 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 public messenger of women’s secret confessions – but few remember Shere Hite today. What led to her erasure? Director Nicole Newnham transports viewers back to a time of great societal transformation around sexuality. 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.