Women & Children First

Moving beyond the "main dishes" of traditional literary works, "Side Dishes" offers a provocative and delicious new understanding of Latin American women's authorship and activism. The book illuminates a wealth of creative and intellectual work by Latin American women--editors, directors, cartoonists, academics, performance artists, and comedians--and explores them in light of their treatment of women's sexuality.

"Side Dishes" considers feminist pornography and literary representations of masturbation, bisexuality, lesbianism, and sexual fantasies; the treatment of lust in stand-up comedy and science fiction; critical issues in leading feminist journals; and portrayals of sexuality in four contemporary Latin American films. Melissa A. Fitch concludes with a look at the rise of women's and gender studies programs in Latin America.