It's hard being on top

Sookie Stackhouse, in my opinion, is a strong independent woman who knows what she wants. Although her look does resemble the all American girl (thin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and nice legs) there is a purpose. One, this allows her to be easily relatable/ easily to picture. Secondly, her look is further explained in the rest of the book series. There is a reason she looks the way she does. Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil anything for anyone who wants to continue the series. If you don't want to keep reading but want to understand Bill's original question, "What are you?", just look "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" up on Wikipedia. Everything is explained.

Anyway, like I was saying, I see Sookie as being very sure of what she wants. She knows when she wants Bill around and when she doesn't. She's very assertive, and often shuts Bill down. One example of this can be seen when Bill is trying to seductively bathe her. Instead, she tells him, "No... give me the soap." Sookie is very aware of what she wants. She also takes control. Now, I've never read very many "romance" style books, but I was surprised that Sookie took control in the bedroom. Instead of having Bill be on top again, Sookie decides to try something new. She gets on top. I don't know why, but this really struck me. In their other sexual encounters, it seemed as though they were just using the typical "missionary style" position in which the man is on top and mostly in control. I think the fact that Sookie took over and decided that she would take control speaks volumes about the character.

There are many different stories behind the missionary position. All of the put down women in one way or another.

"Kagaba natives in Colombia preferred missionary because of the stability it offers; they believed that if the woman moved during intercourse, the earth would slip off the shoulders of the four giants who held it up above the waters. Some Kerala tribes believe that the male-on-top position is the only way to conceive warriors." (1)

This story behind the use says that if a women were on top, or let alone moved, the would itself would fall off of the shoulders of giants who kept the stability of the world. It also goes on to state that use of the missionary style was the only way to conceive warriors. So, a woman must be sill and controlled in order to produce a strong man? I think not.

"...ancient Chinese preferred male-on-top because of their belief that males are born face down and women face up."

According to this, the reason behind the missionary position is because women are forever to be looking up at the men who are forever looking down. The fact that women are born "looking up" and continue to "look up" at the men is showing that the women are not equal. Women lack control. Women cannot be strong if they are constantly looking up at someone who is superior than them.

"Thomas Aquinas believed that crimes against nature included intercourse in 'unnatural' positions, with the missionary position being considered the only natural one."


"...any sexual act other than missionary position intercourse – man on top of woman – was assumed to be a sin of irrational gratification, of lust."

According to these two statements, a women is to subject herself to man to be controlled during sex, and if she does not, then the sex itself is considered an unnatural sin off irrational gratification of lust. Women are labeled as being "lustful" which has a negative connotation. Thus, the statement is saying that if a woman were to want to be control it would be a sin.

Simon Hardy wrote that the missionary position was used to distinguish "bestial and civilized sex."


"...nonstandard positions might result in birth defects."

Birth defects? If a man were to allow a woman to be on top, or another other way, the child that would be produced could possibly have mental or physical defects? Really? This honestly blows my mind. It's as if saying that if a man were to not be in control sexually than his offspring would suffer because he allowed a woman to be in control.

"Many people still expect the man to take responsibility for initiating and ending sexual activity and for carrying a condom. Women are expected to be less sexually aggressive than men, even though we know that women's sexual feeling can be just as strong as men's." (2)


And I think that with that last quote, Sookie Stackhouse screams it loud and clear. I believe she's prime example of someone who knows what she wants. She understands her inner sexuality and allows herself to take the reins.

http://www.answers.com/topic/missionary-position (1)
http://www.ualberta.ca/dept/health/web_docs/healthinfo/Decisions/roles.htm(2)