Shere Hite was born on November 2, 1942 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. As Shere was growing up, her parents divorced and she moved in with her grandparents. In 1967, Shere earned a master's degree in history from the University of Florida. After receiving her first degree, Shere began to work as a model and decided to go back to school to work towards a Ph. D. in social history at Colombia University, but did not complete her studies. At this time Shere became very involved in the Feminist Movement of the 1970's. This movement is what led Shere into her research of female orgasms. Shere believed that in the same way women had the right to own property and vote; they also have the right to explore their body's autonomy. Shere is very well known in the field of sexuality. She particularly focuses her research in female sexuality. The Hite Report on Female Sexuality is one of Shere's most famous works. This report was based on, and conducted in questionnaires. Shere sent 3,000 questionnaires to women of different cultures as well as different ages. The questionnaires included questions of women sexual stimulation, as well as the feeling of orgasms, and the absence of orgasms when intercourse was in progress. The feedback from this research was very controversial in society. Many women received the feedback with relief, because it demonstrated that the absence of orgasms had nothing to do with the women, rather than the proper arousal during intercourse, and to obtain orgasms frequently clitoral stimulation and masturbation was a part of sex that had to take place. However, the men didn't view this research as advice to understand what women wanted and desired during intimacy, rather they refused to acknowledge it, because they received it and viewed it as a critic for being incapable of pleasing their partner during intimacy and believing that orgasms are reached through virginal stimulation. Shere Hite is a thought leader in her field, bec