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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
Transphobic, talked shit about suffragettes and her mom.
Blamed women for upholding the patriachy.
Blamed women for upholding the patriachy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Transphobia
I'm reluctant to give this a rating at all to be honest. Some bits of it were very interesting and brought up ideas I'd never thought of but really resonated with me, other bits of it made no sense to me, possibly because I know nothing about psychoanalysis, some bits bored me and I couldn't for the life of me understand why they were included, and some bits were downright horrible.
It was interesting to compare the changes that have taken place since this was written, and yet more interesting to see what hasn't changed at all.
Despite disliking and disagreeing with a lot of this book, I would recommend it partly for the opportunity to decide for yourself how you feel about it.
It was interesting to compare the changes that have taken place since this was written, and yet more interesting to see what hasn't changed at all.
Despite disliking and disagreeing with a lot of this book, I would recommend it partly for the opportunity to decide for yourself how you feel about it.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Definitely one of the seminal texts of feminism's second wave, and while fifty years on from it's publication the core concepts are still firmly relevant to feminism and society today, the way in which some messages are delivered, and the potentially misplaced blame on the average woman for the perpetuation of patriarchy date the book and make it less accessible to the modern woman. The discourse surrounding trans-women is particularly harsh in today's lens, and while some of the commentary on performing femininity and how it is different for biological women and those who were born male is perhaps true, there is an animosity directed toward trans-women that feels inappropriate considering the marginalisation and discrimination faced by the group. I'd still recommend this book for those interested in expanding their knowledge of feminist theory, however it should be read with a critical lens as not all of the commentary holds up half a century later.
There are absolutely better written and more relevant texts from second wave feminism that I would recommend over The Female Eunuch - notably Woman Hating by Andrea Dworkin and The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.
There are absolutely better written and more relevant texts from second wave feminism that I would recommend over The Female Eunuch - notably Woman Hating by Andrea Dworkin and The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.
Again, goodreads: give us some half stars, will you? I understand why this book is Second Wave Feminist Canon, and I'm glad to have added it to my library, but it is so very dated and somewhat irrelevant now. I hope there is at least some kind of new edition out there, my 1971 paperback edition leaves a lot to be desired thirty years later. It almost feels like a history book now, a peek back into what women back then were dealing with and how much things have changed up until now--and distressing to see how much has stayed the same. So fellow feminists, yes, you should read this book in order to know your history and basic theory, but there are many more seminal texts out there by much better, less homophobic thinkers.
My full review of The Female Eunuch is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
I just don’t think that The Female Eunuch has any value anymore. It’s not old enough, or well-written enough, to have the historical status and respect afforded to suffragette writing. It’s been too thoroughly debunked and overwritten to stand alongside later works of feminism. It’s out of date: scientifically, socially, and legally. It’s too deeply rooted in a colonial version of society to have any resonance or relevance in today’s world.
I opened my mind so much my brain nearly fell out, and it didn’t do any good. The Female Eunuch did not change my opinion of Germaine Greer at all – and if you’re looking for a strong feminist voice to teach you something, my suggestion is keep on looking elsewhere.
I just don’t think that The Female Eunuch has any value anymore. It’s not old enough, or well-written enough, to have the historical status and respect afforded to suffragette writing. It’s been too thoroughly debunked and overwritten to stand alongside later works of feminism. It’s out of date: scientifically, socially, and legally. It’s too deeply rooted in a colonial version of society to have any resonance or relevance in today’s world.
I opened my mind so much my brain nearly fell out, and it didn’t do any good. The Female Eunuch did not change my opinion of Germaine Greer at all – and if you’re looking for a strong feminist voice to teach you something, my suggestion is keep on looking elsewhere.
slow-paced
Very hard to get through- a fee good points i hadnt heard before that made me think. Lots of outdated ideas but a good forward in my edition that set the tone for that.
This was a hugely challenging, provoking and problematic read.
Rarely do I pick up a book so prepared to embrace a philosophy, yet I found myself continually pulling back--I actually succumbed to the urge to scribble notes in the margins, many of which expressed doubt, concern and rejection.
I think this is largely due to the fact that it is dated. It represents a key position (roughly between Simone de Beauvoir and Naomi Wolf) in the development of feminist theory but it seems--to me--that it is in no way the definitive statement that it (at times) claims to be.
Perhaps Greer says it best in her introduction, pointing out that, "this book represents only another contribution to a continuing dialogue between the wondering woman and the world." As dialogue, it is indeed a priceless contribution, and one filled with frankness, energy, and sass that is to be admired.
Nevertheless, looking back from the writings of the Third Wave, it is all too easy to identify undercurrents of homophobia, racism, sex-negativity, hetero-normative claims and unacknowledged class privilege. ("The Female Eunuch does not deal with poor women--for when I wrote it I did not know them--but with the women of the rich world, whose oppression is seen by poor women as freedom," is aptly pointed out in the introduction to this newer edition, but she could also include women of colour, transgendered people and sex workers in those who are excluded from her arguments.)
Another problematic area is the author/reader relationship, which is at times tinged with a sinister condescension that borders on disgust. Claims that women should not be expected to argue using male logic and scholarship because they are not educated to use those tools are counterbalanced by shockingly underhanded academic tricks, particularly in the fields of relying on pseudo-science and pop-psychology and of quoting out of context. In her own defense, she says, "of course I am taking advantage of the masters of psychology, bending and selecting their words like this...we cannot allow them to define what must be or change would be impossible." Allowing this, she still refuses to credit the majority of her perceived audience with the ability to understand her rhetoric. Furthermore, she goes on to criticize another female writer saying that, "she is so patently arguing from her convictions to her evidence, none of which has any source that she quotes, that the most sympathetic reader is alienated, unless, presumably, he has no way of knowing better." Hmmm.
Condescension, arrogance, and blatant privileged white-hetero blindness aside, I will still give this work three stars. Dialogue is ongoing, fluid and necessary to achieving the aims that are indeed brought to light with candor and flare. I say, read it, but don't accept it without a fight--something that Ms Greer would no doubt approve.
Rarely do I pick up a book so prepared to embrace a philosophy, yet I found myself continually pulling back--I actually succumbed to the urge to scribble notes in the margins, many of which expressed doubt, concern and rejection.
I think this is largely due to the fact that it is dated. It represents a key position (roughly between Simone de Beauvoir and Naomi Wolf) in the development of feminist theory but it seems--to me--that it is in no way the definitive statement that it (at times) claims to be.
Perhaps Greer says it best in her introduction, pointing out that, "this book represents only another contribution to a continuing dialogue between the wondering woman and the world." As dialogue, it is indeed a priceless contribution, and one filled with frankness, energy, and sass that is to be admired.
Nevertheless, looking back from the writings of the Third Wave, it is all too easy to identify undercurrents of homophobia, racism, sex-negativity, hetero-normative claims and unacknowledged class privilege. ("The Female Eunuch does not deal with poor women--for when I wrote it I did not know them--but with the women of the rich world, whose oppression is seen by poor women as freedom," is aptly pointed out in the introduction to this newer edition, but she could also include women of colour, transgendered people and sex workers in those who are excluded from her arguments.)
Another problematic area is the author/reader relationship, which is at times tinged with a sinister condescension that borders on disgust. Claims that women should not be expected to argue using male logic and scholarship because they are not educated to use those tools are counterbalanced by shockingly underhanded academic tricks, particularly in the fields of relying on pseudo-science and pop-psychology and of quoting out of context. In her own defense, she says, "of course I am taking advantage of the masters of psychology, bending and selecting their words like this...we cannot allow them to define what must be or change would be impossible." Allowing this, she still refuses to credit the majority of her perceived audience with the ability to understand her rhetoric. Furthermore, she goes on to criticize another female writer saying that, "she is so patently arguing from her convictions to her evidence, none of which has any source that she quotes, that the most sympathetic reader is alienated, unless, presumably, he has no way of knowing better." Hmmm.
Condescension, arrogance, and blatant privileged white-hetero blindness aside, I will still give this work three stars. Dialogue is ongoing, fluid and necessary to achieving the aims that are indeed brought to light with candor and flare. I say, read it, but don't accept it without a fight--something that Ms Greer would no doubt approve.
Tengo que confesar que me ha llevado bastante leerlo, pero ha merecido la pena.
Es un libro denso, un ensayo complicado, pero es muy muy interesante. Una sola frase explica mejor algunos conceptos que libros enteros que he leído.
Tiene comentarios lgTb fóbicos, pero creo que hay que tener en cuenta que se escribió en los 70 y que los comentarios no son crueles sino (en mi opinión) fruto de la ignorancia y desinformación.
Me gustaría pensar que Greer no escribiría lo mismo en estos tiempos.
Interesante también la forma de dirigirse a la lectora. Exigiéndole que reaccione, que despierte. Este tipo de feminismo es el que yo quiero.
No es en ningún caso una lectura para iniciarse ni para personas con poco recorrido en el tema sino un ensayo para profundizar y llevar más allá aprendizajes y observaciones sobre el patriarcado.
Una de las cosas que más me ha gustado es que apenas habla de datos y estadísticas (cosa que me cansa y marea un poco en los ensayos actuales) sino que habla de cosas observables, de comportamientos humanos, de cosas que tú también puedes ver y a lo mejor también has observado.
En general me ha parecido muy buen ensayo y la estructura no podría gustarme más.
Es un libro denso, un ensayo complicado, pero es muy muy interesante. Una sola frase explica mejor algunos conceptos que libros enteros que he leído.
Tiene comentarios lgTb fóbicos, pero creo que hay que tener en cuenta que se escribió en los 70 y que los comentarios no son crueles sino (en mi opinión) fruto de la ignorancia y desinformación.
Me gustaría pensar que Greer no escribiría lo mismo en estos tiempos.
Interesante también la forma de dirigirse a la lectora. Exigiéndole que reaccione, que despierte. Este tipo de feminismo es el que yo quiero.
No es en ningún caso una lectura para iniciarse ni para personas con poco recorrido en el tema sino un ensayo para profundizar y llevar más allá aprendizajes y observaciones sobre el patriarcado.
Una de las cosas que más me ha gustado es que apenas habla de datos y estadísticas (cosa que me cansa y marea un poco en los ensayos actuales) sino que habla de cosas observables, de comportamientos humanos, de cosas que tú también puedes ver y a lo mejor también has observado.
En general me ha parecido muy buen ensayo y la estructura no podría gustarme más.
What did I just read? It seems that she's the kind of feminist that wants to control how other women express themselves instead of simply letting everyone have the freedom to act in any way they please.