As a new feminist, I knew that this collection of essays by Gloria Steinam was a must-read, along with other classic feminist texts (Simone de Beauvoir, etc.) and modern feminist writings (Jessica Valenti). I started this in December and periodically got in and out of reading it, sometimes because the essays were way over my head and sometimes because I didn't want to reach the end just yet. Steinam is brilliant in a way that I hope to be some day, insightful and open and witty and so amazingly right about things that I wonder how long it took her to gather her most brilliant writings and out them into a comprehensive and very well-organized book. A breakdown of the contents:
My Favorites:
"I Was a Playboy Bunny"- this is a must-read for anyone buying into the edia crap about how the Playboy bunnies were glamorous and well-off. Steinam's account wasn't thrilling or exciting, there were no horrifying events, but it was honest and it exposed a world that was tiring, irritating, cheap, sleazy, and completely patriarchal. I read this whole essay in one breath, I loved her details and how she didn't seem to have a bias. She just told us the facts and let us decide for ourselves.
"Ruth's Song (Because She Could Not Sing It)"- I was nearly brought to tears by the end of this essay. It says so much about how women's mental illness was viewed in post-Freudian times and how Steinam's mother, once smart and capable, had descended into something that no one at the time understood. This must have been very emotional to write.
"In Praise of Women's Bodies"- Girls, this is SO important to read. It brought a smile to my face and it made me start loving myself, flaws and all.
"Men and Women Talking"- Very insightful. I learned about a lot of these little differences and nuances in psychology, but they always seemed to be from the man's point of view. This also serves as a self-help section, letting women know that being assertive and loud is just fine and we should in fact do it more often. Very helpful.
"Erotica vs. Pornography"- This one was hard to read but it really resonated with me. Modern feminists are very sex-positive and I love that, but it has always been hard for me to ignore the damaging misogynistic effects of pornography of all kinds. It may seem dated to some feminists but I definitely agree with Steinam's ideas.
The whole "Five Women" section- I don't know how this didn't win some sort of writing prize. This section was so well-written and I will never forget reading it. Five important women in our culture- Marilyn Monroe, Pat Nixon, Linda Lovelace, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and Alice Walker- are examined and revered, because their stories are so widely told but not in the right way or from the right perspective. I love these women, I feel so much closer to them now. I don't know if anyone but Steinam could instill that much emotion in me.
"The International Crime of Genital Mutilation"- This one is also a tough pill to swallow, but it is very important. We don't think about these things enough. This will get you thinking.
"If Men Could Menstruate"- Hilarious, but also the one that fully proved to me that Steinam is a genius.
Every woman and girl (and man, I think) needs to read at least a few of these essays. Feminism is still relevant and still needed. These essays were written decades ago but many of the issues persist today. I'm not saying some of the ideas (especially about trans* issues) are not dated, but they are still worth the time to read. I really enjoyed this collection.
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