Sommers only further adds to the problem of women being forced to abandon their identity and dreams, by presenting motherhood as some moral glory which it isn't. It's damned hard work that's to be respected, but it's not the be-all and end all of the female sex. I use the word sex because she is only interested in the Hetero cis female. Frankly I found the book full of homophobia and trans-sexism in that lesbian couples, FtM, MtF, and non binary born female were swept under the rug and conveniently not mentioned, even as adoptive parents; Because in this idealized vision of womanhood they simply didn't fit in to the gender roles Sommers tries to defend ad nauseum.
Read it if you want but if you have any wish to be recognized for anything other than the tiny people that you squeezed out this book wont do that. Nov 07, Ian Clary rated it really liked it.
Freedom Feminism: Its Surprising History and Why It Matters Today
Glad she put some focus on Hannah More. Also appreciate the balance by which she approaches the subject. Apr 29, Evan Micheals rated it really liked it.
I read this with interest. I have long had an interest in Feminism and greatly admire feminists such as Germaine Greer and Camille Paglia amongst others. Feminism is a big tent, within it a number of different views. Hoff-Sommers investigates the history of feminism starting in the 18th century. This resonated, as in my wife you could not find a better archetype of a maternal feminist. I could not be more proud of her and all she does. The time she gives to our community, allows me to feel less guilty about the time I do not give to our community. She could not achieve all she does, and work a full time job.
Hoff-Sommers presents evidence that when women are granted 17th Century Enlightenment freedoms to pursue happiness, they persist if choosing the nurturing, domestic roles in even greater numbers.
Freedom Feminism : Its Surprising History and Why it Matters Today
She contends that efforts to obliterate gender roles are often just as intolerant as efforts to enforce them. She suggests the present feminist leadership think of men as a rival camp, often seeing gender issues in black and white. I can see a symptom of this in the concern of contemporary feminist in the lack of female chief executives, like it is a male conspiracy against women. It is interesting that the women most strongly advocating such a quota are products of the bourgeois, and stand most to benefit from it.
Surely a raise in the general minimum wage would benefit more women who are over represented in working such jobs.
She wants freedom feminism to celebrate all roles that women play within civil society, not just the role of powerful leaders. Eye Opening For years I knew that I was out of step with modern feminists because I felt their beliefs were too radical. I couldn't stand behind their positions on abortion, their ugly misandry, or their demand for radical regime change. Yet I still supported equality of the sexes, women's rights, and I wanted a better world for my daughters. Sexism is ugly, and I fight against it with my girls, but we never felt like we were "feminists".
The word was too toxic. I didn't realize that there was mo Eye Opening For years I knew that I was out of step with modern feminists because I felt their beliefs were too radical. I didn't realize that there was more than one school of thought on feminism.
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Maternal feminism, or as Sommers puts it, freedom feminism is a different kettle of fish entirely. I would like to see a return to less radical feminism. I feel that by polarizing the sexes, feminism has lost momentum in the past few decades despite all its hot fury.
Now, these are just my feelings, and you may wonder why they belong in a book review, but because of this book I have new words to describe these feelings. I found the book very factual and informative. I enjoyed the history, and I now finally understand the different waves of feminism and why I found modern feminism so off putting. Sommers took forgotten events and made them relevant, filling in the blanks in my mind with verifiable historical events that helped shape the world I blissfully lived in. She provided context for events that happened within my own lifetime.
She made history come alive. I highly recommend "Freedom Feminism". I look forward to sending a copy to my daughters for them to read as well. View all 3 comments. Jan 30, Lana rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is a great concise book on feminism.
Freedom Feminism : Christina Hoff Sommers :
It starts with first wave feminism and continues all the way to present day. It does praise early feminism and criticizes modern third-wave feminism. The author discusses issues such as the draft for women, the Equal Right Amendment, the Equal Pay Act, the reason for the wage gap between men and women, the difference between feminism in America today and other countries where women face issues like child marriage, genital mutilation, honor killings, etc. I think this is a great book with something for everyone at an introductory level.
If you're a die-hard modern feminist, some of the things in this book will shock you because they expose the truth behind the slogans. If feminists make you cringe, learning about the different kinds of feminism and its early history will probably soften your views a bit and help not throw the baby out with the bath water.
Aug 21, Cat rated it liked it. I don't agree with every point the author makes, but I do agree that Feminism needs to include more diverse perspectives. I like that Sommers champions causes abroad like FGM and acid attacks on women in foreign countries and recognises that you don't have to be some fanatical gender separatist to care about women's rights.
I only wish it would have taken a more secular and less divisive approach. I advise readers to keep an open mind, and have handy a pinch of salt to take. I read this bearing i I don't agree with every point the author makes, but I do agree that Feminism needs to include more diverse perspectives.
I read this bearing in mind feminism is more of an umbrella term for anybody invested in tackling womens issues and being an eclectic mind regarding feminism myself I found bits of this book that I both whole heartedly agreed and disagreed with. I did expect this though, afterall one persons feminism is not necessarily the same as anothers, but if like me you are interested in seeing as many different views as possible then yes indeed it is worth a read.
But individual conclusions are subjective and you will have to make your own mind up on which type of feminism is for you. Mar 18, Victor rated it it was amazing. An engaging and very concise history of feminism and critique of some contemporary feminist ideas and practices. The book does cover them but perhaps not in enough details given how famous they are.
Also, the author sometimes uses phrases that probably are coined by herself, but she doesn't make it clear enough to the reader For example, "maternal feminist"? Is it a widely used term An engaging and very concise history of feminism and critique of some contemporary feminist ideas and practices.
Is it a widely used term? This can make communicating things in the book with others problematic. Regardless, the writing is so crisp and persuasive, and I enjoyed reading it very much. Apr 26, Veronica rated it it was amazing. A quick historical read about the feminist movement is found within these pages. The author delivers a concise and refreshing informational read. Our feminist foremothers of the 18th and 19th centuries fall under two philosophies—egalitarian feminism and maternal feminism.
Egalitarian feminists believed in the following ideals: This school of thought is embodied in famous women such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Susan B.
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Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. However, the seldom-referenced counterpart, maternal feminists believed: Eventually, the egalitarian feminists realized that if they wanted enfranchisement, they needed help. In , they formed a coalition with the maternal feminists. It is also the time when the conservative political activist and mother of 6 , Phyllis Schlafly, argued against the second wave feminist doctrine brought forth.
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Other books in this series. Freedom Feminism Christina Hoff Sommers. American Exceptionalism Charles Murray. Economic Growth Edd S. The Constitution Michael S. Home Economics Nick Schulz. Entrepreneurship for Human Flourishing Peter Greer. Education and Opportunity Michael Q. Abundant Energy Kenneth P. Social Security Andrew G.
She was a professor of philosophy at Clark University from to Sommers specializes in ethics and contemporary moral theory and has published many scholarly articles in such journals as the Journal of Philosophy and the New England Journal of Medicine. Inventory on Biblio is continually updated, but because much of our booksellers' inventory is uncommon or even one-of-a-kind, stock-outs do happen from time to time.
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