Reviews for Femininity and the physically active woman

The average rating for Femininity and the physically active woman based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-01-10 00:00:00 Jermy Doning Disclaimer: ARC read via Netgalley for a fair review. Thank you to Open Road. There is apparently a rule for the Olympics that can require female athletes to prove that they are, in fact, female. There is no corresponding rule for male athletes. This new rule, established prior to the London Olympics I believe, was most likely done because of the success and "controversy" surrounding an African woman who participated in track events. Apparently, her competitors thought she was too manly, read too fast. So even in the world of sports you have to be a feminine woman. Presumably a woman who transgenders to would not have an advantage. (But don't women have better coordination or reflexes?) Or does it mean that being a woman is so desirable but who wants to be a man? No, I don't think it is the last one either. I was thinking of this as I was trying to start my review to this book. The question of what it means to be a woman (I refuse to use female. I am not an animal) is still raised today. Look at what happened in Australia prior to the recent election. Hilary Clinton was said to be too mannish until she was too emotional. I have lost track of how many woman hip-hop singers were first supposedly men because they took forever to perform some sexy video or something. It would be fair to say that in some degrees Brownmiller's book is a little weak and does to show its age a bit. The Open Road edition which I read lists the original copyright as 1984. For instance, there is really nothing about women dressing in man's clothes. In fact, men are more likely to be penalized or question if they wear skinny jeans. Additionally, I would have preferred stories other than her personal ones. While Brownmiller does give statistics and sources, I would have liked to see some stories from other women. These weaknesses aside, the collection of personal essays (for they do feel this way) makes a good companion to The Beauty Myth or Cinderella Ate My Daughter. The breaking of the book into different sections - emotion, hair, skin, voice, body, ambition, clothes, and movement - allows Brownmiller to explore the concept on various levels. Like Naomi Wolf, Brownmiller's stories are largely personal, yet unlike Wolf there seems to be a more general feel to them (except for the curtsey story). The sections also allow Brownmiller to look at any conflicting ideals that exist - such as in the case for ballerinas. Her section on hair focuses on all types of hair, and the section about certain types of shoe and porn movie, while you might want to look at your own shoes (or your wife's, daughter's, sister's). In many ways, perhaps because of the personal feel of the essays, Brownmiller makes connects and examines details that Wolf let pass - such as the connection between the decline of the corset and the raise of the tottering heel, both things constraining women's movements. In her sections about hair and skin, Brownmiller looks at each aspect from both a gender and racial perspective. Her analysis in these topics stands out from those of other writers who tend not even to mention race when discussing the issue of appearance. It would be fair to say that race should also be taken in consideration when discussing the other aspects (in particular voice and ambition), but I wonder if this lack is due in part to when this book was written. What would Brownmiller say about Nicki Minaj? I'm not sure, but if she ever updates this book should take dress in terms of music stars into consideration.

Review # 2 was written on 2021-01-27 00:00:00 Curtis Johnson If you like lists of cultural mores that are oppressing you, then read this book. Actually, if you like lists of things that informed and oppressed your mother, and maybe grandmother, and then informed how they reared you, then read this book. If you don't like that, walk on by and leave it in the Little Free Library and just know that all of us have been messed with and are doing the best that we can and everyone should leave us alone to figure it out. Upshot: Girdles will injure your organs. Bobbing your hair is a temporary tragedy.