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Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message That Feminism's Work Is Done (2010)

by Susan J. Douglas(Favorite Author)

3.84 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

080508326X (ISBN13: 9780805083262)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Times Books

review 1: This book illustrates the conflicting ways women are portrayed in the media, and the (negative) impact it has on women's fight for equality. It's fairly anecdotal, sharing snippets from plotlines and news items to make a point. However, there are also statistics for a more scientific angle.While I generally enjoy sarcasm, I found the overuse of hyperbole and cliches annoying. It made it difficult for me to read or to take seriously. There are other books in this area that I would recommend instead.
review 2: This was an interesting, however regarding components of feminism should be updated which relates to how she describes them, since this influences how she writes and readers understand her ideas. I felt that she interjected to many of her ideas in paragraph... mores, she also gave references which she didn't explain (most likely because she thought we should know what they are and their relation to the topic at hand), within the paragraphs she did this by giving us her opinion in parentheses which weren't always related or sentences would be devoted to similar opinions, she also used metaphors referencing current world affairs in relation to a component of sexism which disregarded women's ability to comprehend and engage in world affairs. The author should write an updated version along with Jennifer Siebel Newsom (creator of Miss Representation the documentary and organization). The book is arranged in the following chapters: Get the Girls, Castration Anxiety, Warrior Women in Thongs, The New Girliness, You Go, Girl, Sex "R" Us, Reality Bites, Lean and Mean, Red Carpet Mania, and Women on Top..Sort of. Her term "enlightened sexism" means covert sexism. Women in America are primarily judged on their appearance (body shape,face, clothes, etc.) and their child bearing ability. Whereas men aren't limited in ways, such as older men are seen as handsome (something which women never experience, since looking younger is the ideal since their abilities are based upon their appearance despite their age, because of the beauty complex for women), men earn more money than women in all fields, men aren't hampered with child care/father responsibilities affecting their work, men can be powerful and revered without a connection to their physical and characteristic stereotypes (any women in power will be reduced to her physical appearance and stereotypes characteristic of women such as women as nurturing, caring, and nice etc.)A covert example of modern sexism as Douglas describes is the beauty complex, and how they sell products in ways which seem like women are taking control buy choosing to buy such products, when in actuality they are conforming to patriarchal standards of beauty, and not liberating themselves from patriarchy at all. She discuses the double standard for women, in which women can be pretty but only so much so, since their beauty is a weapon that supposedly women wield to get their way. This also leads to the sexualization of girls beginning at young ages, and how they are aware at a young age that their power relies on their appearance. She also discusses how in reality TV women are pitted against each other, and they can't have functional relationships with other women, since they are always manipulative and vindictive. Reality TV also uses stereotypical representations of women, and allows us to feel as judges to determine the fate of the contestants etc. She describes the celebrity obsessive culture, in which everyday women are addicted to and visualize themselves through celebrities, female celebrities remind us that sexism is very real in the sense that even they cannot have it all(career, relationship/ marriage,and conform to patriarchal standards of beauty), meaning that everyday women certainly cannot have it all either. This book definitely needs to be updated, using some of the same examples as well as newer ones. less

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