Reviews

Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture

By Ariel Levy

I loved the first chapter about the rise of raunch culture and the decline of the women's liberation movement. Women have become equal opportunity chauvinists. It's as if someone said we couldn't be seen as equals of men so we decided to become "one of the guys." Women can objectify other women just as well as other men. Women wear accessoires emblazoned with playboy bunny logo. Porn stars like Jenna Jameson and Paris Hilton are idolized. Girls Gone Wild has become an empire built on women desperate for attention. These are not the self confident, powerful free individuals that the women's liberation movement fought for. It's an important topic for women to address and I feel like it is especially important because I am raising two daughters. The pervading raunch culture is not what I want for them.

I loved the comparison of chubby Jay Leno wearing a suit everynight on the Tonight Show, but when Katie Couric (One of the highest paid people on tv) guest hosted she had to cut a hole in the desk to show her legs and wear a low cut dress. If a celebrity with that kind of status cannot be seen for as a witty host without pimping herself out, how are women supposed to be taken seriously?

Now that we are "in on it" and can objectify women as efficiently as the neanderthol men we once fought against- have we really risen to a new level? I have to say, I think we have taken a dramatic step backwards. I'm not a traditional feminist, I wouldn't have voted for the ERA and I felt a little dizzy and ill when I went to see the Vagina monologues in London ten years ago. The hardcore girl power isn't exactly what I'm going for. However, even though I am a stay at home mom (by choice!) I don't fit into the fifties extreme. I most definitely agree with total freedom for women and equality (although in my mind this does not mean the sexes are exactly the same.) I'm sure somewhere a hardcore feminist is screaming at my definition of equality.

I have been known to defend myself as not a "true girly girl." I don't like chick flicks and I'm not afraid of getting dirty hiking and camping. Why I feel the need to defend my status as "less of a girl or not a wuss like some girls is a reflection of the status I see women as having. It has been interesting to think about my own actions and how they reflect my view of women.

This is a rather jumbled review because my thoughts on this topic are as varied as they are passionate. The book was witty and well written. There are a few chapters that were a little too much for me. I actually skipped after reading the first few pages. There is some foul language in some of the quotes. I found it really interesting though and would love to discuss the book with anyone else who has read it.

Black Comedy

Our play this month was funny but kind of on the stupid side. I liked the main convention used. For the first 5 minutes of the play the lights are completely out. When the power in the play goes out the lights turn on and the players spend the rest of the time stumbling about like they can't see. It was silly simple comedy.