Women and Gender: A Feminist Psychology

Rating:
Summary: Life changing material
Review: Often we accept the status quo that we are born into. We are not prodded to criticize the rules and standards passed on by our fathers and their forefathers. The key word here is FATHERS! This book isn't about being liberal or conservative, its about completeness. History, Education, and gender bias have ignored and continue to marginalize half of our society. I had not realized this before I took this class or read this book. I had the same societially fed distaste for feminism that most people have, but feminists are, in the highest sense, humanists. This book explores with research, (rather than only theorizing) sources of discrimination and oppression for both men and women. This book has been a source of empowerment for both me and many of the women around me. I strongly encourage ANYONE to read it. This book has not only changed my mind, but it has changed my life.

Rating:
Summary: Good work, well researched, liberal ideas.
Review: This book is generally good, unfortunatley the class I took that used this book was not good. So I'm having trouble separating the book from the class. Taken by itself the book is informative and I feel does a good job of covering the various expiriences of women. The book, of course, does take a liberal slant but the attempt to be balanced is there and should be appreciated by readers of a more conservative slant. The authors do have an agenda, as do most liberal feminists, and they make no apologies for their ideas. The best sections are the ones dealing with women and sexuality. The authors are sensitive and try to go beyond mere male-bashing. The authors also stick to significant issues, (something the class didn't do), and to keep the book from getting to boring they insert cartoons, usually Doonsberry, to illustrate their case. The cartoons are appropriate and add to the work.