annie_peterson's review
3.5
Some parts were quite repetitive, but I think this is a good introduction to the idea of female separatism.
The 2019 added preface, I think, was the most important part.
The 2019 added preface, I think, was the most important part.
leelulah's review against another edition
2.0
I'm saying but I'm not saying but also I'm saying and not saying it.
"I'm a separatist, you're separatist, we're separatist, everyone is a separatist".
One might wonder why I have chosen to pick this in the first place: I'm no stranger to radical feminism and despite coming from a different place ideologically, I'm not afraid to disagree or to have texts challenge me.
I find Hawthorne's arguments partly interesting, mostly unconvincing but I can't deny that she's aware that this would be a minoritary option in its most extreme form.
I also find them swinging: throughout the book and towards the end she makes the concession that separatism doesn't give you this special 'best feminist' status and that, even women romantically related to men could earn the separatist label by having women-centered time in their schedule, therefore adhering to a minimal of existence outside patriarchal norms. This becomes too broad, and kind of reminds me of when acknowledging women's humanity made you a feminist on Tumblr in 2014, even against your own will. I definitely and wholeheartedly stand with her on issues like self ID, pornography and dangerous dynamics of the current sexual culture.
In any case, it's interesting to see how her thought changes and evolves with time by looking at the 2019 footnotes.
"I'm a separatist, you're separatist, we're separatist, everyone is a separatist".
One might wonder why I have chosen to pick this in the first place: I'm no stranger to radical feminism and despite coming from a different place ideologically, I'm not afraid to disagree or to have texts challenge me.
I find Hawthorne's arguments partly interesting, mostly unconvincing but I can't deny that she's aware that this would be a minoritary option in its most extreme form.
I also find them swinging: throughout the book and towards the end she makes the concession that separatism doesn't give you this special 'best feminist' status and that, even women romantically related to men could earn the separatist label by having women-centered time in their schedule, therefore adhering to a minimal of existence outside patriarchal norms. This becomes too broad, and kind of reminds me of when acknowledging women's humanity made you a feminist on Tumblr in 2014, even against your own will. I definitely and wholeheartedly stand with her on issues like self ID, pornography and dangerous dynamics of the current sexual culture.
In any case, it's interesting to see how her thought changes and evolves with time by looking at the 2019 footnotes.
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