leelulah's review against another edition
4.0
35. A book in a format than you normally read in
Dorothy Sayers was one of these interesting women that, unfortunately remain too little talked about. She was a writer of detective novels in her own right, and a friend of C.S. Lewis, a classmate of Tolkien... and wrote really funny and poignant essays on the social status of women without considering herself a feminist.
This, as I was made aware by the title almost amounts to her whole texts on the question, the other being the prologue to her translation of Dante's Purgatory. I find her with a tendency towards acknowledging the individuality-singularity of women that could not be to everyone's tastes these days, as it would get mistaken by individualism, but I think it operates on the sex-gender distinction, that women are not meant to conform in every detail to what was, in Victorian times, socially expected of them. Also, if she saw how the denial of biological nature turns more and more dangerous by the day, I think she'd emphasize more of the collective aspect (which still is not denied in these essays).
I wanted to read this after I found her praising of Jesus by not being condescending or otherwise having ridiculous demands of women, or not even making them the 'evil' characters in His Parables... but what I got was much more, even though the book itself is short.
She also acknowledges something the feminist movement is currently struggling with: difference of opinion. Yes, this is a problem in every political movement but it's currently leading to the posible demise of feminism as such with, for example, the TERF wars rooted in cancel culture and denial of truth.
Dorothy Sayers was one of these interesting women that, unfortunately remain too little talked about. She was a writer of detective novels in her own right, and a friend of C.S. Lewis, a classmate of Tolkien... and wrote really funny and poignant essays on the social status of women without considering herself a feminist.
This, as I was made aware by the title almost amounts to her whole texts on the question, the other being the prologue to her translation of Dante's Purgatory. I find her with a tendency towards acknowledging the individuality-singularity of women that could not be to everyone's tastes these days, as it would get mistaken by individualism, but I think it operates on the sex-gender distinction, that women are not meant to conform in every detail to what was, in Victorian times, socially expected of them. Also, if she saw how the denial of biological nature turns more and more dangerous by the day, I think she'd emphasize more of the collective aspect (which still is not denied in these essays).
I wanted to read this after I found her praising of Jesus by not being condescending or otherwise having ridiculous demands of women, or not even making them the 'evil' characters in His Parables... but what I got was much more, even though the book itself is short.
She also acknowledges something the feminist movement is currently struggling with: difference of opinion. Yes, this is a problem in every political movement but it's currently leading to the posible demise of feminism as such with, for example, the TERF wars rooted in cancel culture and denial of truth.
bcbartuska's review against another edition
4.0
“Is it only under stress of war that we are ready to admit that the person who does the job best is the person best fitted to do it?”
This is a very brief (69 pages total) discussion on the basic humanity of women and their value to society. Worth the read.
This is a very brief (69 pages total) discussion on the basic humanity of women and their value to society. Worth the read.
tiffanyslack's review against another edition
4.0
Short little volume with an introduction and two essays by Sayers. Very interesting (and witty!) food for thought. Some wise things to say about the nature of work as a human and the changing landscape of "women's work vs. man's work" over the course of history, with some important thoughts about how current views in society and the church are still heavily influenced by Victorian thinking and customs.
piper_sh's review against another edition
5.0
A true gem.
Very funny and still surprisingly relevant.
Some topics she spoke about 90 years ago are sadly still a mystery to some people.
For example when she was asked by a man how she was able to portrait conversations between men so accurately. Did she grow up in a large family with brothers? With lots of male friends?
When she says no neither he is completely stunned. And she explains to him that she just thought of men as human beings.
Seems like a very simple concept? It should be. Sadly the reverse is still not possible for a shockingly large amount of male authors writing female characters.
Very funny and still surprisingly relevant.
Some topics she spoke about 90 years ago are sadly still a mystery to some people.
For example when she was asked by a man how she was able to portrait conversations between men so accurately. Did she grow up in a large family with brothers? With lots of male friends?
When she says no neither he is completely stunned. And she explains to him that she just thought of men as human beings.
Seems like a very simple concept? It should be. Sadly the reverse is still not possible for a shockingly large amount of male authors writing female characters.
refvemma's review against another edition
3.0
A very quick read from an early feminist, though she wouldn’t call herself one. It’s interesting to sort of go back and see how earlier women were conceptualizing feminism, especially in a sort of male-dominated theologian setting.
gargi's review against another edition
5.0
I think I just found my favourite book. Pushes down To Kill a Mockingbird, Persepolis and Night a step lower.
Detailed review coming soon.
Detailed review coming soon.
ainiali's review against another edition
4.0
Are Women Human? is a collection of 2 essays written by Dorothy L. Sayers about feminism in the belief that men & women are equal and should be treated as human on every level of humanity.
When I first seen this book recommended by a Booktuber, I found myself asking out loud, "What do you mean 'Are women human?'?!" because that is a really provocative title if you ask me. However, when I did read it, I can say that this is the 'feminism' that I would totally agree & relate with. The introduction by Mary McDermott Shildeler is really helpful as it shed some light of who Dorothy L. Sayers to someone like me, who found her through this book rather than her works.
annie26's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. A really interesting and thought-provoking read. Especially the last two pages, that part rings true for me in a way that few discussions on equality between men and women ever have.
tabitabitabi's review against another edition
5.0
Despite Sayers reluctance to say she is a feminist this is a feminist book. Her discontent with first wave feminism is merely an observation that “white feminism” focuses more on emulating white men than it does on liberating women.
It would have been groundbreaking for its time in the christian church (and even in some now) as she discusses individualism and how woman are more like man (and vice versa) than any other creature on earth.
I can’t help but feel her real audience was reluctant men. Her commentary on the life of woman still rings true for a lot of woman today. I think she would have gotten along great with feminist icon Bell Hooks.
It would have been groundbreaking for its time in the christian church (and even in some now) as she discusses individualism and how woman are more like man (and vice versa) than any other creature on earth.
I can’t help but feel her real audience was reluctant men. Her commentary on the life of woman still rings true for a lot of woman today. I think she would have gotten along great with feminist icon Bell Hooks.
pinoncoffee's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this up at a book sale and read the whole thing while waiting in line to pay for it. Ahem.
So, these are two Sayers’ essays on Women (she mostly wrote about other things), and they are endlessly quoted because Sayers is like that. So it was fun to read them in their entirety. I mean, yes, you should read them. It won’t take that long.
So, these are two Sayers’ essays on Women (she mostly wrote about other things), and they are endlessly quoted because Sayers is like that. So it was fun to read them in their entirety. I mean, yes, you should read them. It won’t take that long.