Reviews

Are Women Human? Astute and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society by Dorothy L. Sayers, Mary McDermott Shideler

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.

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.

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.

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.

aemowers's review against another edition

5.0

I might start buying copies in bulk to pass out as tracts.

georgie_lyall's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

3.5