I had seriously been seriously frustrated with feminism, especially in the academic setting, as everything seemed to be about inane differences between what is the 'body' and what is the 'flesh', and generally focused on a very small group of privileged women-- a long standing criticism of the feminist movement.
Unexpectantly, I came upon Germaine Greer's latest book. I had read The Female Eunuch the summer before, and it had marked my behaviour, despite its being written 10 years before I was born. The Whole Woman topped it. It provided evidence about the continuing sexism in society, including in policies viewed as feminist, such as the right to abortion, routine pelvic exams, issues on maternal care, female circumcision, and many other controversial and non-controversial topics.
She seemed to have read my mind about all the problems I was seeing and provided strong, though-provoking statements about all of them. About make-up and beauty standards, problems for low-income women, the third-world, and women in positions of power. She goes beyond the tipical routine of familiar feminism: abortion isn't pro-choice, pro-choice would be information about egalitarian birth control, information about the numerous options in abortions, a revision in treatment for women who decide to abort, and most importantly, the option for women to viably raise their child if they so wish, with monetary assistance. She also writes about women in the military, police force and motherhood.
One review on the back said that this book would make me angry, and they were not kidding. Her writings are telling us not to be too comfortable-- feminism has a long way to go, baby.
