The Flipside of Feminism: What Conservative Women Know—and Men Can't Say

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The Flipside of Feminism: What Conservative Women Know—and Men Can't Say

by Suzanne Venker (Goodreads Author), Phyllis Schlafly

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 133 ratings · 38 reviews

What if everything you've been told about women in America is wrong? What if what your college professors taught you - along with television, movies, books, magazine articles, and even news reports - have all been lies or distortions?

Since the 1960s, American feminists have set themselves up as the arbiters of all things female. Their policies have dominated the social and

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Since the 1960s, American feminists have set themselves up as the arbiters of all things female. Their policies have dominated the social and political landscape. The "spin sisters" in the media (aptly named by Myrna Blyth in her book of the same name) and their cohorts in academia are committed feminists. Consequently, everything Americans know or think they know about marriage, kids, sex, education, politics, gender roles, and work/family balance, has been filtered through a left-wing lens.

But what if conservative women are in the best position to empower American women?

Forty years have passed since the so-called women's movement claimed to liberate women from preconceived notions of what it means to be female and the results are in. The latest statistics from the National Bureau of Economic Research show that as women have gained more freedom, more education, and more power, they have become less happy.

Enough, say Suzanne Venker, an emerging young author, and veteran warrior Phyllis Schlafly. It's time to liberate America from feminism's dead-end road. Cast off the ideology that preaches faux empowerment and liberation from men and marriage. While modern women enjoy unprecedented freedom and opportunities, Venker and Schlafly argue that this progress is not the result of feminism.

Women's progress has been a natural evolution - due in large part to men's contributions. American men are not a patriarchal bunch, as feminists claim. They have, in fact, aided women's progress. And like women, they have been just as harmed by the feminist movement.

In The Flipside of Feminism, Venker and Schlafly provide readers with a new view of women in America one that runs counter to what Americans have been besieged with for decades. Their book demonstrates that conservative women are, in fact, the most liberated women in America and the folks to whom young people should be turning for advice. Their confident and rational approach to the battle of the sexes is precisely what America needs.

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Hardcover, 226 pages

Published March 15th 2011 by WND Books

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Nov 17, 2012 Nataliya marked it as syphilis-of-literature Recommends it for: People looking for something to vomit on

This book inspired me to create a new bookshelf - "syphilis of literature." I guess it was good for something.

I haven't read it, and I never will. But as I scrolled down the book page in horrified disbelief, I came upon a review that provided enough quotes for me to form a judgment on this... thing.

"Women should be thanking ‘the men who came before us’ — not feminists."

Actually, can we just thank everyone? Would that be so bad?

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"Women in previous generations simply didn’t have the time,

...more This book inspired me to create a new bookshelf - "syphilis of literature." I guess it was good for something.

I haven't read it, and I never will. But as I scrolled down the book page in horrified disbelief, I came upon a review that provided enough quotes for me to form a judgment on this... thing.

"Women should be thanking ‘the men who came before us’ — not feminists."

Actually, can we just thank everyone? Would that be so bad?

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"Women in previous generations simply didn’t have the time, or the inclination, to focus so obsessively on their identities. They also weren’t encouraged to sleep around, get divorced, put their children in day care, turn to Uncle Sam as provider, or belittle men. That is strictly leftist territory—and it’s been the worst thing that ever happened to this nation."

They also weren't encouraged to vote, own property, report abuse, say 'no', handle money, open credit without husband's permission, or get higher education.
But let's just make sure we scare people enough by bringing the dreaded leftist (or, as another quote states, Marxist) word here just to hammer into 'good American' brains that feminism is EEEEEEEVILLLLL!!!!

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"Feminists do a lot of talking about wanting women’s independence and empowerment, but their policies simply transfer women’s dependence on men to dependence on Uncle Sam."

Because every woman who is not properly attached to the man (who, by the way, should be able to support her and children on a single income, as another quote states) is on welfare. No other options exist. Because 'women's dependence' is a fact, and the real question is only who she depends on. Independent women clearly do not exist. Or at least that's what I gather from the quotes from this book and the happy reviews of it.
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I propose an alternative way of looking at things (and the one that all sane people already use) - women and men should be treated equally; some women will chose to pursue careers and other will choose to focus on motherhood and homemaking; and others will do both. And women and men will be free to choose for themselves which path they want, without someone telling them what to do, while living in the world where being a feminist does not automatically ear you a label of a man-hater.And we will stop writing idiotic books.

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Now I guess it's time for me to shut up about this vitriolic bit of nonsense also known as a book and go back to my goal in life that is "Kinder, Küche, Kirche" (children, kitchen, church). Because I should not want any other options.(less)

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Katy Nataliya wrote: "Haha, Katy, you are among many many people completely outraged by the existence of a book like this one. The book that aims to put wo...more
Apr 13, 2013 07:42pm

Nataliya Katy wrote: "I just finished reading through all the comments and there has been some fascinating discussion, although it was a bit frustrating to fin...more
Apr 13, 2013 07:50pm

Apr 05, 2013 Nenia Campbell marked it as this-cup-of-tea-is-not-for-me

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?

And be sure to fill out this incident report.

9 likes · like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Annita rated it 1 of 5 stars

only have read the first two chapters. book was recommended by a friend who suggested it might "set me free" and help me understand myself and my role as a woman.
ahem.
So far my major take-away is blech- after reading the following passage, "According to a 2007 report from the National Bureau of Ecnomic Research,
'As women have gained more freedom, more education, and more power, they have become LESS happy.'"
I'm not sure I can read much more of this.

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Annita i currently don't work from home or out of the home. I'm a full time volunteer with a very successful husband...so I'm perfect for anti-feminism. I'm...more
Sep 07, 2012 05:33pm

Annita Hi there Tre. I'm reading the anti-feminist book with an open mind. Okay. SOrry. I'm reading The Flipside of Feminism with an open mind.
A) DOes it mat...more Hi there Tre. I'm reading the anti-feminist book with an open mind. Okay. SOrry. I'm reading The Flipside of Feminism with an open mind.
A) DOes it matter that I'm also reading Elisabeth Badinter's book The COnflict- how modern motherhood undermines the status of Women at the same time...? Author has a very different tone and background I might add...
B) Just finished the 11 page introduction of Flipside. Author's Aunt is Phyllis Schlafly (known for opposing the 1970s Equal Rights Amendment.) So I'm not sure Author is thinking for herself either...note: she accuses liberals of not thinking for themselves which is why I make this point.
C) So far her argument is that the liberal voice is controlling the majority of the media. And author wishes there were more equal representation of the conservative side. FOX has been around for a while. Not sure that author sees FOx as valid or adequate in comparison to the Left but there is no distinction between entertainment and media and news...so I think this has been accomplished despite Venker's assertion to the opposite...Her book was published in 2011. I will agree the media must be separated into categories of entertainment vs. journalism and will argue that we need more journalism...
d) from intro. "Modern conservative women are grounded in common sense." suggests liberals are not. I'm not sure how to be open minded about that. Most women are grounded in common sense. And most educated and thinking women, liberal or conservative are. Author immediately sets confrontational tone. Author is not open minded. (but I remain willing to try!)
e)"you can be a strong, powerful and even liberated woman and still be conservative". I agree. As long as you KNOW you are strong, powerful and liberated. That's the challenge. In my opinion the liberal agenda is not for those who already know who they are. The feminist agenda is for those who have been restricted from knowing who they are (through economics, abuse, lack of education or lack of access, etc) and have been taught by life and the reality of the legal, financial and religious systems the reality of that women (liberal, conservative, independent, etc)really do not have strength, power or liberation.

That is all for tonight. Chapter 1 tomorrow?(less)
Oct 02, 2012 07:54pm

May 15, 2011 ImEmile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Forty years have passed since the so-called women's movement claimed to liberate women from preconceived notions of what it means to be female - and the results are in. The latest statistics show that as women have gained more freedom, more education, and more power, they have become less happy.

Everything Americans know - or think they know - about marriage, kids, sex, education, politics, and work/family balance has been filtered through a left-wing lens. In this book, readers are introduced to...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars

Phyllis Schlafly needs to do more research before publishing another book. In "The Flipside of Feminism" she posits feminism as ruining American values which is simply not the case.

"They explained how the Constitution is already sex-neutral, using gender-neutral words such as "we the people," person, citizen, resident, author, President, Senator, and Member" (40). Schlafly fails to realize that not ALL of the Constitution uses gender-neutral words. For example the Preamble to the Constitution re...more Phyllis Schlafly needs to do more research before publishing another book. In "The Flipside of Feminism" she posits feminism as ruining American values which is simply not the case.

"They explained how the Constitution is already sex-neutral, using gender-neutral words such as "we the people," person, citizen, resident, author, President, Senator, and Member" (40). Schlafly fails to realize that not ALL of the Constitution uses gender-neutral words. For example the Preamble to the Constitution reads "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all MEN are created equal." That's right, MEN, so much for the gender neutrality Schlafly believes exists in the Constitution.

"Women in America have always had the ability to act according to their own will. It may have been harder several generations ago than it is today-but that's not because women were victims" (56). Schlafly also states that women have always worked and that the feminism movement did not help in that respect. That is simply not true. My great aunt HID her pregnancy so she could continue working as a teacher. If her boss had discovered she was married AND pregnant, she would have been fired! Also, women have not always had the ability to act according to their own will. Women were not even allowed to vote until 1920 and those that did were ARRESTED. Schlafly calls that free-will, please! Also, women were not always allowed to won property. Single women could own property but once they married the property belonged to her husband. also, when the hsuband died the property would be transferred to the oldest son.

"Throughout his twenties and most of his thirties, Ben struggled to find women with whom he could imagine settling down. None was interested in, or focused on, traditional marriage and motherhood" (77). Why would a woman want traditional marriage? Women have brains so maybe they value their lives more than just sitting at home playing with children. Believe it or not, women can do both. Daycare facilities are not bad for children. Does Phyllis Schafly not understand that most women want more fulfillment out of their lives? Furthermore, Schlafly is a LAWYER, so there is no way she ever acted as a stay-at-home mother because she spent too much time fighting the ERA and the feminist movement.

[Regarding Jesse James cheating on Sandra Bullock] "So if a woman wants to be a famous actress and live in a state different from her husband for months at a time (or if she wants to be partner in a law firm or a senator or anything else that keeps her away from home for an extended period of time), well, then, her husband will just have to put up with it. And when he can't deal with it, as Jesse James obviously couldn't, he must be the bad guy- and she the victim" (79). So it is Sandra Bullocks fault that Jesse James decided to have an affair? HARDLY! Would Schlafly say the same if Sandra had the affair because Jesse was away for several months, I doubt it. A woman has a right to a career and if a man is that oversexualized that he can't keep it in his pants until she returns then he needs to rethink his priorities.

"If you plan to be a doctor, lawyer, or business executive, your family life will suffer-period." (116). So, Phyllis, did your life suffer? You spent the majority of your career telling women they should stay at home with their children, but did you? Did you bring all of your children with you when you traveled across the United States speaking out against the ERA?

"Title IX has been aggressively used to abolish college men's sports: wrestling, gymnastics, track and field, swimming, hockey, golf, and football" (149). There's nothing wrong with equal funding existing between men's and women's sports. Who cares if some men's sports had to be cancelled in order to equal funding to exist? Instead of cancelling football, for example, maybe they could have given more funding to women's sports. It's not that hard.

"Most important, educate your sons about feminism. Tell them how it has harmed society. Tell them to look for a woman who's conservative in nature and hasn't fallen into the feminist trap. Let them know that no matter what the culture says, a husband's contribution to his family is every bit as important as the wife's. Tell them not to follow a girlfriend's career path, but to find a woman who is willing to follow his career path if they plan to have children. Because if he marries her, chances are she is going to land right back in the spot where women have always wanted to be: at home with their babies" (164-165). Real advice would be having one's career first, THEN getting married. Don't follow another's career path, just follow yours. Feminism has not harmed society, it is responsible for many of the rights we have today.

"It was New York City's firemen who dared to charge up the stairs of the burning Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. The death tally of New York City's firefighters was: men 343, women 0. Can anyone honestly say you would have wanted a woman coming to your rescue on that fateful day?" (181-182). New York City has one of the lowest rates of female firefighters in the nation, but that is besides the point. Both women and men died that day attempting to rescue people from the towers. Captain Kathy Mazza, Port Authority police, was one of many people, male and female, that died trying to rescue people from the Twin Towers. Check it out here: http://www.odmp.org/officer/15797-cap... and she is just one of many female rescue workers that died that day.

Would I have wanted a woman coming to my rescue on that day? Yes but the gender of the person coming to rescue me would have been irrelevant. If I am ever in a position where I need someone to rescue me, I don't care if it is a man or a woman, I just want to be saved. If Phyllis Schlafly can honestly say if she were sitting in towers on 9/11 and a female firefighter came to rescue her, she would wait for a male firefighter, then she is more messed up than I thought (and I already think she's pretty crazy!}

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Sep 07, 2012 Perelandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: feminism, conservatism, women, read-in-2012, nonfiction, culture, investigative, favorites

I would give this book 10 stars if I could. This book is extremely important for women. Forget party lines and mommy wars. There is a natural way of things, and this books reminds an indoctrinated generation that it is okay, natural, and gasp, incredibly fulfilling to women and their families to go that way. That way is in the role of mother and wife as a life priority and natural exaltation. This is not an uneducated woman kept under man's thumb, but a woman fulfilled and what it is she was mea...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars

The subtitle made me laugh, but I actually did know much of what was in this book, so it was a fast read. People who think they are feminists are often in favor of equal rights (meaning equal opportunities) for women; real feminists, to judge by their current writings and activism, promote female wants (well, at least their own wants) as "enlightened goals" without regard to nature's demands, fairness towards men, or the needs of children. I find it odd that a pregnant lady was put on the cover,...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: marriage-and-family-life, gender-studies, philosophy-education

Author Suzanne Venker dares to express the unspoken thoughts of many women (and perhaps an equally large number of men) who have been indoctrinated by the philosophies of modern feminism that something is wrong with the way we view the roles of men and women. What's wrong with feminism? Venker dares to tell it like it is. She gives compelling examples from both sides of the debate using their own arguments to show us how feminism has messed up society and our happiness as men and women by tellin...more Author Suzanne Venker dares to express the unspoken thoughts of many women (and perhaps an equally large number of men) who have been indoctrinated by the philosophies of modern feminism that something is wrong with the way we view the roles of men and women. What's wrong with feminism? Venker dares to tell it like it is. She gives compelling examples from both sides of the debate using their own arguments to show us how feminism has messed up society and our happiness as men and women by telling us our traditional roles don't matter. Feminism insists women are just as capable of being in the workforce as are men and denies the basic fact that children are happier and better adjusted when they have their mothers at home. Venker masterfully lays out the agenda of feminists and shows how government has taken the place of husbands as providers of families in order to keep more mothers in the workforce. The result has been devastating to children, mothers and the fathers who have been cast aside by feminists who view them as disposable.

The women's movement and modern feminism is nearly 50 years old and what has it gotten us? Higher divorce rates thanks in part to no-fault divorce laws, single motherhood at an unprecedented rate of 40%, and sexually transmitted diseases at an all-time high. Meanwhile, abortion on demand has resulted in the destruction of 53 million lives. That's one-sixth the population of the United States that have been terminated since Roe v. Wade became the law of the land in 1973. To put it into perspective, that's the current combined populations of Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. Something is wrong with a society that says it's more important for women to continue to live their lives for themselves than to bring new life into the world.

I was raised with the notion that women are equal to men and have just as many opportunities available to them. However, no one told me about the deeply-rooted mother bear that lurked inside me making me feel as if my heart had been ripped out each morning when I'd drop my toddler daughter off at the day care center only to return 8 or more hours later and see her still crying and alone in the corner. My protective instinct wanted to whisk her away from the child care professionals who insisted she only needed to be "broken in" and everything would be fine. When her brother was born, my biology told me my baby needed to nurse, and sitting in a bathroom stall trying to express milk, while he was miles away with another mother being paid to care for him, wasn't going to cut it. I was convinced my children needed me home more than the Navy needed me, so I resigned my commission with all the perks and benefits of being an officer, in order to stay home and change diapers, coax children to sleep at naptime and be there when they awoke.

This book has challenged me to re-think some of my long-held beliefs that women and men can and should do the same things. My own experiences as a wife and mother of many children, along with recent scientific studies that show the significant differences in male and female physiological and psychological make-up, tells me the differences between males and females are far greater than our sexual organs.

This is an important book that should be read by all parents and educators.(less)

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Anna Graham It's a tough road for women of our age; we grew up with doors newly opened, assuming we needed to march right through. Opportunities exist for our dau...more
Jun 08, 2011 09:59am

Franziska Of course, women were much happier with no rights and no perspectives other than giving birth to ten children and cooking dinner for her husband and o...more
Nov 25, 2012 03:07am

May 10, 2012 logdog rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gender

So many women, whether they know it or not, have bought feminism's lie that since the dawn of time women have been "victims of the family institution" and that in the 1960s heroes like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem came along to free women from this oppression by unlocking the doors to career, independence from men and family, and supposed self-fulfillment. Suzanne Venker makes a good case against this lie, albeit a case separated from Christian belief. Her thrust is, "Feminism has told you t...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Jennifer added it

I can't, well I won't, even give this any stars or a rating. This book is pure vitriol and I know that the authors (or really author as I assume Schlafly had A LOT to do with the content) will just call me another Elite Feminist.

Basically this book is pro-men all the way and pro women staying in the home and being a mom. Fine if that's your thing of wanting to be a homemaker and raise children no one is chiding you for it, really. But what Venker and Schlafly (related) present is that the Femin...more I can't, well I won't, even give this any stars or a rating. This book is pure vitriol and I know that the authors (or really author as I assume Schlafly had A LOT to do with the content) will just call me another Elite Feminist.

Basically this book is pro-men all the way and pro women staying in the home and being a mom. Fine if that's your thing of wanting to be a homemaker and raise children no one is chiding you for it, really. But what Venker and Schlafly (related) present is that the Feminists (evil incarnate apparently) do not want you to enjoy your life liberties in any way. What really summed it up was the faux Ten Commandments of Feminism in the appendices.

Basically they promote feminism as being all about having sex with whomever whenever you want, no believing in the "values" of the home, demeaning women and making them feel bad for whatever choices they make, aborting fetuses at every chance they can get, and have no moral fiber in their beings. Aye!

And you know this is a far right book when they note that Fox News is one of the few places to get fair and unbiased information.

It always amazes me how some are always ready to attack one side and then claim themselves the higher being. I am not into labels, really. You can be conservative on some things and liberal in others. You can be hardcore whatever. But in life it seems that there should be the basic equality of respect. I respect your opinions and you respect mine, but once it starts impeding on civil liberties it must come to an end and we need to reach a compromise. Schlafly and Venker do not feel that there is a compromise. They view feminists as evil period. Anyone who may even have an inkling towards women working full-time or not being in the home or not 'servicing' their husband are feminists, hands down. And apparently feminism is an epidemic that needs to be stopped.

I was shocked I got through this book as it was pissing me off more and more as I flipped the pages. And don't even get me started on the sex chapters. I recommend reading this just to learn about their reasoning for stopping ERA from going to pass and learning what they think a women's role is (being subservient to men as there is 'scientific evidence' that women are just not as good as men). Well screw that! We are different, yes, but we are not less than and I refuse to support a movement that says I am and should be happy about it and embrace it. (less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Whitney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-mcnair-research

A great popular work on the perspectives of anti-feminist women. Of course, to fully verify many of the claims of the book (like most popular books) following the provided references back to the original, usually academic, resources is necessary.

Positives:
Phyllis Schlafly has much personal experience working on opposition to the ERA amendment and arguing against the second wave feminism that started around the 1960s. If there's anybody to give an anti-feminist viewpoint, it's her. Also, the add...more A great popular work on the perspectives of anti-feminist women. Of course, to fully verify many of the claims of the book (like most popular books) following the provided references back to the original, usually academic, resources is necessary.

Positives:
Phyllis Schlafly has much personal experience working on opposition to the ERA amendment and arguing against the second wave feminism that started around the 1960s. If there's anybody to give an anti-feminist viewpoint, it's her. Also, the addition of a second author, her niece, Suzanne Venker, gives this work fresh perspective of a "modern" conservative woman. These two women have combined both of their voices, fairly seamlessly, to present the reader with a re-interpretation of feminist history from the 1940s to the present. For conservative women, many of these arguments will probably resonate with their lived experience. For liberal or feminist women, these authors present numerous challenges as well as a few mishaps that have tarnished the women's movement's image (and subsequently the term feminist - please note that feminist and women's movement are not interchangeable although they are related as feminism is an ideology and a women's movement is just that, a social movement led by women on behalf of women). These challenges presented by the authors have not been addressed by many feminists for fear that they will be a slippery slope to sexism and discrimination.

Cons:
This work is not given context to larger historical fact. While focusing on the state of U.S. feminism from around the 1940s to the present is not a detriment to the work, the authors do not acknowledge that, historically, women have been denied full citizenship and representation under the law all over the world. In addition, different groups of women were given access to citizenship and representation that stemmed directly from larger cultural influences, such as racism and able-ism. Many laws that give women the right to marry whom they wish were only uniform across the country in the past 50 years. Therefore, I think it is hard to argue that the nation is 100% past issues that truly did oppress individuals based on gender, race and ability.

As one of the so-called "fringe" third-wave feminists that these authors deride and also as a student who will be pursing a Ph.D. in the future (on the topic of anti-feminism and conservative feminisms of all things), I found their assessment of the value of educating women in higher education to be offensive. While the authors are not against a general college education, they specifically state that women should not think of pursuing advanced degrees if they also want to have children. One part of the book even goes so far to hypothesize that the men highly-educated women marry will be resentful and unappreciative of a wife's potential debts from her education, especially if she decides she would like to stay at home while he works. Most college graduates today, male or female, have accrued student loan debt and there are also plenty of stories of women working to fund their male partner's education. There is also bit of hypocrisy here as Schlafly herself has multiple advanced degrees (M.A. in political science from Harvard and a J.D. from Washington University) while having raised six children.

And as a truly biased, subjective, personal-experience con: I have never met a single mother like the one they describe in their book. The single mothers I know do not want to be dependent on the government. In fact, they are some of the hardest-working, maternal, full-time parents I have ever met! If anything, they remind me that my life is not all that hard and that you CAN accomplish your life goals while still being an involved parent. When I do have children I hope that I am just as dedicated to being there for my children while balancing my desires to use my over-educated brain. (less)

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Jun 20, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although this book is full of flawed thinking and countless misconceptions about feminism, it is an important read if you seek to read a more conservative view of our modern society. I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not already have a strong background in feminism (at the very least, taken a Women's Studies class) in order to be able to sort out fact from fiction. Despite its sweeping misrepresentation of the history of feminism, it is an important read for those of us who are...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Georgia rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book made me realize how much my way of thinking has been influenced by society and it was very eye opening. I have been conditioned to think that I should have a high powered career and put love, marriage, and family on the back burner even though truthfully, that's what I really want (this is just me personally, some people really love working and want to pursue their career, and that is totally a person's choice). I had been conditioned to think that wanting those things was wrong or som...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Stacie rated it 2 of 5 stars

While this book contained interesting information, I think it painted with too broad of a brush. Even when I agreed with the premise of an argument, the way it was illustrated smacked as much of propaganda as what I've read from feminist camps, except with an opposite message. Maybe it's just that I disliked the writing style of the authors, but if the underlying common sense (most of the time) wasn't already apparent to me, this book would not have won me over. There were a few eye-openers, lik...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Mrs N rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, nonfiction, politics, social-commentary

Upon further thought, I have to take this down to two stars. The book IS interesting. I read it quickly which at this time of my life (caring for an infant and two young children) is proof of the book's capacity for entertainment. So for that I bumped it up to two stars.

However, there is frequent obfuscation of facts within this book. The authors blithely state that there wasn't much sexism prior to the 1960s, and that loads of women were working. Um, okay....NO. There might have been loads of w...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I laughed when I read the subtitle about men. Women who agree with some tenets of this book would get a lot of flak from some women, let alone men speaking on this topic.

I think every woman of any political orientation should read this book. Is the book perfect? No. Will you be offended at some point? Probably. I certainly thought Venker had some overly simplistic, even outlandish assertions that I disagreed with.

However, she does make some assertions that make sense. She argues that we (women...more

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May 14, 2013 Emily Hoornstra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although I went into this book feeling that feminism (as a movement) may have left us bankrupt in different ways, I figured part of that was due to my religious perspective. Imagine my surprise when the primary author describes herself as not being a religious person but merely one with a concern. I don't believe this to be an exhaustive research paper but it is definitely thought provoking. And as much as we'd like to dismiss these sort of thoughts in ourselves and others, I believe we've still...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: worldview

A dose of common sense: women have many opportunities and can achieve many things. But it helps to do those things in order (what the authors call sequencing) that works with biology instead of against it.

Enjoyed the no-nonsense tone but seriously doubt anyone who holds a contrary view would read this book anyway.

It might have been a good idea to contrast the opportunities and advancement of American women with the plight currently experienced by other women in the world, where they are still t...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Guin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm glad I read this book for several reasons:

1 - It is nonfiction which is not my thing, so I tried something new.

2 - It made some valid points and pointed me toward some other sources that I am interested in reading.

3 - It was very biased and thus reminded me how dangerous bias in writing can be, especially if the reader is not aware or chooses to overlook said bias.

I struggle with feminism and the claim that everyone's lives are 1000% better because of it. I think there are great opportunitie...more I'm glad I read this book for several reasons:

1 - It is nonfiction which is not my thing, so I tried something new.

2 - It made some valid points and pointed me toward some other sources that I am interested in reading.

3 - It was very biased and thus reminded me how dangerous bias in writing can be, especially if the reader is not aware or chooses to overlook said bias.

I struggle with feminism and the claim that everyone's lives are 1000% better because of it. I think there are great opportunities that have come of femininsm and that it has given women options, sort of. Perhaps the playing field has been levelled a bit. However, I also think we have paid a price for forging ahead, and I think that it is our children who paid the price. I truly believe that children should be at home with one parent. I think that should be the mother, but dads at home work too. I also don't believe that men and women are equal - I think they are different and different can never be equal - I don't understand why this is bad.

These thoughts, given my college background, are difficult to come to terms with. I absolutely do not agree with the author's idea that the only solution is that men marry conservative women and thus create conservative families (which caused me to laugh out loud). But I don't think what we have now is working in a positive manner for a large number of families.

I do like the author's idea of stages of life for a woman - education stage, working stage, family stage, etc. It seems like it provides the ability to "have it all," just not "all" at the same time.

Her thoughts that young women don't necessarily need an education and job before marrying so that they experience independence which could then "poison" their minds for children was outrageous to say the least. Women, all women, need a higher education and the ability to be independant. I don't care if they never use it, at least they have it.

I think I was drawn to this book not only because of conflicting feelings regarding feminism, but also because of what I see in pop culture. I hate that little girls clothes are made to look like teen-age or adult clothes. Why can't little girls be little girls? I hate that the songs on the radio have lines like "I'll follow you until you love me" or whatever disgusting lines are in Rihanna songs. I hate that I go to the mall and all I see are teenagers pushing strollers and being terrible parents. Is this what feminism got us? How do I keep my children from embracing this lifestyle?

This book provided a great deal of discussion between Michael and I and it also led me to the absolute conclusion that when it comes to many family aspects, I am {gasp} rather conservative.

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Apr 12, 2013 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've just started reading this and I don't want to give it 5 stars quite yet, but what I have gathered so far, it will definitely make it to the 5 star mark. I'm sure I will edit this review later, but really, I love it so far and will pick up Suzanne's first book as soon as I finish this one. I really want to just dive head first into this one, and provided I get some quiet time, I will for sure probably polish this off in a day or two.

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Apr 23, 2013 Heather Fauber rated it 1 of 5 stars

If you find this book in your possession, walk immediately to a fireplace or fire pit and light it up, using this book as kindling. Save yourself and others from being subjected to this absurd bullsh*t.

I am horrified by these pathetic, backwards women, desperately trying to convince other women that our "place" in the world is, essentially, at home, serving a husband and children.

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Apr 24, 2012 3 Beans rated it 1 of 5 stars

I bought this book hoping to get an uplifting and enlightened view on conservative women making the workforce and OR mothering in a positive, balanced way. What I got was a book that bashed any and every liberal woman in the public eye. I walked away from this book feeling like Suzanne Venker is an angry woman who at some point was kick in the shin by a libral.

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 12, 2012 Katie Jacobsen rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who can not read, masochists, supporters of apartheid

If you ever get in a mood where you feel like you must be the worst person alive, unable to shake the feeling that no one in the world could be more of a jerk or self-centered lowlife than you, just read this book. You'll quickly be reminded that there are worse people in the world than yourself, most notably, those who wrote and promote this book.

10 likes · like · see review

Dec 21, 2012 Ade marked it as are-you-serious Recommends it for: No one. I would, however, recommend sending this book to the pits of hell.

Shelves: what-in-gods-name, banished-to-the-depths-of-hell, shouldn-t-have-been-published

Oh for the love of God. I don't even know what to think people anymore. I don't think that the Ms Venker understands that all of the rights she has now, are due to feminists fighting for those rights. If all women had stayed conservative, the world would be a very different place.

2 likes · like · see review

May 31, 2011 Genevieve rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and appreciated the insight it gave to some of the downfalls of feminism. It also brought to light how possibly damaging some of the feminists views can be to families. I highlighted many quotes in the book that were insightful, witty, or just plain obvious.

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 25, 2012 Stephanie (The Night Bookmobile) marked it as to-read

Shelves: no

11 likes · like · see review

Sep 21, 2011 Shelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book #44 for 2011 - I liked this book. Feminism is not what you think it is. And that's all I'm going to say about that. If you don't agree (or are curious) read the book for yourself.

1 like · like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Harmony rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great defense of traditional women's roles without being a negative attack on women who work. A different voice from what is usually heard in the media and movies.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 09, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a good education for me. I liked that it made me think and evaluate my opinions. Most of the book aligns with my thinking.

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2011 Kristen marked it as to-read

Not at all in my political wheelhouse but that's all the more reason to read it.

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“Anyone can be bored or unfulfilled at virtually any job. How one chooses to respond to boredom is key. Most women are resourceful: when faced with boredom, they find a way out. That's an essential skill. Those who don't have it will suffer, to be sure, but that is not society's problem.” — 3 people liked it

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