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95th out of 383 books
—
264 voters
Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message That Feminism's Work Is Done
From the author of Where the Girls Are, a sharp and irreverent critique of how women are portrayed in today’s popular culture
Women today are inundated with conflicting messages from the mass media: they must either be strong leaders in complete command or sex kittens obsessed with finding and pleasing a man. In Enlightened Sexism, Susan J. Douglas, one of America’s most en...more
Women today are inundated with conflicting messages from the mass media: they must either be strong leaders in complete command or sex kittens obsessed with finding and pleasing a man. In Enlightened Sexism, Susan J. Douglas, one of America’s most en...more
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published
March 2nd 2010
by Times Books
(first published 2010)
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Aug 22, 2012
Chris
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
feminist,
movie-tv-related-or-tie-in-non-sf
Well, I know now why I couldn't get into Alias.
Douglas, in an extremely funny and 'I'm gulity of it too' voice dicusses how modern televison is sexist, just in more subtle (in some cases) ways then in the first place. She also examines why some shows worked and some shows didn't. Wonder why the Bachelor is still on tv, this will tell.
I do have to admit, howver, that I would have liked to see inclusion of both The Wire and Homicide as they bucked some of the trends that Douglas talked about.
Man,...more
Douglas, in an extremely funny and 'I'm gulity of it too' voice dicusses how modern televison is sexist, just in more subtle (in some cases) ways then in the first place. She also examines why some shows worked and some shows didn't. Wonder why the Bachelor is still on tv, this will tell.
I do have to admit, howver, that I would have liked to see inclusion of both The Wire and Homicide as they bucked some of the trends that Douglas talked about.
Man,...more
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I really enjoyed this book. It was intelligent, well-informed, and articulate. Writing with humor and attitude, Douglas calls the many faces of media on it’s secretly sexist, psuedo-feminist BS.
Citing examples from popular TV shows, retail, magazines, and news media, Douglas provides several examples of enlightened sexism and backs it up with plenty of research. It’s written simply but is still very intelligent and doesn’t pander to the reader (a less than easy tightrope). It’s dense and a littl...more
Citing examples from popular TV shows, retail, magazines, and news media, Douglas provides several examples of enlightened sexism and backs it up with plenty of research. It’s written simply but is still very intelligent and doesn’t pander to the reader (a less than easy tightrope). It’s dense and a littl...more
Jun 02, 2013
Rabbit
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
should be required reading imho
Shelves:
epicly-awesome,
feminism,
glbt,
information-heavy,
non-fiction,
present-day,
reference,
relationships,
five-stars,
keepers
This book is similar but covers more ground then the "viriginty culture" of the Purity Myth. Definitely recommend it as well.
I am almost finished with this book. Overall, I enjoyed it, if that is the right word. In many ways, it is an upsetting book. I say upsetting, because I agree with the author's premise that the powers that be are attempting to return women to their rightful place, under the thumb of patriarchy. (And yes, I am saying this with a straight face.) I wish I had read this book before teaching my Female Hero and Superhero book--very useful. Douglas examines how women are portrayed on TV and in film, in...more
Almost a four. Douglas presents a compelling case for what she describes as a new wave in the anti-feminism/feminism tension: "enlightened sexism". She uses media literacy and analysis to show that this new social form conveys several basic messages: women have "made it"; traditional feminism is antiquated and dangerous for young women; women can obtain greater levels of power through emphasizing their bodies as objects (versus being passive objects of the male gaze); and that we as people are s...more
Really interesting, well-researched look at media representations of women and young girls, and how these more modern interpretations (whether intentionally or not) work to convince us that feminism is "over" or not necessary, even though the total opposite is true. Sure, the Baby Boomer author tries a little too hard to be hip, but she also makes sure to point out the profoundly troublesome aspects of modern media: We're supposed to be "post-feminist" and ironic viewers who know things like Gos...more
Anyone who's paying any attention knows that the subtitle of this book is, duh, true. Therefore, it's nice that every ten years or so a book comes along that analyzes the past ten years of pop culture and says that, while we've made progress, there's still a lot more work to be done. This is that book for 2010. As someone who's generally familiar with what's going on in pop culture and has read quite a bit about it, I found a lot of this book to be retreading of stuff I already knew. Still, ther...more
ANXIOUS EMPOWERMENT
Brenda R. Weber
Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message That Feminism’s Work Is Done
By Susan J. Douglas
Times Books
GIVEN ITS DEPRESSING TOPIC— the media’s insidious contribution to
the waning influence of feminism— Enlightened Sexism is a delightful
read. Douglas had me laughing out loud as she made her irreverent
but persuasive case against a popular culture that promises girls
and women they can be whatever they want as long as they don’t want
the wrong things. This “empowerment”...more
Brenda R. Weber
Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message That Feminism’s Work Is Done
By Susan J. Douglas
Times Books
GIVEN ITS DEPRESSING TOPIC— the media’s insidious contribution to
the waning influence of feminism— Enlightened Sexism is a delightful
read. Douglas had me laughing out loud as she made her irreverent
but persuasive case against a popular culture that promises girls
and women they can be whatever they want as long as they don’t want
the wrong things. This “empowerment”...more
I am almost finished with this book. Overall, I enjoyed it, if that is the right word. In many ways, it is an upsetting book. I say upsetting, because I agree with the author's premise that the powers that be are attempting to return women to their rightful place, under the thumb of patriarchy. (And yes, I am saying this with a straight face.) I wish I had read this book before teaching my Female Hero and Superhero book--very useful. Douglas examines how women are portrayed on TV and in film, in...more
A very good read. Douglas dissects pop culture, the media and politics and presents a truly horrendous analysis of how women are presented to the public and how we continue to be treated as inferior to men despite the strides of feminism. What I particularly enjoyed was the calling out of alleged feminist characters in television and film as stereotypical ball busting bitches with no positive feelings towards men.
I highly recommend this one.
I highly recommend this one.
Ummm..... yeah.
So, I'm all about Feminism. In fact - as imperfect as I may be - I oft feel as though I'm keeping it alive all by myself. I thought that this book would help give me specific examples to use as alliterations during my various discussions with the masses.
What did I get instead? One woman’s pitiful excuse to watch and critique various sitcoms, movies, music videos and the like from the ‘90’s. I flukin kno that "entertainment" (television in general) is sexist. Believe me, the cons...more
So, I'm all about Feminism. In fact - as imperfect as I may be - I oft feel as though I'm keeping it alive all by myself. I thought that this book would help give me specific examples to use as alliterations during my various discussions with the masses.
What did I get instead? One woman’s pitiful excuse to watch and critique various sitcoms, movies, music videos and the like from the ‘90’s. I flukin kno that "entertainment" (television in general) is sexist. Believe me, the cons...more
This book was ok. I was already aware of most of the information but it will be a good resource, facts wise, for my papers that I write for school.
Overall, though, I did not like the style of this book. It had the feeling that the author was trying to be lighthearted and sarcastic but she just couldn't make it stick. Where as when I read Jessica Valenti the words just seem to flow, this writing was jarring at points due to grammar and failed attempts either to be "cool" or funny.
The author even...more
Overall, though, I did not like the style of this book. It had the feeling that the author was trying to be lighthearted and sarcastic but she just couldn't make it stick. Where as when I read Jessica Valenti the words just seem to flow, this writing was jarring at points due to grammar and failed attempts either to be "cool" or funny.
The author even...more
Well, this was interesting. It was. The thing is, first the author states her basic premise - that popular media, under the pretense that sexism is so last century, is perpetuating damaging sexist stereotypes and colonizing both male and female minds with female images that are not substantially different from those of the 1950s. And truly, Douglas makes a powerful case, and I have only minor differences with her. The only thing is...
...Oh, I feel bad even saying this. But it just gets kind of b...more
...Oh, I feel bad even saying this. But it just gets kind of b...more
In Enlightened Sexism, Susan J. Douglas argues that the through the combination of "enlightened sexism" and "embedded feminism," the media and popular culture conceal the very real need for continued feminism - the very idea of which having become almost a dirty word. In embedded feminism, tv shows and the media present women in power as fait accompli, leading women to believe that feminism is part of the cultural landscape and hiding the fact that there still exist many disparities between wome...more
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I could hardly put it down, which hasn't happened to me in a long time.
Douglas' message that pop culture and the media's portrayal of women subtly persuade us to see feminism as irrelevant, even outdated, is explained in a highly amusing, sarcastic, straightforward manner that entertains, outrages, and ultimately educates. For someone like me who has not taken any college communications courses nor thought much about the media's production of culture and knowledge,...more
Douglas' message that pop culture and the media's portrayal of women subtly persuade us to see feminism as irrelevant, even outdated, is explained in a highly amusing, sarcastic, straightforward manner that entertains, outrages, and ultimately educates. For someone like me who has not taken any college communications courses nor thought much about the media's production of culture and knowledge,...more
If you've ever enjoyed Gossip Girl, Girls Gone Wild, celebrity "news," Hooters, or virtually any reality show and claimed that you only like it "ironically," read this book.
If you think that being sexually objectified "empowers" women, again, read this book.
If you think we don't need feminism anymore...read this book.
If you think that being sexually objectified "empowers" women, again, read this book.
If you think we don't need feminism anymore...read this book.
The author writes very well, with a lot of humor, in bringing home the point that, not only is feminism's work not done, but powerful forces using the media are seeking to undo what has been accomplished. In the 2012 political climate, the anti-feminist agenda is even more obvious than when the book was written.
2 likes · like · see review
First, let me state that I read this for a book group - it isn't exactly something I'd pick up normally. Yes, I have read Susan Faludi's Backlash, but generally speaking I stay away from pseudo-academic tomes these days. Nonfiction, in general, is not my cup of tea.
Having said all that, Douglas does make some interesting points about the media in the '90's through the '00's (or whatever we're calling it), regarding how women are portrayed and the corresponding influence on society. I must admit...more
Having said all that, Douglas does make some interesting points about the media in the '90's through the '00's (or whatever we're calling it), regarding how women are portrayed and the corresponding influence on society. I must admit...more
Fun & feminism--what's not to like? I think Douglas succeeds at putting feminisms in a historical context and explaining how they've been co-opted and corrupted by mainstream media. Thus, it's a great read for undergrads being introduced to Feminism with a capital F and folks who are not necessarily in academia but interested in gender issues. I was both delighted by and bothered by the use of 90210 as a "primary text" for interpreting. I definitely think "scholarly" work is often at its bes...more
Douglas continues her pop culture critique started in 'Where the Girls are'. She examines media depictions of women from Grey's Anatomy, Real Housewives to Us and In Touch. Douglas makes a number of interesting points - shows like Grey's give us a portrayal of women that seems like a fantasy. High powered women balance demands of work and home seemingly without difficulty in some TV shows but Douglas points out this remains a pipe dream for many women with the high cost of day care and little to...more
Of course sexism still exists in a subversive, underhanded manner that allows cultural fantasies of women in power so long as they're beautiful in a normative fashion. Of course media messages present the idea that women are perfectly equal to men in our society and having achieved that only really care about What Not To Wear, babies and motherhood, and Having Nice Things. All of this has been abundantly clear for some time, but Douglas deconstructs popular culture to make the argument here thor...more
What a phenomenal book. There are so many fascinating pieces of this text, from the work on Clueless to her love of Buffy. Unfortunately, other aspects are decidedly a misstep. The chapter on reality television is far too superficial and anecdotal in its judgmental views, and other chapters practically made me skim so I could finish them.
Overall, there is a lot of insightful commentary of the past 20 years here (and then some, actually). In my experience, texts don't necessarily focus on the 90s...more
Overall, there is a lot of insightful commentary of the past 20 years here (and then some, actually). In my experience, texts don't necessarily focus on the 90s...more
I really wanted to love this book, but I couldn't get past Douglas' attitude. Far too often she came across as almost scolding, putting forth an us-vs-them dynamic where the "us" was older women like herself and the "them" were young women who will eventually need to be saved by older feminists once they hit retirement age (I'm not even kidding; this is a scenario put forth in her conclusion).
I read and really enjoyed Susan Faludi's Backlash in high school, and really hoped that this would be ab...more
I read and really enjoyed Susan Faludi's Backlash in high school, and really hoped that this would be ab...more
Professor at U. Michigan elaborates the thesis that the "seductive message" mentioned in subtitle is incorrect. In other words, while the most blatant sexist messages (e.g., want ads for male vs. female jobs) might be widely viewed as dated, there is still plenty of sexism to go around. Her particular focus is popular media.
very convincing case, and as perhaps an excessive TV consumer I appreciated her take on Survivor, The Bachelor, Commander in Chief, The Closer, etc. as well as a number of ot...more
very convincing case, and as perhaps an excessive TV consumer I appreciated her take on Survivor, The Bachelor, Commander in Chief, The Closer, etc. as well as a number of ot...more
All I can say about this book is "ehhh..." Here's why: the first chapter in which Douglas defines the term "enlightened sexism" is cool because she explains this new phenomenon in which it appears that feminism has won, women have it all, and, therefore, we can ignore any signs of sexism that we still see because they're not relevant to the overall success that women have achieved. I also like how she emphasizes that the same old female stereotypes are being packaged in a new gift box of indepen...more
although it had been hyped to me, i found this book to be simply okay. as a media criticism there were definitely some new observations for me, but a lot of it was either nothing new to me, or was a thin argument. more than anything, i found susan douglas' writing to be really annoying. the first half of the book i was frustrated by her sarcastic tone because it clearly alienates anyone who isn't already convinced that feminism is a still relevant and necessary. by the end of the book i was just...more
I missed the 1990s. I got married, had a baby, and lost my mind (not necessarily in that order). When I came to, I had missed the X-Files. I missed Xena. I even missed Buffy. And somehow, when I re-entered the world, we had gone from Murphy Brown to Brazilians for all.
Douglas did a great job of unpicking what happened with popular media in those years to end us up here, in the world of Jersey Shore and Real Housewives, where "girls have learned to be enforcers of their own opression" (p. 237),...more
Douglas did a great job of unpicking what happened with popular media in those years to end us up here, in the world of Jersey Shore and Real Housewives, where "girls have learned to be enforcers of their own opression" (p. 237),...more
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Personally, I think this book has an unfortunate title. It needs something that reflects its contents a little better. It's essentially an examination of pop culture and how it illustrates the sexism that still exists in our society. I'm not sure what she means by "enlightened" sexism. But the rest of the book is very clear, thought-provoking and entertaining. I highly recommend it for older feminists who are wondering what happened to the feminist movement of the '60s and '70s, for young femini...more
Susan J. Douglas' "Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message that Feminism's Work is Done" is an interesting and sometimes enlightening discussion on American culture as viewed through the eyes of a middle aged feminist who argues that we, as Americans, think that feminism's work is in fact done based on how media portrays women. However, Douglas argues, the media's portrayal of women is proof positive that feminism's work is far from over.
Do I buy into everything Douglas argues in this book? N...more
Do I buy into everything Douglas argues in this book? N...more
This book was not exactly what I thought it was going to be. I still found the book to be interesting, but I was a bit disappointed that Douglas spent so much time quoting television shows and other media snippets. I felt she could have made her points with a lot less quotations.
Speaking of the quotations, this book was very centered on the media and how the media portrays feminism/women. While I thought this was interesting I wanted her to say more about real women in society rather than ficti...more
Speaking of the quotations, this book was very centered on the media and how the media portrays feminism/women. While I thought this was interesting I wanted her to say more about real women in society rather than ficti...more
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Susan J. Douglas is a prize-winning author, columnist, and cultural critic, and the Catherine Neafie Kellogg Professor of Communication Studies at The University of Michigan. Her book Where the Girls Are was widely praised, and chosen one of the top ten books of 1994 by National Public Radio, Entertainment Weekly and The McLaughlin Group. In her most recent book, Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive...more
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“...There were the studies, beginning in 2007, which found that the suicide rate among women who had received breast implants were twice the suicide rate of the general population. So there's an alarming relationship between being deeply unhappy, being unhappy with your body, and having liquid-filled plastic bags surgically inserted into your body that kind of contradicts the whole "boost your self-esteem" line about the real reasons to have cosmetic surgery.”
—
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