female chauvinist pigs

recently i joined the ranks of a "book club." i know what you are thinking. what is a book club? more importantly, why are you in a book club? i had always heard of book clubs, but never knew anyone who actually participated in one until now. a couple of my friends and some newly made acquintances have formed a book club. we read a book over a few weeks and twice a month we meet to discuss the book, our lives, and whatever else finds its way into our conversation. the first book we decided on has a very interesting title, Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the rise of ruanch culture. the subtitle is what got me hooked. quoted from the book, pg. 96 "raunch provides a special opportunity for a woman who wants to prove her mettle." (in case you did not know, raunch is in fashion)

so, what is a female chauvinist pig? for that you will have to read the book. i don't think i could do the term justice with a concise definition. so, i encourage you to read it. anyone who is interested in what popular culture is telling females to become and do. dads, grandfathers, mothers, sisters, girls (some discussion is definately needed with adolescents)...read the book and decide for yourself whether Ariel Levy has done a good job researching pop post-feminist culture. BUT, be prepared...you may love it, you may hate it. i do think though you will find aspects you agree with as well as those topics you wish you could avoid altogether. that is the problem, we should not avoid these once taboo topics because they are not taboo today. perhaps the better term is celebrated, sought after, popular. if you do decide to check out the book, read it with an open mind. i believe levy has done her best to present facts without opinions or judgment. http://www.femalechauvinistpigs.com/

the book is more of a socialogical study than anything else. some key take aways for me.

* i have a very limited view of what reality is for teenage girls
* i want to try and stay in touch with popular culture (i don't necessarily agree with all of it or want to participate, but i do want to be informed and knowledgable)
* is the new post-feminist movement an indication of how far we have come, or is the push for sexual freedom a smoke-screen for how far we haven't come. (pg. 195)
* our culture idolizes the G-string, silent girly girls faking lust, which is not a sign of progress but a testament to what's still missing from our understanding of human sexuality with all its complexity and power. (pg. 198)
* we need to allow ourselves the freedom to figure out what we internally (emotionally and spiritually) want from sex instead of mimicking whatever popular culture holds as sexy. (pg. 200)
* sex is for pleasure, it's an expression of love. you'd think the best erotic role models, then, would seem to be the women who get the most pleasure out of sex, not the women who get he most money.

i will not say i agree with everything in the book, but i agree with the concepts. the importance of beginning to understand what raunch culture is and how it is affecting youth is vital. take the time to at least check out the book. shoot me your thoughts and questions. trust me, i have plenty...the main one's being, "what do i do now that i have heard of this concept and have gained a broader understanding of post-feminism? do i simply do nothing or is there something more to be done?

i believe there is more, what do you think?