Post: #1

Just wondered if anyone has, and if so, your opinion on it. I feel like if many here are going to reject feminism, there should probably be some consideration of female opinion on that and 'the patriarchy' as people call it. She's usually a pretty funny writer, and this was a very popular book.

Post: #2

That was quick!

Post: #3

So I read this post and I said to myself, "Perhaps banning her (And you know it's a her) is being unfair. Perhaps this Caitlin Moran woman is a genuine literary artist, with valuable insights about our society. Insights that we've missed because we're too quick to write feminists off as stupid, puerile, and obsessed with their own genitals. I've got a few hours to kill tonight, maybe I'll read a bit of it. Maybe it'll blow my mind, and open me to new perspectives on "the patriarchy as people call it."

I made it as far as the table of contents. (Thing's available for free on a feminist site, though I won't provide a link.) Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the table of contents for "How To Be A Woman", copied and pasted below this.

Prologue: The Worst Birthday Ever
Chapter 1: I Start Bleeding !
Chapter 2: I Become Furry!
Chapter 3: I Don’t Know What To Call My Breasts!
Chapter 4: I Am A Feminist!
Chapter 5: I Need A Bra!
Chapter 6: I Am Fat!
Chapter 7: I Encounter Some Sexism!
Chapter 8: I Am In Love!
Chapter 9: I Go Lap-dancing!

So I guess my opinion is that the book confirms every stereotype I've ever read about feminists. I pressed the page down button a few times to see if it got better, and if I quoted the shit this downs-syndrome-addled slut vomited onto the page, the most woman-hating misogynists on this board would be lining up to say, "Oh come on man, they're not so dumb as to write and publish something like THAT."

Post: #4

"Table of contents: I... I... I... I... I..."

Yep, sounds about right

Post: #5

By chance, I picked up 'The Times' the other day, and Caitlín Moran writes a column in it, every Saturday.
I had a quick read of it, but I found it, well, not offensive or anything, but just pure inane commentary.
There was nothing of any consequence whatsoever in the column, it had one or two semi-witty observations, but that aside, it was a 'nothing' column.
In all seriousness (I'm an amateur journalist in my spare time), I could do a better job myself.
I understand that she's writing for a female readership, and many women tend to like this kind of inane, vacuous, stream of consiousness commentary, but to me (and I'd imagine most men), it was trivial fluff and for the most part, not funny either.
As an aside, a girl who used to work with me, mentioned to me lately how she loved Caitlín Moran. And this girl is pretty attractive and intelligent. Have to say my estimation of her went down somewhat when she told me that.

Post: #6

Speaking of 'The Times' though, Giles Coren is the man, very funny writer and he delivered a very well worded article recently on the dangers of fat acceptance in an increasingly politically correct Britain. I have the original article in full, but unfortunately, the online article is only viewable if you're a subscriber: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/co...978790.ece

Post: #7

Faust, spot on post. Checking the ToC is an excellent indication of a book's material, since the topics have to summarize the chapter well.
OP is a woman?

Post: #8

OP is probably Caitlin Moran herself, trying to drum up more sales.

If anything, her shit should be put on torrent, so nobody spends a dime on her drivel. Think this would be a good offense for other feminist literature?

Post: #9

(01-20-2014 07:25 PM)commiejoe Wrote:  OP is probably Caitlin Moran herself, trying to drum up more sales.

If anything, her shit should be put on torrent, so nobody spends a dime on her drivel. Think this would be a good offense for other feminist literature?

If it's torrentable, it's still in public reach. There lies the problem.

Post: #10

I know nothing more about the OP than any of you do; but I'd put a lot of money on woman. I can't imagine even the most feminine of men pointing to some random Maureen Dowd knock-off as the go-to source on "the patriarchy and stuff."

Post: #11

We could really have some fun if the moderators would let one slip by now and again.

Post: #12

Someone should have Irished up on her. "Get me my whiskey woman! And then I put me wee lads and lassies in ye!"

Post: #13

I had to read extracts of this book in English for a feminism module, and it genuinely had the worst writing of any book I read in 2013. It is full of the annoying, vacuous arguments on sites like jezebel/ xo jane. 'Its literally impossible for a woman not to be a feminist, because if wasn't for feminism shed be sitting in the floor with a wooden spoon in her mouth'. Its got that really annoying 'I think I'm funny in a clever way ' humour. Definitely not worth reading if you are trying to get a more rounded view of any aims of the feminist movement and whoever thought so was certainly a troll

Post: #14

(01-21-2014 03:29 PM)Cyr Wrote:  I had to read extracts of this book in English for a feminism module, and it genuinely had the worst writing of any book I read in 2013. It is full of the annoying, vacuous arguments on sites like jezebel/ xo jane. 'Its literally impossible for a woman not to be a feminist, because if wasn't for feminism shed be sitting in the floor with a wooden spoon in her mouth'. Its got that really annoying 'I think I'm funny in a clever way ' humour. Definitely not worth reading if you are trying to get a more rounded view of any aims of the feminist movement and whoever thought so was certainly a troll

And this is the problem, most women I know have that herdlike mentality where they just assume what they read from women like Caitlín Moran is true and relevant, because she, to some extent, describes the experiences of white late 30s urban white girls in the UK and IRL.
"Why would she say stuff that isn't true? Stop analysing her, don't be creepy! She's just a woman who's quirky and kooky and funny, she's like me!"
It's kind of depressing how few women they are who actually stop to question whether their role models might in fact be feeding them unadulterated horse excrement.