I'm male and I've heard alot of extreme opinions supposedly attributed to Andrea Dworkin. If they are true, I'll be more than a little bit shocked. Whats your opinion of her? Have you read any of her literature? Was she really that extreme in her beliefs? Or was it all hype? This isin't a loaded question by the way. I'm just interested.
2006-06-19 06:48:22 · 5 answers · asked by Melok 4 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
I heard that quote where she said "All penetration is a form of rape" Maybe she was thiking too deeply about the mechanics of it. She saw it as a forceful, violent act. This is one of the reasons why I posed this question in the first place. Having been raped woukd have alot to do with it I think.
2006-06-22 11:26:43 · update #1
Andrea Dworkin was extreme, but you have to remember that less than 30 years ago, 'western' women had very different lifestyles to those which people now take for granted. I recently took a module in feminism as part of my degree, and had several female mature student classmates, who explained just how much sexism they had faced when trying to get an education and career in the 1970s. Feminism was a reaction to the dominant, overtly oppressive patriarchy.
As for Dworkin, I don't whole-heartedly agree with everything she says, but she has convinced me that 'Pornography is Propaganda' - her arguments that porn as a medium frames our perception of women (and especially lesbians in my opinion) as sexual objects and perpetuates the ownership of women by men seem completely logical to me.
Sadly, she died last year. I think that even if you don't believe anything she said, you have to admire that 1)she dared to say it and 2) that she has inspired conversations like this one to take place today.
2006-06-19 06:57:37 · answer #1 · answered by Alex should be working 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Andrea Rita Dworkin (September 26, 1946 – April 9, 2005) was an American radical feminist and writer best known for her criticism of pornography, which she linked with rape and other forms of violence against women.
An anti-war activist and anarchist in the late 1960s, Dworkin became a radical feminist after escaping an abusive marriage in the Netherlands, and went on to publish ten books on radical feminist theory and practice. During the late 1970s and the 1980s, Dworkin gained national notoriety as a spokeswoman for the feminist anti-pornography movement, and for her writing on pornography and sexuality, particularly in Pornography: Men Possessing Women (1979) and Intercourse (1987) which remain her two most widely known books.
As a matter of fact I have read both books and articles published by her and one thing I think of her is (though I may be considered wrong in the sight of some) that She is "SICK" not enough to be sent to a shriek but enough to be given a lifetime of solitary confinement, for the mere fact that thought any sex is rape and a domination of the female gender since there is penetration and to her this is an aggressive move. After reading an article published by one of the websites affiliated to hers I concluded that though She was an activist that sought change from what is to what ought to as most other activists though hers are highly questionable.May her soul rest whereever it is but I think the world will be much better with fewer people like her with their flawed perception on life. Atimes I wonder whether She herself ever experienced heterosexual sex and beauty thereof.
2006-06-22 23:25:42 · answer #2 · answered by Bill 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Her views were very extreme and although i dont agree with all of them i admire her very much as a person and her views which she expressed so forcefully. another reason to respect her is that she knows what she's talking about, having experienced sexual and domestic abuse and prostitution first hand. her work on pornography was very important and has a lot to say. i dont agree with her esential 'all men are rapists' quote, however having had such bad experiences with men as she had it is legitimate for her to state her claim.
very interesting books you should read them - also loads of stuff on the web.
also just read an article about her experience of being drugged and raped at the age of 52 - the guardian website. no F-ing wonder...im sure i would be a murderer after all the sh*t she went through.
2006-06-19 10:23:29 · answer #3 · answered by jungle bunny 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Extreme opinions because she was extreme!!
Her most extreme belief was that ALL sex is rape, by mere fact that a man enters a woman. Since that is the only way to procreate, one could argue she she wanted the end of human existance!!
2006-06-22 01:13:47 · answer #4 · answered by zara c 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry...I have never heard of her.
2006-06-19 06:52:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋