Andrea Dworkin

[andwhatev]

I've found it saddening to see the sometimes dismissive attitude with which Andrea Dworkin is treated these days, so I wrote this about why, as a 22-year-old Australian feminist, Andrea Dworkin is important to my life.

She died, on April 9th 2005. Which is around the time that I took my first Sexual Politics class, with Sheila Jeffreys, who is

Comments

[friend_of_tofu]

Liberal feminists again and again condemn her - and MacKinnon as well, but mostly Dworkin, because she's an easier target - for "doing more harm than good", for bringing too much "negativity" into the women's movement, for focussing on the bad instead of the good.

You're right on this point. I have always disliked MacKinnon far more than Dworkin, and felt that Dworkin unfairly got the blame for a lot of MacKinnon's terrible ideas and practices - like her influence on anti-porn legislation, soooooo smart!

I actually think that Susie Bright wrote one of the best assessments of Dworkin ever, after her death - see here - ironic really, as Susie was exactly the sort of feminist doing the sort of things that Dworkin, MacKinnon and Jeffries-influenced feminists decry. But she had plenty of good words for Andrea, nonetheless

[amphibian23]

"I don't believe rape is inevitable or natural. If I did, I would have no reason to be here. If I did, my political practice would be different than it is. Have you ever wondered why we [women] are not just in armed combat against you? It's not because theres a shortage of kitchen knives in this country. It is because we believe in your humanity, against all the evidence."

Great quote. It just shows that feminism is actually at odds with being 'anti-men'. If I really thought all men love rape I'd give up now.

I don't like Sheila Jeffries though. Bleurgh.

[lovmelovmycats]

Thanks for this post. It made me want to read Dworkin. It made me think to myself, "I've heard Dworkin is difficult, but I bet I can handle it!"
Then I clicked on the link to the article by Germaine Greer, and now I'm daunted again. Those are some very challenging concepts. But I'm intruiged! Maybe I'll buy some Dworkin, and only tackle it in small pieces. :)

[andwhatev]

You should definitely try reading her! She is, aside from everything political, an amazing writer. Her prose style and her passion are so beautiful. Letters From a War Zone is my favourite because it's a collection of her essays and speeches throughout her career. It gives a great overview of her beliefs. And it's perfect if you want to "tackle it in small pieces" :)

[fireworksandice]

I recommend it! In my experience, Dworkin is one of the more accessible American feminist writers. She doesn't get as bogged down in overly theoretical/academic jargon as others do, and most of her works are pretty short. I'd recommend starting out with a collection of her essays or speeches.

[happiestsadist]

I have very little good to say about her theory (as much as I've read), but her writing style is really, really excellent. She's very readable.

[tryyingtoevolve]

That quote about rape pretty much sums up by views on the matter, too. It's not hating men or thinking that rape can't be stopped; it's the view that they are victims of patriarchy, too. What about men who don't WANT to be masculine, chauvinist pigs? They're still forced into it for fear of being labeled as "gay" or "sissy" the same way we are forced into our roles as women.

I've (regretfully) never read any Dworkin, but this definitely makes me want to.

[rosehiptea]

Thank you for standing up for Dworkin. I've always thought she'd been unfairly judged by some people.

I do remember her appearing on a talk show many years ago, with her appearance as you describe it, and I felt like "Here's someone who doesn't let the world tell her how to look." In retrospect at least I think that's pretty cool.