Has anyone read "The Aftermath of Feminism"?

[Habbibu]

It's by Angela McRobbie - I've read a couple of reviews, and her letter in this week's THE, and think I might like to read it. Anyone tried it?

[margobambino]

I haven't read but I might like to read it too. How was the revıews? What were they saying?

[Habbibu]

Sorry, margo, didn't realise anyone had responded! Here is one review - and thisis the THE one, with McRobbie's response here

[Libra]

I've got it and have read a few chapters to help with lectures.

I think I am going to recommend it to various students who are struggling with definitions of post-feminism.

[Habbibu]

Do you think I'll need to have read a fair amount of other feminist theory texts to make sense of it?

[Libra]

No I don't think so. I wouldn't say it was an Easy read, but I think that it was a readable introduction.

From what I have seen so far she uses quite a lot of very up-to-date examples. For instance, the bit I have read talks about make-over shows and references Gok and Ten Years Younger, etc.

If you are looking for a readable introduction in the area (sort of), I always recommend Rosalind Gill's Gender and the Media.

[Habbibu]

Thanks, Libra - that's really helpful.

[Boco]

She was one of my tutors at university!

But not read it, so that information not very helpful.

[Habbibu]

It is a bit, Boco - did you think she was good?

[madlentileater]

Not read any of this modern stuff but I did used to have a postcard which said-
I'll be a post-feminist in post-patriarchy'
which about sums up where I'm coming from.

[Habbibu]

I think - and I could be wrong - that that's McRobbie's stance too, madlentil. That's why the THE letter got me interested.

[Boco]

I did at the time Hab, yes, was doing essays on feminism and fashion and consumption - I've got her book 'in the culture society'. And remember reading something a while ago she'd written about new motherhood and feminism which was interesting.

[Habbibu]

Here's what she says:

While I am genuinely grateful for the attention paid to my book The Aftermath of Feminism (Books, 18 December), I am distressed and perplexed by the way in which I am portrayed as presenting a completely opposite argument to that which is actually developed in the text. This happens throughout the review.

As a sociologist, I would never suggest that women nowadays "have it all". In the book I dissect the ways in which young women become the focus of new gender-specific forms of power and social control that manage the lives of women by deploying a language of choice, empowerment and freedom.

This new language of femininity serves as a replacement for feminism. Where the reviewer has written that I draw on the work of Sylvia Walby to suggest that feminism has matured and mellowed, again quite the opposite is the case. I actually challenge Walby's account, proposing provocatively that she embodies the new Labour ideal of feminism as passe, no longer needed and out of date. I feel the need to state my case here.

[onebatmother]

In a rush but it sounds v interesting. Astonishing THE review - it makes the book sound precisely the opposite of the first review you link to - glad to see that Robbie responded.

It rather sounds as though she's been lurking on MN, doesn't it?

[Habbibu]

It does make you wonder how the reviewer got it quite so wrong. I'd like to read something that gives me a more cogent argument against the "lap dancing is fine as I choose to do it" line (heard on woman's hour recently) than my response of just wanting to punch and/or cry. Any ideas?

[scifinerd]

I'd like to read that stuuf about new motherhood and feminism, where could I find it?

[Boco]

She wrote an article in the guardian, i think about young mohters, hang on..

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/mar/02/gender.comment

[madlentileater]

Oh yes, I had a couple of those, MMJ!

[scifinerd]

really interesting, thank you for that link