Naomi Wolf: live webchat TODAY, Thursday 6 September, 12pm to 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Naomi Wolf is joining us for a live webchat on Thursday 6 September at 12 noon. Naomi's latest book, Vagina - A New Biography, has attracted major media attention this month and we're delighted she's joining us to tell us more about the book and answer your questions. 

Described as 'exhilarating and groundbreaking', Vagina combines cultural history, physiology and personal memoir to explore the role of female desire and how it affects female identity, creativity and confidence.

Naomi Wolf is author of seven books including the bestseller, The Beauty Myth. She travels regularly to speak about gender equality and social justice. She lives in New York and is working towards a doctorate at New College, Oxford University. 

Please post your question to Naomi in advance, or set the date in your diary to join us this Thursday at midday to chat to Naomi 'live'.

[mcmooncup]

Have you been misquoted as saying that women living in Muslim countries, wearing the burkha etc, are not oppressed and repressed?

What is your stance on anonymity for rape victims - you seem to have expressed support for both sides of the fence?

[ShirelyKnort]

I would just like to "LIKE" FastidiaBlueberry's post and politely request an answer.

I would also like to add my weight to the growing concern that Ms Wolfe has been given credence here considering the We Believe You Campaign.

[msrisotto]

Hi Naomi. The beauty myth was exceptional work. Was it misrepresenting you as a feminist though? In light of your recent position on rape these seem to be utterly conflicting politics.

[FastidiaBlueberry]

Hi Naomi
How do you think promoting rape myths and defending the right of men to penetrate women who are asleep and therefore cannot consent to sex, fits in with calling yourself a feminist? Also you appear like other Assange fans, to believe that if a woman consents to sex with a man, that means that she consents under any terms and doesn't have the right to set conditions, like for example that he must wear a condom. Can you explain how that is a feminist position? Because it sounds to me very much closer to a rapey position.

And Mumsnet, how does having a woman who defends the right of men to penetrate women without their consent if they have had previous sexual intercourse with them on for a webchat, fit in with your "We Believe You" anti-rape campaign?

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

[digerd]

Shouldn't boys and girls be educated in the truth about a female orgasm, and how she achieves it. It could,of course, cause many problems , and that is why women for centuries have kept quiet about it.

[Greythorne]

LineRunner
Have you got the book handy? I'll be doing this from memory. I think the botton line for me is that there's a huge corpus of primary sources and analytical literature by prehistorians which examines the meaning of palaeolithic and later prehistoric 'things', which Wolf just ignores. She 'does' prehistory in a few hundred words, referencing only a couple of secondary ultra-interpretive sources. To me, it's just lazy.

Oh, yes I see now. thx, I will re-read that bit.

[Greythorne]

I remember reading something that you wrote once along the lines of "any woman who balances her own cheque book at the end of the month is a feminist". I absolutely loved that because in a nutshell it encapsulates women being (a) educated enough to perform a simple financial calculation (b) she has her own bank account (c) is writing her own cheques, spending her own money, has financial independence.

Do you remember the exact quote? I have spent many hours seaching for it, but never tracked it down.

How do you counter the "I'm not a feminist" brigade today, esp among the young?

[Derkyderpy]

Naomi, is lack of oxytocin implicated in depression? Given that oxytocin is sometimes called the "hugging hormone", if someone is deprived of physical contact, could the lack of oxytocin in itself lead to depression?

Clearly I'm leaving out the question of orgasm, which for the purposes of my query is a separate issue.

[MooncupGoddess]

From my reading of extracts and reviews, the book is essentialist (it argues for an essential femininity located in the nervous system) and also heteronormative (there is a lot of emphasis on sexual-romantic relationships with men and the importance of male pheromones in women's lives).

What does your book have to say to women who are lesbian, single (by choice or circumstance) or who just don't see their sexual relationships with men as a primary part of their identity?

[LineRunner]

Greythorne
Have you got the book handy? I'll be doing this from memory. I think the botton line for me is that there's a huge corpus of primary sources and analytical literature by prehistorians which examines the meaning of palaeolithic and later prehistoric 'things', which Wolf just ignores. She 'does' prehistory in a few hundred words, referencing only a couple of secondary ultra-interpretive sources. To me, it's just lazy.

[Greythorne]

linerunner
The short passages in Vagina that refer to the prehistoric 'Venus' figurines are, archaeologically, beyond parody.

Please can you explain this for those of us unfamiliar with the passages you are referring to? Thx

[MmeLindor]

I am also troubled by the invitation extended to Ms Wolf to publicise her new book, when she has consistently defended Julian Assange.

Ms Wolf
I would like to ask about your assertion, made on Women's Hour, that Sweden has the highest reported rate of rape, and yet one of the lowest conviction rates in Europe.

According to the Swedish government this is partly explained by the fact that many crimes which would not be recorded as rape in other countries, are termed so in Sweden. The Swedish justice system also records individual incidents of rape separately so if a woman is raped by a man several times it is recorded as several rapes.


The rate of conviction is 10%, which when you compare with UK is almost double, and compared with US of around 13%, is in line with other countries (still atrocious but not remarkable).

I am very surprised that you base your objection to the transfer of Assange back to Sweden to face rape charges on dubious statistics, and disappointed that you would lend your voice to such a campaign.

I would like to ask you how you reconcile the defence of an alleged rapist with your feminist ideals, and would like to ask MNHQ how they reconcile the invitation of someone who defends a rapist with the We Believe You campaign.

[BlameItOnTheCuervo]

Hello naomi, just wondering if you would consider donating your time to rape crisis and womens aid so that you can get a better understanding of rape and the effect it has on survivors?

I look forward to your response.

[LineRunner]

Naomi

The short passages in Vagina that refer to the prehistoric 'Venus' figurines are, archaeologically, beyond parody. Is there some strange rule in the world of Pop Fem Bestsellers whereby writers such as youself and Camille Paglia are not allowed to read actual archaeological textbooks and analyses?

[Greythorne]

Do you agree that the pornification of contemporary society is the biggest challenge facing women, ahead of the pay gap and the glass ceiling?

How should we counter the pornification of society and young people's lives?

[chaya5738]

Dear Naomi

Why do you speak so authoritatively on Swedish law when you can't read Swedish and are not a lawyer?

Do you have a response to these criticisms of your statements about the Assange matter? You got so many things factually and legally wrong:

samtycke.nu/eng/2012/09/checking-naomi-wolfs-8-big-problems-in-the-assange-case-and-coming-up-empty/

Thanks!

[AGiraffeOnTheDivingBoard]

Hi Naomi

Do you think we should be bothered by the demise of the bush and the growing trend for women (and teenagers) to remove all their pubic hair?

and

is access to online porn screwing with people? (i.e. making anal sex, group sex, violent sex seem like the standard way to shag).

Thanks.

[Derkyderpy]

Blimey, Naomi, you were fantastic on Woman's Hour. Here.

I'll come back with a question when I've had another listen.

[BarryShitpeas]

MN- please could we have a vagina pasta emoticon?

[FushiaFernica]

Hello Naomi
Your book 'Misconceptions' helped me through pregnancy and my dd. Now my dd is at primary school (first day back today) was wondering if you had any thoughts on the competition between mothers at the school gates?

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Hi Naomi,

How does a woman say 'no' if she's asleep?

thanks.

[GeminiGal]

Welcome Naomi! The popular misconception that we have reached equality and feminism's work is done troubles me; but I have difficulty explaining this simply when asked. Can you please give some pointers as to the most simple, effective things that may be said in conversation to make the points? Thank you.

[sieglinde]

Dear Naomi,

Why did you decide to go back to school to do a doctorate? Are you enjoying that? Has it made a difference to your other writing?