Tuesday's meeting questions

[Emily Holley]

Hi everyone,

 

Please find below my suggested discussion questions about Female Chauvinist Pigs. See you at the meeting Tuesday!

 

-Emily

 

1 - What's the difference between explioting oneself and being sexually empowered? Has this changed for Generation X, Generation Y, and girls who are currently adolescents?

       Sub-question: Is this distinction the same for men as for women?

 

2 - What, if any, is the connection between the "rise of raunch culture" and the aversion of many modern women to feminism? Could the "rise of raunch culture" be the result of a problem with the feminist movement (e.g., anti-porn feminists v. sex-positive feminists), or a symptom of a new societal phenomenon/attitude?

 

3 - On page 16, why do the girls on the beach acquiesce and flash the camera? Is it more likely they are afraid for their safety, afraid of not being liked, or some other reason(s)?

 

4 - Is fear of men or competition with men (as referenced on page 40) more of a motivating factor behind the "rise of raunch culture"? Does raunch culture among women have more to do with not wanting to be a victim, or of wanting total equality?

       Sub-question: Is that different now than it was for our parents' generation?

 

5 - What, if anything, is the difference between the current "rise of raunch culture" and the experiences of some 1970's sex/porn-positive feminists, such as Candida Royalle (as referenced on page 69)?

 

6 - Is the image of the "girly-girl", as referenced by Levy's subjects on page 101 and throughout the book, a myth or a reality? If a myth, is it perpetuated by men, women, or both? How?

       Sub-question: Is the guy that female chauvinist pigs are trying to emulate a myth or a reality?

 

7 - Is the "trend" of voluntary mastectomies similar in any way to traditional cosmetic surgery sought by women, such as breast implants? If so, how? If not, why not?

 

8 - If so many of Levy's female subjects are interested in sex, and are actively pursuing sexual fulfillment, why are so many of them sexually unfulfilled? If so many of these women don't derive physical pleasure from sex, what do they find fulfilling about it? (as referenced on page 163)

       Sub-question: How does this tie in with Mara Altman's book, in which the author constantly pursued sexual relationships, but didn't enjoy the act of sex itself?

 

9 - In the disagreement on page 184, do you think the author is right that human beings naturally, instinctively know how to have sex, or the HBO XXX documentary is right that "we all think that we somehow come here fully equipped to enjoy sexuality in all of its explicitness, but you know we really do need a lot of instruction"? If the author is right, why do women like Mara Altman do journalistic research in order to have orgasms, and why is there a market for Betty Dodson and Dan Savage?

 

10 - (This one's from the book.) What does it mean to be "like a man," or "like a woman"? Is there any such thing? Do you believe there are any inherently female or essentially male traits?