In a way this reminds me of Ayn Rand, who tried to speak about emotional areas of which she seemed to have little universal knowledge, relying on her intelligence and a lot of transference of the personal to the general. There are just too many ways to be a woman, to be a wife, to be a mother, a person!-for Greer to come to such conclusions reliably. However, it never hurts to stir things up, and for us to look at these issues as they might apply to our own lives, just to make sure we're not falling into the traps set not only by society but by people like Greer herself.
If she wants to wear ugly grey wool stockings and a shapeless sweater then who's to criticize, and if Pam Anderson wants to enlarge her breasts to a 40 EEE, should we care? Aren't these choices we as women have about ourselves? The world is full of invitations to the eccentric, the abnormal, the sordid, the sublime. We hopefully accept according to our own values and needs not the expectations placed upon us by men----or other women.
Maybe the women here are not representative. On the whole, we seem to be pretty tough and independent. But one thing I've noticed is that even superior intelligence does not ensure objective thought, just cleverer ways to justify and rationalize behavior. And Greer is not immune. I just don't trust another person to speak for me.
Besides I really like sex. And even wearing risqué lingerie --under my baggy sweaters. |
