Are Women Human?

Are Women Human? And Other International Dialogues by Catharine MacKinnon
2006 Weight: 2 lbs
Method of Disposal: Donation

 

In college, I did an independent study on Catharine MacKinnon, and I have never been able to give up the books from that course.  We studied them closely and constantly.  There were only three of us, working with our professor, to discuss and understand the work.  MacKinnon argued that pornography should be illegal and that it subordinates women.  I am not anti-pornography, but she is one smart woman and has some powerful ideas.  It was powerful to have someone pushing me and teaching me, constantly. If nothing else, you could use her work to make a strong argument for sex industry reform, and people have.  She has done incredible work on sex equality and the law, impacting sexual harassment, prostitution, rape, war crimes.  It is really impressive stuff.

Reading MacKinnon and reading the feminist scholars that tried to tear up her work made me terrified of ever trying to write or publish anything in the field of Women's Studies.  There are a lot of smart people out there, and there is a lot of anger and complexity to the ways people are oppressed.

I have read and re-read my MacKinnon books, and I know it is time for someone else to have them.  I am still not brave enough.  

You gotta love the title of this book though, right?