Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men?: A Debate (Point/Counterpoint (Oxford Paperback)) [Paperback]

Warren Farrell (Author), Steven Svoboda (Author), James P. Sterba (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019531283X | ISBN-13: 978-0195312836 | Publication Date: October 10, 2007

Does feminism give a much-needed voice to women in a patriarchal world? Or is the world not really patriarchal? Has feminism begun to level the playing field in a world in which women are more often paid less at work and abused at home? Or are women paid equally for the same work and not abused more at home? Does feminism support equality in education and in the military, or does it discriminate against men by ignoring such issues as male-only draft registration and boys lagging behind in school?
The only book of its kind, this volume offers a sharp, lively, and provocative debate on the impact of feminism on men. Warren Farrell--an international best-selling author and leader in both the early women's and current men's movements--praises feminism for opening options for women but criticizes it for demonizing men, distorting data, and undervaluing the family. In response, James P. Sterba--an acclaimed philosopher and ardent advocate of feminism--maintains that the feminist movement gives a long-neglected voice to women in a male-dominated world and that men are not an oppressed gender in today's America. Their wide-ranging debate covers personal issues, from love, sex, dating, and rape to domestic violence, divorce, and child custody. Farrell and Sterba also look through their contrasting lenses at systemic issues, from the school system to the criminal justice system; from the media to the military; and from health care to the workplace.
A perfect book to get students thinking and debating, Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men? A Debate is ideal for courses in gender studies, sociology, psychology, economics, feminist philosophy, and contemporary moral issues. It is also compelling reading for anyone interested in the future of men and women.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lucid in argument and presentation, beautifully organized, highly readable, very engaging, and well-documented. Both contributions to the volume are rich with examples, which are bound to speak to a very large spectrum of readers. The two pieces balance each other beautifully. I cannot think of anyone better qualified than these two writers to take on the tasks of presenting and examining critically these arguments. This is a book that I would seriously consider using in a course on contemporary moral issues."--Claudia Card, University of Wisconsin-Madison

"The relationship between men and feminism has never been addressed in such an exciting and accessible way, or with such extensive and engaging evidence and anecdotes."--Tom Digby, Springfield College

"Farrell contributes countless concrete examples, so that it is easy for the reader to understand his points. Sterba contributes a model of philosophical argumentation in action in the real world."--Alison Jaggar, University of Colorado at Boulder

About the Author

James P. Sterba is a Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019531283X
• ISBN-13: 978-0195312836
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Warren Farrell began his research on gender issues in the '60s. His first book, The Liberated Man, was published in 1974. It was from the women's perspective and the feminist perspective. By the '80s, he began noticing that men were feeling misrepresented, and his award-winning national best-seller, Why Men Are The Way They Are, was written to answer women's questions about men in a way that rings true for men. The New York Post calls it "the most important book ever written about love, sex, and intimacy."

By the '90s, Dr. Farrell felt the misunderstandings about men had deepened and become dangerous to the survival of families and love. He confronted the misunderstandings head-on with the award-winning The Myth of Male Power, a book the The Library Journal ranked as "better than Robert Bly's Iron John or any of Betty Freidan's works." (His books are published in over 50 countries in 15 languages.)

By the turn of the century Dr. Farrell wanted to provide the sexes with the tools to communicate-- in particular to hear personal criticism from a loved one, especially when given badly. That was the take-off point for Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say, a selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. By 2001 Dr. Farrell completed research he had been working on for 13 years on the conditions under which children of divorce are most likely to be raised successfully. That book, Father and Child Reunion, has renewed the commitment of many dads to be with their children, and its research has helped judges understand the importance of dads.

Dr. Farrell's most recent research is published as Why Men Earn More: The Startling Truth Behind the Pay Gap -- and What Women Can Do About It. It documents the 25 differences between men and women's work-life decisions. It was chosen by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top four "great career books to be read in 2006."

Warren has appeared on over 1000 TV and radio shows, and been interviewed frequently by Oprah and Barbara, and by Larry King and Peter Jennings. He has been featured repeatedly on 20/20 and in The New York Times, in People and on Real People, in men's journals and The Wall Street Journal, and on the Today Show, the Tomorrow Show, and even To Tell The Truth.

Warren Farrell's understanding of both sexes is symbolized by his being, on the one hand, on the boards of four national men's organizations, and on the other hand, being the only man in the US to be elected three times to the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Women in New York City. Similarly, he has started over 600 men's and women's groups, and over 200,000 women and men have attended his workshops worldwide. He is the only person chosen to speak at both of former California Governor Wilson's 1995 conferences - his Conference on Men and his Conference on Women.

President Johnson chose Dr. Farrell as one of the outstanding young educators in the United States. (The man's been around for awhile!) He has taught political science, psychology, women's studies and sociology, and most recently taught at the School of Medicine at the University of California at San Diego. Dr. Farrell has been chosen by the International Biographic Centre of London as one of the World's 2000 Outstanding Scholars of the 20th Century and, in quite a different take, chosen by the Financial Times as one of the worlds top 100 Thought Leaders. He has also been selected by the Center for World Spirituality as one of the world's spiritual leaders.

Dr. Farrell is in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World, but his best moments are at home. He has two daughters and lives with his wife in Mill Valley, California, and virtually at www.warrenfarrell.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the Best, October 20, 2007

By 

Jed Diamond "Helping Men and the Women Who Lo... (Willits, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men?: A Debate (Point/Counterpoint (Oxford Paperback)) (Paperback)

This is absolutely the best book I've read for helping men and women better understand each other. To even suggest that feminism discriminates against men is heresy in some circles. If you're willing to leave your prejudged ideas at the door and step into a room of enlightening new thinking, you will find the experience opens your perceptions beyond anything you may have imagined.

In a world where debate is often a nice word for one side trashing the oppposition, you'll find Warren Farrell and James P. Sterba engaging in an unusual dialogue. They offer opposing ideas and they offer them with a great deal of respect for each other as well as the men and women on whose behalf they speak.

Truly the world needs more people who can discuss male/female differences with passion, spirit, integrity, and respect. Farrell and Sterba do a magnificent job. Farrell, in particular offers his ideas in such a unique and persuasive manner that even die-hard femininists can't help but expand their understanding of why men are the way they are.

The title is somewhat misleading and book cover didn't draw me in. There's a lot more to this book than a simple debate about feminism and men. This book is fun to read and offers more surprises per page than most million-seller mysteries.

Jed Diamond, author, Male Menopause & The Irritable Male Syndrome.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ground-breaking and timely., August 30, 2008

By 

Rory Ridley-Duff "Support for the thinking bu... (Sheffield, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men?: A Debate (Point/Counterpoint (Oxford Paperback)) (Paperback)

As a university lecturer who has taught and written on Equal Opportunities issues, this book is a welcome and overdue addition to the literature on gender relations and sex discrimination.

In this book, one of the foremost liberal thinkers in the men's movement for equality - Warren Farrell - pits his arguments against staunch defenders of feminism. Counter arguments are presented by James Sterba, with input from over a dozen established feminist academics.

The organisation of the book is excellent: both Farrell and Sterba use the same chapter titles to construct their arguments on key topics. This is a useful approach that enables both lecturer and student to study arguments and counter-arguments on a series of contentious issues. The writing style is accessible, and also supported with appropriate academic references.

The value of this book is that for three decades, a men's movement for sexual equality has been gathering and organising arguments for progressive change. In many cases, their arguments are an evolution of, rather than a challenge to, feminist ideas on equality that developed in the 1960s. Despite this, a power shift in the late 1960s radicalised the women's movement and debate shifted (unconsciously?) away from advancing "equal rights" to advancing "women's rights". Those who radicalised the feminist movement have blocked the dissemination of Farrell's work in the mass media (although he has been able to publish six books and develop a strong following for his work).

When I started presenting academic papers using Farrell's perspectives at conferences, it quickly beecame apparent that antipathy to Farrell's work was mostly based on prejudice and not careful reading of his work. This book is, therefore, ground-breaking as it marks a point where the men's movement equality arguments are considered serious enough to warrant serious discussion amongst contemporary feminists.

For those with an interest in philosophy, this book represents a stage in a Kuhnian paradigm shift (a stage where new theoretical arguments are becoming so influential that they can no longer be ignored or disparaged). For this reason, I encourage all lecturers with an interest in gender relations / social science to examine this book and consider its value as a core text to reinvigorate the teaching of gender relations.

Dr Rory Ridley-Duff
Senior Lecturer
Sheffield Hallam University

63 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars does feminism discriminate against men a debate, November 17, 2007

By 

joe davies "joe davies" (los angeles, california) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Does Feminism Discriminate Against Men?: A Debate (Point/Counterpoint (Oxford Paperback)) (Paperback)

The book is described as a debate. This is not a debate. James Sterba has an overwhelming advantage because he scrutinizes Warren Farrell's claims without allowing Farrell a rebuttal. Nevertheless, Farrell writes in lucid, to-the-point style, while Sterba cherry picks Farrell's arguments for criticism. Sterba is one of those feminists who cannot fathom that there is any legitimate argument against feminist ideals. He is a follower of these ideals, but he seems to ignore reality. He brings to mind the mentality of a cult member: He will go to exhaustive and tedious lengths to disprove anything that contradicts his beliefs, and he seems to believe that society should take any precautions necessary to prevent any one female from any injustice no matter the expense of others and no matter how many males may suffer injustices because of it. Sterba couldn't possibly have a son nor could he possibly know any divorced fathers with vindictive ex-wives.