Female Sexual Slavery [Paperback]

Kathleen L. Barry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1984

"A powerful work filled with disbelief, outrage, and documentation...sexual bondage shackles women as much today as it has for centures."
—Los Angeles Times

"Exposes the dark side of sexuality and dares to ask the crucial question, 'why do men do these things to women?'...the issues it raises deserve nationwide attention."
—Susan Brownmiller

"Kathy Barry has written a courageous, crusading book that should be read everywhere, from the local District Attorney's office to the United Nations."
—Gloria Steinem

"This powerful and compassionate book should be read by anyone concerned with social values, with sexuality, with psychology — female and male."
—Adrienne Rich

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The author of the acclaimed biography Susan B. Anthony, KATHLEEN BARRY teaches in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 325 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (December 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814710697
• ISBN-13: 978-0814710692
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,375,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Women, beware of men!, January 22, 2000

By 

cactus writer (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Female Sexual Slavery (Paperback)

Barry presents her case for female sexual slavery quite convincingly, except that she leaves out one very important detail - agency. Throughout the book she refers to men in general as the perpetrators of all of women's suffering, especially in the case of prostitution. While many feminists before her have made similar claims, none have been able to write such an influencing book without identifying specific actors.

Copyrighted in 1979, just 6 years after the prostitutes' rights movement was formed in the USA, Barry's work inspired Giobbe to form WHISPER, Women Hurt in Systems of Prostitution Engaged in Revolt. Many scholars have claimed that this book was a response to Margo St. James' attempts to legitimize prostitution.

Barry's book has enjoyed widespread recognition in circles of feminist scholars. While I find her research shoddy and specificity of agency lacking, I recommend the book to those interested in the prostitutes' rights movement. Barry's sensationalism inspired a new social movement organization that is still active more than 20 years later.

For those further interested in the sexual victimization of women, I would recommend Andrea Dworkin's _Pornography: Men Possessing Women_. To learn about another prominent organization in the prostitutes' rights movement, COYOTE, see Valerie Jenness' _Making it Work: The Prostitutes' Rights Movement in Perspective_.

5.0 out of 5 stars True and scary!, January 4, 2012

By 

M.B. DION - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Female Sexual Slavery (Paperback)

I gave this book 5 stars not because "I loved it!" but because it opened my eyes to the underworld of the flesh trade. When going through life and then having something so abusive and horrible revealed to you... it's like having a door opened and stuffed within the dank closet are mutilated corpses. You take a second look or run. Your view has been changed... forever. And even though the mutilated part is a made-up example... the information in this book is real. That's damn scary. So I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about this global crime industry and/or who want to get involved to help these victims escape the clutches of pimps and the slave trade industry... and it is a massive industry.

The information is older but relevant. If anything this has only gotten worse across the planet.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for learning about Women's Equality, December 24, 2011

By 

J. Morris (FT LEONARDWOOD, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Female Sexual Slavery (Paperback)

This book take you to where you can understand why women are treated as second class citizens and what you need to do to fix it. Everyone should read this book (Women and especially men). The more I read, the more angry I got about how women are considered mens property!! This needs to change to make our society a better place for current and future generations on this planet!