Intercourse [Paperback]

Andrea Dworkin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1988

In this truly radical work Andrea Dworkin asserts that the essence of female oppression is rooted in nothing less than the act of sexual intercourse itself.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Dworkin argues that in a society where men oppress women, they will use sex for that purpose as well, and that men's sexual dominion over women underpins the whole system of oppression codified in law. Her most provocative point is that sexual intercourse itself intrinsically creates problems for women's self-esteem. She bases this argument on the premise that human beings need to protect their physical boundaries to feel safe. Since women's boundaries are breached in even the most welcome and humane forms of sexual intercourse, they must therefore experience themselves, as part of their normal existence, as more vulnerable than men experience themselves and less able to assert their humanity. Dworkin's argument is obviously one-sided, disregarding benefits women may derive from these intimate connections. Nor does she spend much time on a solution for the problem of boundaries she has identified. Still, this fascinating book deserves a wide readership. Cynthia Harrison, American Historical Assn., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"The most shocking book any feminist has yet written." Germaine Greer" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (August 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029079713
• ISBN-13: 978-0029079713
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,056,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars She does have a point, but..., April 28, 2007

By 

David A. Bede (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Intercourse (Paperback)

The problem with "Intercourse" isn't so much that Dworkin takes her rhetoric overboard. That much was probably intentional, in order to make a point about how deep sexism runs in most cultures and for how long it has been that way - and she definitely got that point across. The book's downfall is that she not only doesn't make it clear that that's what she's doing, she even eschews any opportunity to clue readers in to that end.

"Intercourse" is probably the work that gave rise to the myth that Dworkin believed all sex was rape. In fact she never said that, here or elsewhere, and as such it would be wrong to attribute that belief to this or any other of her works. That said, she doesn't quite NOT say that either, and it's not entirely unreasonable to conclude that she is implying as much. Perhaps she considered it unnecessary to spell out the point that a survey of literary sex scenes could never be completely comprehensive. But after chapter upon chapter of examples in which she (correctly) shows various classic works of literature to be rather misogynistic, it may well have strengthened her thesis if she'd shown an example or two of more female-positive works. Never is the possibility of such things even floated. Also, for all her later denials that she was arguing that women can never really enjoy sex or that men can never be anything but dominating in the bedroom, she scrupulously avoids allowing for either of those possibilities throughout the book. Given the opportunity to clarify those points directly, she refused. In the preface to the updated 1997 printing, she asked rhetorically if men could ever hope to understand her thesis, pointedly refused to give a straight answer, and then referred to any and all of her detractors with a word I can't repeat here.

I certainly understand why any writer would resent having to address a baseless accusation cooked up by one's critics. But Dworkin ultimately had no one but herself to blame for the degree to which this book was misinterpreted. Which is too bad, because her larger points about the eroticization of violence against women in literature would be well taken if they weren't so ambiguous.

52 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, August 31, 2000

By 

Jeremy Koch (Springfield, Mo. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intercourse (Paperback)

Holy gawd, a male who loved this book! And I did. It's sad how most people can only see the sophomoric caricatures their biases craft in this book, rather than the real story: which is not hatred for males, nor an indictment of all heterosexuality as rape. Though it will be read that way if a person can *only* concieve of sex which contains an element of domination: take away the domination aspect, and for them, sex is abolished. The men and women (such as the odious Camille Paglia) who fear this book have minds too entrenched in patriarchal pseudoscientific essentialist nonsense to get over that. As for me, I love sex. I think it's beautiful -- and that's also why I love this book. It suggests to me that intercourse can retain that beauty, and that it doesn't have to be debased by being used as a weapon and a tool of oppression. Dworkin is a brilliant mind whose works have altered my life.

20 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A book of extreme intensity., February 7, 2003

By 

Allison Hedley - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intercourse (Paperback)

As the title suggests "Intercourse" explores perhaps the most private and primitive of human acts. Topics of scrutiny include: virginity, possession, patriarchy, law and death each sliced and dissected with the sharp knife of blatant realism. "Intercourse" is not against penetrative sex per se, it suggests an alternative approach to intercourse, one where the female is wholly - body, mind and soul, in control of the act: the initiator and the dictator. Throughout reading this text you can feel very frustrated simply because you do not agree with the point of view of the writer. You might, for example, believe that god exists, and find the whole atheist approach that Dworkin takes, in "exposing" the scams of religion, very frustrating. When you are reading it is rather like a conversation with a very talkative person who goes on and on without any breaks for you to speak. It can feel very oppressive if you disagree at a fundamental level and want to raise an objection. It can be difficult to carry on "driving" yourself forward through the text. On the other hand, many issues seem implausible when you first come across them. If you were only to read what you already agreed with, you would not learn very much. Part of reading such literature is learning to cope with not feeling too happy with what the author is saying - distancing yourself from your hostile feelings and reading on to see what arguments are put forward. Eventually you may or may not decide that the author has a point, as I did, but you need to give yourself a chance to find out what is on offer.

It is best to read the book in short bursts preferably than long drawn-out sessions. Rather than plunge, take a dip into the deep, morbid and yet thrilling pool of Dworkin's unique critic. It may take some time to become accustomed to the style and specialist language in which Intercourse is written. Accept this language and take it in your stride. I found the underlying purpose of reading this book is to develop your thoughts; to weave new ideas and information into the understanding you already have and to give new angles to your thinking. If you are a feminist, atheist and social truth-seeker, as I am, you will relish this book!