Customer Reviews

Kiss Sleeping Beauty Goodbye: Breaking the Spell of Feminine Myths and Models

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book in 1981, after reading a rave review in Mademoiselle magazine. I was 18 years old and altogether uncertain what being a woman meant, and would come to mean to me. This book was incredibly enlightening with regard to the 'warnings' that society sends young women about the punishment one is certain to suffer for behaving in an unladylike fashion. Little Red Riding Hood teaches us not to go out alone, and that if a Big Bad Wolf eats us, or those we love, it is probably our own fault because WE misbehaved. Sleeping Beauty is virginal perfection, her life only begins after her prince awakens her with a kiss. After all, what kind of life could a lady hope to have WITHOUT her prince??? I leant it to a friend and haven't seen it since, I placed an order with amazon and am hoping for the best!

Although this book has not been popular since the 1980's, I believe it is due for a comeback. This nonfiction work examines classical fairy tales from a feminist perspective, closely noting male gaze, the forcing of gender roles (particularly submissive roles upon women), and the urgency for women (and men) to embrace the feminist movement to move past these roles that exist within our own society. This would be of particular interest to students of literature, gender studies, or psychology. The writer also validates her claims with credible sources such as Simone De Beauvoir and could be cited for its academic weight as well.