Moving Beyond Words [Hardcover]

Gloria Steinem (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 1994

A collection of essays by an influential feminist examines the state of the women's movement today and offers possibilities for the future, focusing on such issues as economic empowerment, women politicians, and life affirmation. 250,000 first printing. Major ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Steinem is at her polemical best in these six compelling essays--three of which are new, three revised from Ms. articles. She invents "Dr. Phyllis Freud," founder of psychoanalysis, who proved that men's lack of wombs make them terminally envious and whose theories serve as a semi-scientific rationale for men's lower status in a matriarchal society. An interview with women's weightlifting world champ Bev Francis leads Steinem to question assumptions of female weakness and male strength. Another piece demystifies economics by interpreting it as a system of human values, with special reference to women's unpaid or underrated work. Elsewhere Steinem analyzes the growing feminization of poverty and masculinization of wealth, exposes advertisers' restrictive control over the editorial content of women's magazines and reflects on turning 60, an age, she finds, when women grow more radical and rebellious. Each essay is prefaced by an extensive introduction which Steinem uses as a platform to discuss sexual politics. First serial to Ms.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this collection, eminent feminist author Steinem offers a diverse selection of six essays, some never before published and some having previously appeared in Ms. magazine, which Steinem founded. The pieces vary from a clever spoof on Freud ("What If Freud Were Phylis?") to feminist economic analysis ("The Masculinization of Wealth" and "Revaluing Economics"). Others illustrate the continuing struggle of women to break down traditional barriers ("Sex, Lies and Advertising"). The final essay, "Doing Sixty," is a moving rumination about growing older. Rather than mellowing, Steinem is becoming more radical than ever. Considering the changes that her activities and writings have wrought over the past 25 years, this is good news; obviously, we can look forward to more of her eloquent and provocative prose. Well recommended for all libraries.
Kathryn Moore Crowe, Jackson Lib., Univ. N.C., Greensboro
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Printing edition (May 16, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671649728
• ISBN-13: 978-0671649722
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,537,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF STEINEM'S WRITINGS, September 9, 2011

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moving Beyond Words (Hardcover)

Gloria Marie Steinem (born 1934) is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist who was a columnist for New York magazine and co-founded Ms. magazine. She also co-founded the Women's Media Center, and serves on its board. She was married for three years to David Bale, before his death. She has also written books such as Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions: Second Edition (Owlet Book), Revolution From Within, Doing Sixty and Seventy, and Marilyn.

She wrote in the Preface to this 1994 book, "I was hoping this would be an easy book. Having taken a long time with the last one, 'Revolution from Within,' I thought this could be a collection of previously-published articles. All I would have to do was write a short introduction and a transition or two... But more than a year later, it has become a book of mostly new writing..."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"Freud treated HIS biography as OUR destiny." (Pg. 30)

"...I could imagine the source of (John Kenneth Galbraith's) ability to criticize the hyperconsumption of this affluent society, and even to name its conversion of 'housewives' (or homemakers, as many women prefer, since they are not married to houses) into the first educated, full-time consumers in history." (Pg. 200)

"This is the deep economics of patriarchy: the valuing of male-style 'production' but not female-style 'REproduction.'" (Pg. 221)

"A movement is only composed of people moving. To feel its warmth and motion around us is the end as well as the means." (Pg. 271)

"As you can see, I'm just beginning to realize the upcoming pleasures of being a nothing-to-lose, take-no-s___ older woman; of looking at what once seemed to be outer limits as just road signs." (Pg. 280)