Women historically have been denigrated as lower than men or viewed as privileged. Dr. Alice von Hildebrand characterizes the difference between such views as based on whether man's vision is secularistic or steeped in the supernatural. She shows that feminism's attempts to gain equality with men by imitation of men is unnatural, foolish, destructive, and self-defeating. The Blessed Mother's role in the Incarnation points to the true privilege of being a woman. Both virginity and maternity meet in Mary who exhibits the feminine gifts of purity, receptivity to God's word, and life-giving nurturance at their highest.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Every page is filled with insights that make one want to sit back and contemplate." -- Dr. Janet E. Smith, Saint Austin Review, July/August 2002
About the Author
Alice von Hildebrand received a master's degree and doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University in New York. She taught at the Hunter College of the City in New York, the Catechetical Institute in Arlington, Virginia, the Thomas More College in Rome, Italy, Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She lectures in Canada, South America, Western Europe and the United States, and is the author of several books including Greek Culture: The Adventure of the Human Spirit, A Philosophy of Religion, By Love Refined, By Grief Refined, and the Soul of a Lion. She co-authored several books with her husband, Dietrich von Hildebrand, including The Art of Living, Situation Ethics, and Graven Images.
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103 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, doctor of philosophy, talks about the priviledge of being a woman in light of Roman Catholic teaching. She says that when we look at the feminist rhetoric in the eyes of faith - the feminists eyes are far sighted. She looks at the actual Biblical stories and gives radical, positive intrepretations. She admits in history - women have been lacking from the scene. History has been "his story." Some examples she brings up are the lack of female Shakespeares and Beethoven. And even in areas that are tought to be women's domains, like cooking, men are ones noted for their work - chiefs, tailors, etc.
She gives a critical view of past feminist thiking - everything from women hating their bodies, to the sexism within nature (pregnancy is harder on the women than it is on men).
However, in the Bible, unlike some fundamentalists point out, she argues that women are always seen as the stronger sex - Mary Magdalene being the only follower who stayed and saw the first ressurection. Even the Church - at least in the eyes of Catholic teaching - is a woman in the apocalypic sense. She gives great examples of saints, and ends with meditations on meditations over Mary, the Christian form of femininity.
In her eyes, she asks, "Who is doing morre good today, Mother Teresa or the U.S. Conference of Bishops?"
A good read for anyone wanting to give a positive view of women in the Christian light.
35 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Alice von Hildebrand gives us authentic feminism in this explosive little book. Just as Marx's manifesto set Europe on edge, so this little book should set on edge those who have tied themselves to the false feminism of the sexual revolution. Von Hildebrand sees in the female body, with its hidden sexual organs, a sacredness and a mystery that make women the guardians of purity. This special mission to guard purity is the mission of women. And so von Hildebrand points out that for women to fail in that mission is a grievous self-injury, both physicial and spiritual. Her manifesto strikes at the heart of the false feminism that has wounded, and even destroyed, so many women in the West.
60 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In a recent E-mail exchange with a 43-year-old, female friend of mine living on the East Coast, I asked her to give me her definitions of the terms "Real Man" and "Real Woman." She replied with a beautiful little one-sentence definition of a "Real Man", but then followed that up with this: "A real woman? That's easy: a girl who rides a motorcycle in a skirt..." I can't even begin to describe the depth of my disappointment in that definition, coming as it does from a generally spiritually-minded woman. But then I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised seeing as how she (and every other female of her generation) has been exposed to 40 years of Feminist indoctrination. I thought how sad it was that she - a woman herself - had less understanding of what makes a "Real Woman" than I had, and here I - being a man - am a supposedly insensitive brute of a thing ("a bear with furniture" to quote the very funny comedienne, Elaine Boozler). This only goes to emphasize the point that those extremist social engineers we call "Feminists" have been so effective in twisting and confusing the minds of the vast majority of the female gender that even "spiritual" women no longer recognize what they are and what they are supposed to do in support of the human society (as dictated by their Creator, The Lord God).
I do not read anything without having a yellow (yellow ONLY!) highlighter nearby. I highlight favorite sentences and passages in EVERYTHING I read, that includes fiction and even magazines. 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN' by Catholic writer and thinker, Alice von Hildebrand is - at only 108 pages - not much more than a booklet, but don't let that fool you into thinking that she doesn't have much to say about the privileges of being a woman: my copy of her book is thoroughly filled with yellow highlighted sections. In fact, there are so many penetrating insights packed into each page that I have rarely (if ever) highlighted so many sentences per page in any book other than The Holy Bible! When I first read 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN', I was blown away by how much of great value Hildebrand had to say on the subject. (And I finished the book sort of feeling that I had been cheated by being born "a bear with furniture.") Hildebrand dedicated her excellent book "WITH LOVING GRATITUDE TO MY DEAR FRIENDS WHO ALL LOVE TO BE WOMEN." Following is just a very small sampling of the many profound and extraordinary observations Hildebrand shares with us about the privileges of being a woman:
* As sanctity is devalued in [Socialistic feminist, Simone de Beauvoir's] eyes (as a poor substitute for great achievements), the highest praise that can be given anyone, male or female - namely holiness - is, to her mind, only a left-handed compliment...What characterizes holiness is this limitless readiness to serve others. [pages 6 & 32]
* Yet it seems evident that even in the face of their physical vulnerability, given their greater sensitivity, their more subtle intuitions, their talent for feeling themselves into others, women have greater possibilities of uplifting or of hurting others than those usually granted to the opposite sex. [page 9]
* [T]he feminists acknowledge the superiority of the male sex by wishing to become like men. [page 10]
* The denigration of women is clearly a sad consequence of original sin which has subverted the hierarchy of values...Original sin was a sin of pride, of disobedience, of irreverence, and of metaphysical revolt that led to an inversion of the hierarchy of values...As women are weaker than men, and as they do not bask in the limelight as much as men do, as they are less "creative" than the strong sex, they are bound to be the victims of this distorted hierarchy of values...but that feminists have endorsed this inversion is still more pitiful. Imprisoned in the spiritual jail of secular categories, they fail to understand that their true mission is to swim against the tide and, with God's grace, help restore the proper hierarchy of values. By living up to their calling, women will succeed in guaranteeing a proper recognition of the unique value of femininity and its crucial mission in the world...[T]he "weakness" of the female sex, as far as accomplishments and productivity are concerned, can be more than compensated by her moral strength when she lives up to her calling...But feminists - blinded by secularism - do what, in fact, will lead to a worsening of women's situation. Feminists are women's great enemy. [pages 21, 26 & 29]
* Nietzsche perceived clearly that the emancipation of women is a symptom that their feminine instincts are weakening...The whole tragedy of contemporary feminism - which Cardinal Josef Ratzinger [now the Pope] considers one of the greatest threats menacing the Church - stems from a lack of faith and a loss of the sense of the supernatural. Feminism is inconceivable in a world rooted in Judeo-Christian values...The new age philosophy of feminism, in waging war on femininity, is in fact waging war on Christianity. For in the Divine plan both are intimately linked. Not Socialism, as Simone de Beauvoir believed, but Christ is the great ally of women. Modern ideology wages war on the Gospel which teaches humility and that those who lower themselves will be exalted. [pages 30 & 32] (Let's not forget that Jesus Christ said that He "did not come to be served, but to serve." [Matthew 20:28] And after all is said and done, who would you prefer to be remembered in this world as being most like, Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Mother Teresa and even Jesus Christ Himself? ~STMcC)
* Here is a truth worth meditating upon: Women are more geared to piety because they have a keener awareness of their weaknesses. This is their true strength. [page 66] (And lets not forget that Saint Paul was directly told by Jesus Christ that his strength would be "made perfect in weakness." See 2 Corinthians 12:9. ~STMcC)
* [Regarding the context of women and childbirth, the great Christian commentator, G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) writes...] "No one staring at that frightful female privilege, can quite believe in the equality of the sexes." [page 87]
And in keeping with the spirit of that observation, I am about to reveal one of my secret inner beliefs; something that I - until now - have never told a single person, but a thought that I have entertained in my heart and mind for many years. This is an Amazon exclusive! : It seems to me that if all of the world's masterpieces of art, and all of its most uplifting and poetic writings, and all of its most emotionally moving musical compositions were gathered together in one place, they would still not come close to equalling the beauty in the simple God-created concept of a mother feeding her infant child from her own body. Maybe you wouldn't expect such an idea coming from an "old school" man like myself, but there it is! That's what I really think. And the world's most supreme beauty is something that I, being a male, will never experience! (Now, try to imagine the revulsion I felt during that disgusting scene in that disgusting movie, 'Million Dollar Baby', when Clint Eastwood tells his female boxer, "I want you to jab, right in the t!ts, until they turn blue and fall off." By the way, I saw that movie ONLY so that I would feel justified in posting a negative review of it.)
Never having been a Catholic, the only aspect of this book that I have less than glowing comments for are its few (and I do mean "few") instances of Catholic dogma with which I do not concur. But these are rare occurrences and easily ignored; in light of the spiritually deep and worldview-altering insights that Alice von Hildebrand shares with us, lowering this publication's 5 Star grade because of them would be an irresponsible act.
It seems that God never intended me to marry and become the head of a family. One problem was that - in this feminist-dominated era - I could not find "Real Women" potential mates. The one great, notable exception was (my ex-girlfriend) "The Countess", a Real Woman for sure! But evidently marriage was just never in the cards that God dealt to us. At nearly 47, a "family" is now out of the question for me. But there are maybe half a dozen books that (if I'd had any) I would have insisted that my children read and display a comprehensive understanding of. I assure you that 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN' by Alice von Hildebrand would have been one of those select books. And I don't mean that just my girls would have had to read it; it would have been on the REQUIRED READING list for my boys as well. Why? Because once a male has understood the awesome privilege and responsibility that God has entrusted to the female gender, he would thereafter be perfectly incapable of physically or sexually abusing, or mistreating women in any way! I now urge you to read 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN' and then to pass it on to your own daughters before "Real Women" become an even greater rarity in our culture than "Honest Politicians" (and as it stands right now, I'd call that one a draw).
I do not read anything without having a yellow (yellow ONLY!) highlighter nearby. I highlight favorite sentences and passages in EVERYTHING I read, that includes fiction and even magazines. 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN' by Catholic writer and thinker, Alice von Hildebrand is - at only 108 pages - not much more than a booklet, but don't let that fool you into thinking that she doesn't have much to say about the privileges of being a woman: my copy of her book is thoroughly filled with yellow highlighted sections. In fact, there are so many penetrating insights packed into each page that I have rarely (if ever) highlighted so many sentences per page in any book other than The Holy Bible! When I first read 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN', I was blown away by how much of great value Hildebrand had to say on the subject. (And I finished the book sort of feeling that I had been cheated by being born "a bear with furniture.") Hildebrand dedicated her excellent book "WITH LOVING GRATITUDE TO MY DEAR FRIENDS WHO ALL LOVE TO BE WOMEN." Following is just a very small sampling of the many profound and extraordinary observations Hildebrand shares with us about the privileges of being a woman:
* As sanctity is devalued in [Socialistic feminist, Simone de Beauvoir's] eyes (as a poor substitute for great achievements), the highest praise that can be given anyone, male or female - namely holiness - is, to her mind, only a left-handed compliment...What characterizes holiness is this limitless readiness to serve others. [pages 6 & 32]
* Yet it seems evident that even in the face of their physical vulnerability, given their greater sensitivity, their more subtle intuitions, their talent for feeling themselves into others, women have greater possibilities of uplifting or of hurting others than those usually granted to the opposite sex. [page 9]
* [T]he feminists acknowledge the superiority of the male sex by wishing to become like men. [page 10]
* The denigration of women is clearly a sad consequence of original sin which has subverted the hierarchy of values...Original sin was a sin of pride, of disobedience, of irreverence, and of metaphysical revolt that led to an inversion of the hierarchy of values...As women are weaker than men, and as they do not bask in the limelight as much as men do, as they are less "creative" than the strong sex, they are bound to be the victims of this distorted hierarchy of values...but that feminists have endorsed this inversion is still more pitiful. Imprisoned in the spiritual jail of secular categories, they fail to understand that their true mission is to swim against the tide and, with God's grace, help restore the proper hierarchy of values. By living up to their calling, women will succeed in guaranteeing a proper recognition of the unique value of femininity and its crucial mission in the world...[T]he "weakness" of the female sex, as far as accomplishments and productivity are concerned, can be more than compensated by her moral strength when she lives up to her calling...But feminists - blinded by secularism - do what, in fact, will lead to a worsening of women's situation. Feminists are women's great enemy. [pages 21, 26 & 29]
* Nietzsche perceived clearly that the emancipation of women is a symptom that their feminine instincts are weakening...The whole tragedy of contemporary feminism - which Cardinal Josef Ratzinger [now the Pope] considers one of the greatest threats menacing the Church - stems from a lack of faith and a loss of the sense of the supernatural. Feminism is inconceivable in a world rooted in Judeo-Christian values...The new age philosophy of feminism, in waging war on femininity, is in fact waging war on Christianity. For in the Divine plan both are intimately linked. Not Socialism, as Simone de Beauvoir believed, but Christ is the great ally of women. Modern ideology wages war on the Gospel which teaches humility and that those who lower themselves will be exalted. [pages 30 & 32] (Let's not forget that Jesus Christ said that He "did not come to be served, but to serve." [Matthew 20:28] And after all is said and done, who would you prefer to be remembered in this world as being most like, Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Mother Teresa and even Jesus Christ Himself? ~STMcC)
* Here is a truth worth meditating upon: Women are more geared to piety because they have a keener awareness of their weaknesses. This is their true strength. [page 66] (And lets not forget that Saint Paul was directly told by Jesus Christ that his strength would be "made perfect in weakness." See 2 Corinthians 12:9. ~STMcC)
* [Regarding the context of women and childbirth, the great Christian commentator, G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) writes...] "No one staring at that frightful female privilege, can quite believe in the equality of the sexes." [page 87]
And in keeping with the spirit of that observation, I am about to reveal one of my secret inner beliefs; something that I - until now - have never told a single person, but a thought that I have entertained in my heart and mind for many years. This is an Amazon exclusive! : It seems to me that if all of the world's masterpieces of art, and all of its most uplifting and poetic writings, and all of its most emotionally moving musical compositions were gathered together in one place, they would still not come close to equalling the beauty in the simple God-created concept of a mother feeding her infant child from her own body. Maybe you wouldn't expect such an idea coming from an "old school" man like myself, but there it is! That's what I really think. And the world's most supreme beauty is something that I, being a male, will never experience! (Now, try to imagine the revulsion I felt during that disgusting scene in that disgusting movie, 'Million Dollar Baby', when Clint Eastwood tells his female boxer, "I want you to jab, right in the t!ts, until they turn blue and fall off." By the way, I saw that movie ONLY so that I would feel justified in posting a negative review of it.)
Never having been a Catholic, the only aspect of this book that I have less than glowing comments for are its few (and I do mean "few") instances of Catholic dogma with which I do not concur. But these are rare occurrences and easily ignored; in light of the spiritually deep and worldview-altering insights that Alice von Hildebrand shares with us, lowering this publication's 5 Star grade because of them would be an irresponsible act.
It seems that God never intended me to marry and become the head of a family. One problem was that - in this feminist-dominated era - I could not find "Real Women" potential mates. The one great, notable exception was (my ex-girlfriend) "The Countess", a Real Woman for sure! But evidently marriage was just never in the cards that God dealt to us. At nearly 47, a "family" is now out of the question for me. But there are maybe half a dozen books that (if I'd had any) I would have insisted that my children read and display a comprehensive understanding of. I assure you that 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN' by Alice von Hildebrand would have been one of those select books. And I don't mean that just my girls would have had to read it; it would have been on the REQUIRED READING list for my boys as well. Why? Because once a male has understood the awesome privilege and responsibility that God has entrusted to the female gender, he would thereafter be perfectly incapable of physically or sexually abusing, or mistreating women in any way! I now urge you to read 'THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A WOMAN' and then to pass it on to your own daughters before "Real Women" become an even greater rarity in our culture than "Honest Politicians" (and as it stands right now, I'd call that one a draw).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bought as gifts for my 3 granddaughters.
I have bought many copies of this book because over the years people have borrowed them and not returned them. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Margaret P. Rudolf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful exposition
This volume very clearly refutes the notion of women as second-class members of the Church. The author, wife of a world renowned author and professor, and a highly respected... Read more
Published 2 months ago by William Meyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alice von Hildebrand - author of The Privilege of Being a Woman
I recommend this book. The author gives sound insight regarding the unique characteristics of being a woman. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cindy R.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Does Age Matter?
I read this book in my late 40s and felt as if every word was written specifically for me. It was a great experience and I found the author to be a real source of knowledge and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Elizabeth B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alice Rocks!
Alice is awesome. She and her late husband, Deitrick, are so profound and I love reading all their amazing writings.
Published 4 months ago by Cindy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!
Recommended by a friend. This is an excellent book which should be read by men and women alike! It places the dignity of women into their noble perspective!
Published 4 months ago by traditional
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible
Dr. Alice Von Hildebrand's "The Privilege of Being a Woman" is one of the most incredible and impacting books I have ever read.
Published 4 months ago by Sequoia E. Sierra
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not either/or
I'd like to preface my comments- I'm a Catholic woman and believe all the teachings of the Church regarding sex/birth control/abortion/male priesthood/etc. Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Abate
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Privilege of Being a Woman
Initally I thought this book was downgrading women but the author was merely showing through history how women came to be seen. Once I "got into" the book I understood. Mrs. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ramona
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very poorly written
I'm with the reviewer who threw her book away. My husband sells books so I donated it to his pile. I couldn't finish it; it's a hodgepodge of thought tossed together in no... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Karenina
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