excellent narrator for a feminist core text

personally, I have several differences with Kate Millett, but this book is definitely worth reading if you want to understand the origins and theory of radical feminism. well argued, astonishingly clear, Darkly humorous, Millett makes a compelling case that sexual politics have played an integral roll in upholding patriarchy.

to a modern reader, the second half of the book - occupied with literary analysis, might seem out of place. Worse, the criticisms of psychoanalysis and functionalism may not seem relevant to a modern reader. however, this judgment would be too hasty. analogues of her literary criticism can be seen in some forms of pornography, and the criticism of psychoanalysis and functionalism provides useful context 4 the radical feminist movement.

in other ways, this book truly shows its time. Millett pre figures the sex positive vs sex-negative debates in feminism, simultaneously upholding positive affirmations of female sexuality while castigating misogynist constructions of that sexuality.

this book - compiled out of a PhD thesis, was intended for academic audiences. do not expect the reading to be easy or colourful. however, if you were interested in digging up a core feminist text, you could hardly do better than this book.

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