Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Virago Press (UK) (2008), Paperback, 273 pages
Description
I once believed that we only had to put in place the conditions for equality for the remnants of old-fashioned sexism in our culture to wither away. I am ready to admit that I was wrong.' Empowerment, liberation, choice. Once the watchwords of feminism, these terms have now been co-opted by a society that sells women an airbrushed, highly sexualised and increasingly narrow vision of femininity. Drawing on a wealth of research and personal interviews, Living Dolls is a straight-talking, passionate and important book that makes us look afresh at women and girls, at sexism and femininity - today.
Media reviews
In her 1998 book, The New Feminism, Natasha Walter argued that the feminist adage the "personal is political" needed to ditch the "personal" and focus on broader political goals. Feminists shouldn't worry so much about sexual objectification, Walter said; young women didn't want to be told what to
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wear and who to sleep with. Walter now says that she was "entirely wrong". Show Less
Is it time for feminism to take itself more seriously again? A growing awareness of the continued gender stereotyping of girls and young women has convinced writer Natasha Walter that it is, she tells ANNA CAREY
Who took the fun out of feminism? In the frail world of Natasha Walter's Living Dolls, there's little joy in being female. Here is sexism for slow learners, chicken-soup inequality and a rather predictable commentary for a rather anxious type of chattering Londoner.
User reviews
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Over the last number of years I can't help noticing how my clothing choices have become less and less varied. That the pink in toy shops and childrens clothing stores have become more and more invasive. How strangely focused the marketing is on women wanting pink and nothing else (and sometimes
When I was growing up I was aware of some barriers to being equal, I was a bit of a tom boy and tended to be happier in a pair of trousers (how I griped about school uniform skirt and cheered when some places allowed trousers for girls) than a skirt - which is largely how I have remained.
However, this book has reminded me that there is a creeping sexism on it's way back. An objectification of women that's actually quite disturbing and makes me quite uncomfortable, but I'm often dismissed for voicing it. By this repeated dismissal I think is making people question their discomfort. Women, after all, have been largely eductated to "not make a fuss", so the constant reinforcement of belittling can be hard to overcome.
And many of us are tired of fighting, this reminds me that we need to keep fighting for equality and that I'm not just making a fuss for no reason. After all "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next"
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substandard pink too, with a side order of guilt because of the linked breast cancer marketing stuff).When I was growing up I was aware of some barriers to being equal, I was a bit of a tom boy and tended to be happier in a pair of trousers (how I griped about school uniform skirt and cheered when some places allowed trousers for girls) than a skirt - which is largely how I have remained.
However, this book has reminded me that there is a creeping sexism on it's way back. An objectification of women that's actually quite disturbing and makes me quite uncomfortable, but I'm often dismissed for voicing it. By this repeated dismissal I think is making people question their discomfort. Women, after all, have been largely eductated to "not make a fuss", so the constant reinforcement of belittling can be hard to overcome.
And many of us are tired of fighting, this reminds me that we need to keep fighting for equality and that I'm not just making a fuss for no reason. After all "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next"
Show Less
LibraryThing member elkiedee
Pink Princesses and Pole Dancers
This book is a disturbing account of the ways in which girls and young women are being encouraged to see themselves. It also examines the way that men and boys are conditioned to view women. It includes topics such as pole dancing, prostitution, glamour modelling and
The book is divided into two halves: The New Sexism and The New Determinism
The New Sexism
Walter visits a Southend club for a Babes on the Bed night in which women compete for a modelling contract with Nuts, with a young woman who has broken into this career herselfmaking it clear they are expected to be willing to take their clothes off and be photographed in explicitly sexual poses. Interestingly, it is made very clear to her that some of those involved in putting the show on really would like her to leave – they are not comfortable with critical observers. Walter interviews a lot of young women involved in various parts of the “glamour” and sex industry, including stripping, modelling, pole dancing and outright prostitution. It was interesting to see the contrast between what some of those involved do and the doubts they express in interviews about their work. I was impressed by how much her interviewees were willing to say.
Walter also looks at the contrast between the popularity of a wave of recent books and films on prostitution presenting it as a respectable (and well paid) career choice, notably Belle De Jour’s writings, and some of the harsher realities such as the women trafficked and exploited from other countries, and the murder of 5 women working as prostitutes in Ipswich.
There is much to be shocked by and to think about in this part of the book. As the mother of two very young boys, I was particularly appalled by the chapter on pornography, and the account of the effect of internet porn and much wider access to it, chosen or not, including the culture among young teenagers of sending pornography to each other on mobile phones. Ugh!
The New Determinism
Walter starts the book with an account of a visit to a huge toyshop with separate floors for boys and girls, and finding herself in a sea of wall to wall pink, dominated by dolls, princess costumes and all sorts of features designed to encourage girls to model themselves on dolls. This is where the title of the book comes from. After linking the images of dolls to the images of women in various parts of the sex industry in the first half of the book, the second half is focused on the debates about nature or nurture, especially in relation to bringing up children. As a mum, I thought a lot about my own little boys when reading this, but you don’t have to be a parent or want to be to find this interesting – we were all kids once, and there is plenty here that I would argue everyone needs to think about.
This section starts with journalistic observation and anecdote and then moves on to chapters of more theoretical, analytical discussion. I was very shocked at some of the stories of casual assumptions made by children’s parents, educators and others – for example, a scene at a party where a girl in her princess dress and tiara hits a boy for not playing Pass the Parcel properly, and his running away is described as him not being very good at party games – the little girl’s aggressive, competitive attitude is totally ignored, as it doesn’t fit the parents’ theories about their children.
The theoretical sections are packed with bibliographic references – to parenting and self-help books, sociological studies and media reports - and make much more dense reading, but they are worth the effort. Again, I found plenty to be outraged by, as male and female writers and journalists from across the political spectrum conduct some highly suspect research purporting to show that differences between boys and girls are natural, and not the product of research. Depressingly, it seems that 1970s and 1980s attempts to try bringing up children in less gender stereotyped ways have been forgotten, and that most people with a view believe in genetic difference.
I was particularly interested in the interview with Marianne Grabrucker, a German lawyer who tried to bring up her daughter in a less sexist way and wrote a book about it, There’s a Good Girl (which I reviewed for my student union newspaper when it was published in the UK in 1988!). Her daughter appreciates her efforts, but a newspaper article had claimed that Grabrucker had failed to prove her theories because there are differences – Grabrucker in fact believes that her choices for her daughter were countered by other family, childcare, school, church etc.
Importantly, Walter does not confine herself to describing the various studies and theories put forward arguing in support of innate differences between girls and boys and the need to treat them differently. She is very critical of these biologically determinist theories. She also challenges the idea that these are fresh new thinking, going back in time to look at the historical theories. She even finds that in the 1920s and 1930s, different colours were used for boys and girls, but they were pink for boys and blue for girls! She points out that stereotypes themselves often affect how people behave, that girls and boys may well learn that certain behaviour is expected of them in order to fit in and be accepted. Women still earn less than men and have less status, and these new determinist theories are not just abstract, they are often the basis for arguments put forward that this is just the way things are.
Finally, Walter tries to introduce a more upbeat note into the book at the end. This is not as memorable as all the shocking stories of women in the sex industry, and the sexualisation of girls and young women from a very young age, but she describes some of the campaigns that have been set up online and offline to challenge sexism and the oppression of women. There is a Give Your Support section at the end with postal addresses, phone numbers and websites where readers can go to join in the campaigns. I plan to find out more about Pink Stinks and Women for Refugee Women (the latter organisation is not really related to the contents of this book, but it campaigns on issues close to my heart and I would like to see if I can do something more active.
I think this is an important and interesting book which more people, women and men, parents, grandparents and people who have no intention of having children should all read. Then, we should think about how we challenge stereotypes and expectations in order to create a more equal society.
I was sent a copy of this book free for review from the publisher under their "First Look" programme.
This book is a disturbing account of the ways in which girls and young women are being encouraged to see themselves. It also examines the way that men and boys are conditioned to view women. It includes topics such as pole dancing, prostitution, glamour modelling and
Show More
lads’ mags, children’s toys and theories on differences between female and male children from a very young age. At times I found it very uncomfortable and depressing reading, but it is well worth reading for the important arguments made.The book is divided into two halves: The New Sexism and The New Determinism
The New Sexism
Walter visits a Southend club for a Babes on the Bed night in which women compete for a modelling contract with Nuts, with a young woman who has broken into this career herselfmaking it clear they are expected to be willing to take their clothes off and be photographed in explicitly sexual poses. Interestingly, it is made very clear to her that some of those involved in putting the show on really would like her to leave – they are not comfortable with critical observers. Walter interviews a lot of young women involved in various parts of the “glamour” and sex industry, including stripping, modelling, pole dancing and outright prostitution. It was interesting to see the contrast between what some of those involved do and the doubts they express in interviews about their work. I was impressed by how much her interviewees were willing to say.
Walter also looks at the contrast between the popularity of a wave of recent books and films on prostitution presenting it as a respectable (and well paid) career choice, notably Belle De Jour’s writings, and some of the harsher realities such as the women trafficked and exploited from other countries, and the murder of 5 women working as prostitutes in Ipswich.
There is much to be shocked by and to think about in this part of the book. As the mother of two very young boys, I was particularly appalled by the chapter on pornography, and the account of the effect of internet porn and much wider access to it, chosen or not, including the culture among young teenagers of sending pornography to each other on mobile phones. Ugh!
The New Determinism
Walter starts the book with an account of a visit to a huge toyshop with separate floors for boys and girls, and finding herself in a sea of wall to wall pink, dominated by dolls, princess costumes and all sorts of features designed to encourage girls to model themselves on dolls. This is where the title of the book comes from. After linking the images of dolls to the images of women in various parts of the sex industry in the first half of the book, the second half is focused on the debates about nature or nurture, especially in relation to bringing up children. As a mum, I thought a lot about my own little boys when reading this, but you don’t have to be a parent or want to be to find this interesting – we were all kids once, and there is plenty here that I would argue everyone needs to think about.
This section starts with journalistic observation and anecdote and then moves on to chapters of more theoretical, analytical discussion. I was very shocked at some of the stories of casual assumptions made by children’s parents, educators and others – for example, a scene at a party where a girl in her princess dress and tiara hits a boy for not playing Pass the Parcel properly, and his running away is described as him not being very good at party games – the little girl’s aggressive, competitive attitude is totally ignored, as it doesn’t fit the parents’ theories about their children.
The theoretical sections are packed with bibliographic references – to parenting and self-help books, sociological studies and media reports - and make much more dense reading, but they are worth the effort. Again, I found plenty to be outraged by, as male and female writers and journalists from across the political spectrum conduct some highly suspect research purporting to show that differences between boys and girls are natural, and not the product of research. Depressingly, it seems that 1970s and 1980s attempts to try bringing up children in less gender stereotyped ways have been forgotten, and that most people with a view believe in genetic difference.
I was particularly interested in the interview with Marianne Grabrucker, a German lawyer who tried to bring up her daughter in a less sexist way and wrote a book about it, There’s a Good Girl (which I reviewed for my student union newspaper when it was published in the UK in 1988!). Her daughter appreciates her efforts, but a newspaper article had claimed that Grabrucker had failed to prove her theories because there are differences – Grabrucker in fact believes that her choices for her daughter were countered by other family, childcare, school, church etc.
Importantly, Walter does not confine herself to describing the various studies and theories put forward arguing in support of innate differences between girls and boys and the need to treat them differently. She is very critical of these biologically determinist theories. She also challenges the idea that these are fresh new thinking, going back in time to look at the historical theories. She even finds that in the 1920s and 1930s, different colours were used for boys and girls, but they were pink for boys and blue for girls! She points out that stereotypes themselves often affect how people behave, that girls and boys may well learn that certain behaviour is expected of them in order to fit in and be accepted. Women still earn less than men and have less status, and these new determinist theories are not just abstract, they are often the basis for arguments put forward that this is just the way things are.
Finally, Walter tries to introduce a more upbeat note into the book at the end. This is not as memorable as all the shocking stories of women in the sex industry, and the sexualisation of girls and young women from a very young age, but she describes some of the campaigns that have been set up online and offline to challenge sexism and the oppression of women. There is a Give Your Support section at the end with postal addresses, phone numbers and websites where readers can go to join in the campaigns. I plan to find out more about Pink Stinks and Women for Refugee Women (the latter organisation is not really related to the contents of this book, but it campaigns on issues close to my heart and I would like to see if I can do something more active.
I think this is an important and interesting book which more people, women and men, parents, grandparents and people who have no intention of having children should all read. Then, we should think about how we challenge stereotypes and expectations in order to create a more equal society.
I was sent a copy of this book free for review from the publisher under their "First Look" programme.
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LibraryThing member kazimiera
a very throught provoking book very interesting and there are some ideas in it there have just given me a whole new pespective on the subject of femmenisn
LibraryThing member Franby
Yet another fascinating/depressing read about the state of the world and women's (and men's) roles in it. It was refreshing to hear a voice questioning the prevelance of pornography and its effect in our lives - as the mother of two young boys, I hate to think the sort of things they are going to
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be witness to, and the sort of assumptions those sights are going cause in their burgeoning sexuality (still a good few years away). I have been a quiet feminist since the 1980s and I do feel that many young women today have no idea how things 'used to be', but actually I would say that in many ways life is a lot harder for them, even though there are many more opportunities too ... would love to meet Natasha Walter and shake her by the hand! Show Less
LibraryThing member BrittanyLyn
I felt this was a bit dense, covering much information that I was already familiar with, but perhaps to someone not aware of the women's plight in society, or looking for an introduction to feminism, this would be a suitable starting point. There were several points made about women's liberation
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and their value in society at large, based on sexual appeal, and although this has meant to be freeing, has actually just constrained women in a new social role. "This objectified woman, so often celebrated as the wife or girlfriend of the heroic male rather than the heroine of her own life, is the living doll who has replaced the liberated woman who should be making her way into the twenty-first century." Exploring questions of what choice truly means within the context of women's daily lives, and expelling many of the myths of faulty experiments citing genetic difference, rather than environmental and societal influences in the constraints that are still placed upon women at large. Show Less
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
273 p.
ISBN
1844084841 / 9781844084845