What was the purpose of The Female Eunuch?

The Female Eunuch is a 1970 book by Germaine Greer that became an international bestseller and an important text in the feminist movement. Greer's thesis is that the "traditional" suburban, consumerist, nuclear family represses women sexually, and that this devitalises them, rendering them eunuchs.

What is the meaning of Female Eunuch?

noun. (In and with reference to the writing of Germaine Greer) the type of a woman considered in terms of the repression of her sexuality and personality in a male-dominated society.

Can there be Female Eunuch?

There were two basic types of female eunuchs: the “complete” type in which the uterus and ovaries were removed, and the type where only the ovaries were removed.

Why did Germaine Greer write The Female Eunuch?

Greer hoped that her book would inspire women to see themselves as powerful when it came to their own roles and sexuality. In many ways she was successful. The Female Eunuch certainly did push the Women's Liberation Movement forward, and it became one of the world's most influential books on the subject.

How many copies of The Female Eunuch sold?

The Female Eunuch has never been out of print since it was published in 1969 and it has sold over 1 million copies in the United Kingdom alone.

The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer | Book Discourse

What do eunuchs have down there?

Eunuch is a term used to describe a male whose testicles have not developed, been destroyed or removed.

Where did the word eunuch came from?

Eunuch comes from the Greek eunoukhos, meaning "bedroom guard." In history a eunuch was a man whose job was to guard the bedroom door of a royal woman to protect her. These guards were castrated to make them less threatening to the women they guarded.

What did Germaine Greer believe about women's traditional roles?

In The Whole Woman, Greer argued that, while sex is a biological given, gender roles are cultural constructs. Femininity is not femaleness. "Genuine femaleness remains grotesque to the point of obscenity", she wrote.

What did Germaine Greer fight for?

Germaine Greer, (born January 29, 1939, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), Australian-born English writer and feminist who championed the sexual freedom of women.

What did Jesus mean by eunuchs?

In Matthew 19:12, Christ describes three types of people as unfit for marriage, namely those who have been castrated (which all exegetes take as indicating eunuchs); those born incapable (con- genital eunuchs) and those who, by their own free choice and for the glory of God's Kingdom, abstain from marrying (voluntary ...

Why did kings keep eunuchs?

Eunuchs were considered the most suitable guards for the many wives or concubines a ruler might have in his palace, and the eunuchs' confidential position in the harems of princes frequently enabled them to exercise an important influence over their royal masters and even to raise themselves to stations of great trust ...

What was the advantage of using a eunuch?

Wassersug discovered that being a eunuch has, in addition to the famous drawbacks, some unexpected benefits: less tendency to be aggressive and pugnacious; more and maybe deeper empathy with other people; and without the hormone-driven sexual distraction, a relaxed comfort in savouring the beauty in women's faces.

Are eunuchs male or female?

We explore the idea that some men may benefit from embracing the alternative gender identity of 'eunuch'. Unfortunately, due in part to the historic practice of forced castration, the word 'eunuch' is now largely pejorative, although it is the correct biological term for a castrated male.

Who are eunuchs today?

In reality, there are more castrated men alive today that at any other point in history. As many as 600,000 men in North America are living as eunuchs for medical reasons. The vast majority are afflicted with prostate cancer.

Can a eunuch marry?

Eunuchs of the Chosun Dynasty lived with privileges: Korean eunuchs were conferred with official ranks and were legally allowed to marry, a practice that was officially banned in the Chinese Empire. In addition, married couples were also entitled to have children by adopting castrated boys or normal girls.

What is the female version of a eunuch?

As “gelding” is the equine equivalent of eunuch, so “mare” is the equivalent of woman. As a woman disguised as a man, the Pardoner would belong to a long tradition of female-to-male cross dressing in the Middle Ages.

What did Germaine Greer say about Meghan Markle?

Last year, Greer said of Markle: “I hope in a way that she'll bolt, but maybe she'll take Harry with her.” Top marks for prescience. This time, in an interview with Australia's 60 Minutes, Greer spoke about the couple's “awful” “showbiz” wedding and how they may “slide into complete obscurity”.

What did Second wave feminism focus on?

Whereas first-wave feminism focused mainly on suffrage and overturning legal obstacles to gender equality (e.g., voting rights and property rights), second-wave feminism broadened the debate to include a wider range of issues: sexuality, family, domesticity, the workplace, reproductive rights, de facto inequalities, ...

When was the Female Eunuch published?

… until her influential first book, The Female Eunuch (1970), was published. It postulates that passivity in women's sexuality is a characteristic associated with a castrate, hence the title, and is a role foisted on them by history and by women themselves.

What does Germaine Greer say about the household and family?

Germaine Greer – The Whole Woman and The Family

Germaine Greer (2000) argues that the family continues to disadvantage women. She focuses on looking at the role of women as wives, mothers and daughters.

How do I contact Germaine Greer?

To book Professor Germaine Greer, please submit an online enquiry, email [email protected] or speak with one of our booking agents on +44 (0)1372 361 004.

Why do eunuchs cut off?

Eunuchs are men who have had their testicles removed in order to make them more efficient servants or soldiers, as they are not distracted by lust or sexual matters.

Can eunuchs reproduce?

Hermaphrodites, commonly known as eunuchs, can now choose a gender of their liking and some can even give birth to babies, thanks to a special procedure developed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Do eunuchs live longer?

Researchers were able to identify 81 eunuchs, who were castrated as boys, and determined that they lived to an average age of 70, significantly longer than other men of similar social status.