the essence of Feminism. a book review @500

Any book that can explain Feminism in less than 135 pages is worth reading. Birkett again captures the essence of another important movement or idea that informs my world in this. If you want to know about First and Second Wave Feminism, important Feminists including our produce from down-under such as Greer, and if you wish to understand the achievements of feminists in their historical context, then read this book.

What struck me was the personal journey of Birkett as she thought through the morality and central tenets of feminism as a world-view that tries to make sense of what is the greatest good one can do for herself as a female? Is it total liberation? Is it self-assertion? Is it self-determination? To what degree can and should the female sex pursue these goals? What is the implication for abortion and sexual relations? What is the cost, social, physical and moral? Is it the ultimate achievement for females?

There is a tantalizing bite, in the last 3 pages, of the alternative Christian worldview that makes sense of what it means for females to achieve fulfillment of a different agendum that is not all about self-determination at whatever cost. This is really the most personal part of the book and is a foretaste of what refreshment the Christian answer to the above questions can bring.

The writer is interesting, intelligent and has thought through the issues personally. Again, at such an appealing price and length, it really is a must on feminism, whether ex-, pro-, anti-feminist or simply Christian.