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Down Girl

Down Girl

The Logic of Misogyny

Summary

'An important and compelling analysis of a phenomenon that's everywhere' Cordelia Fine, Big Issue
'Offers a sharply cut prism through which to view our everyday experience' Afua Hirsch, The TLS


A powerful, lucid analysis of the logic of misogyny from a remarkable feminist thinker, Down Girl is essential reading for the #MeToo era.

Misogyny is a hot topic, yet it's often misunderstood. What is misogyny, exactly? Who deserves to be called a misogynist? How does misogyny contrast with sexism, and why is it prone to persist - or increase - even when sexist gender roles are waning?

In Down Girl moral philosopher Kate Manne argues that misogyny should not be understood primarily in terms of the hatred or hostility some men feel toward all or most women. Rather, it is primarily about controlling, policing, punishing and exiling the "bad" women who challenge male dominance. And it is compatible with rewarding "the good ones" and singling out other women to serve as warnings to those who are out of order.

Reviews

  • An important and compelling analysis of a phenomenon that's everywhere. Out of Manne's thoughtful analysis, of not just much-debated high-profile events but also everyday experiences, emerge insight after insight into the what, why, when, and how of misogyny
    Cordelia Fine, Big Issue

About the author

Kate Manne

Kate Manne is a philosopher, writer and associate professor at Cornell University. Her research is primarily in moral, social and feminist philosophy and she has written on moral and political topics for The New York Times, The Boston Review, the Huffington Post, the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Times Literary Supplement. The author of the acclaimed books Entitled and Down Girl, she was named one of the ‘World's Top 10 Thinkers’ by Prospect magazine.
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