Her Way : Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution

Rating:
Summary: A incredible book!
Review: "Her Way" is must read for women and men!

Rating:
Summary: Wit and Fun Blended with a Base of Usefulness
Review: "Her Way" is must read for women and men!

Rating:
Summary: Childish female supremacy propaganda
Review: I have to agree with the reviewer below that there is much "back patting" in this book that is based on very spurious statistics and Cosmo-like surveys. It use to be said that men suffered from a tender male ego, but evidently a good number of women suffer from the feminine equivlent, where such books as Kamen's paints women with a great need of validation and requiring the kind of fragile, adolescent compliments that elates weak minds.

The book as a whole is indeed written with that kind of insecurity whose hope is to have the kinds of claims Kamen makes be automatically accepted whole sale by the masses to assuage whatever fear of male advantage that women like Kamen unwitting and ironically are arguing men have over women--whether it be sexual or non-sexual.

Additionally, the pro-female tone is more than merely pro women but housing a female supremacy quality that can only serve to distance men from whichever woman would be constantly putting the kinds of demands on men that Kamen claims women now expect and demand--and indeed often do.

What is offensive for me as a man is the underlying assumption that the book is based on: that men must set the directives of women's needs and wants inside and outside of the bedroom, thus constraining women's lives. Kamen then goes on to argue that women have become more like men sexually and then continues from there to back peddle and say that although women are becoming more alike to men, they are still proceeding in a uniquely "female" manner. The attempt to reconcile these two incompatible claims, however, prove more affected than believable.

Whether man or a woman, and regardless of sexual orientation, who wants to have "demands" of any kind placed on them? In virtually every matter of life individuals must come to terms with not only their own needs and desires but those of others. Contentions naturally arise and comprimises must be made. This is true in sex as well of other areas of living. Kamen, however, conveniently ignores these more practical considerations and instead presents a very one-sided picture, which not surprisingly places women in the superior role of having her expectations given, while somehow male expectations and desires should be supplanted. Moreover, adding insult to injury, she claims that women are still wanting of equality in all considerations. Whatever...

Every male that I know who has read this book has been irritated by its comments and claims, and that should tell women like Kamen that far from bringing the sexes together as she claims, she serves as a diversive agent between men and women.

This book is not even worth the time.

Rating:
Summary: Monomanical and Tendentacious
Review: I loved Paula Kamen's first book "Feminist Fatale," which probed the reluctance of young women to call themselves feminist, even though they supported feminist ideas and goals. "Her Way" is also extremely interesting. Kamen interviewed lots of young women and argues that they are rewriting many of the old sexist scripts -- at work, in relationships, in bed. She finds them assertive, independent and energetic, with high expectations for equality and intimacy, sexually frank and in control of their lives to an unprecedented extent. A well-written, optimistic portrait of a generation that doesn't usually get such good press!

Rating:
Summary: an antidote to stereotypes
Review: In "Her Way," Paula Kamen shows how women are rewriting the sexual script, both the traditional one and the one edited by their mothers in the sexual revolution. She assesses her interviews with a wide variety of young women in the context of a sexual culture that has become increasingly diverse. She finds that more women are making decisions about sexual activity based on their own needs, not those of any man or of sexual prescriptions from others. The women do not follow any single new script. Kamen finds, for example, that religion frames some women's choices about sex, while others set out to break away from the sexual rules they were taught as girls. She concludes, however, that while women have a greater say in their sex lives, they are not yet equal partners in a conversation about sex with men. Bisexual and lesbian women fare better, but they too must live in a sexual culture that caters to the heterosexual man.
Still, she is optimistic because the process of change is ongoing.
Kamen's fluid writing style is a pleasure to read. Anyone who is, knows, teaches, or parents a young woman should check "Her Way" out.

Rating:
Summary: Wit and Fun Blended with a Base of Usefulness
Review: Intelligently and objectively--and with considerable wit and in a fun and playful manner-- presents the sexual choices women have and the positives and negatives of each. No choice is without its merits and adverse side effects; and these may change as the person grows older. In a nonsensationalistic way, the author covers many segments of our society and compares and contrasts the viewpoints and perspectives of each. She relates her own work with those of others, including those of noted scholars. Her mission is to educate and enable the reader to make choices customized for each individual. One size does NOT fit all.