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Conference turris::womannotes-v1

Title:ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 1 --ARCHIVE
Notice:V1 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:873
Total number of notes:22329

713.0. "Kate Millett" by MEWVAX::AUGUSTINE () Mon Feb 08 1988 13:23

XCELR8::POLLITZ                                      56 lines   6-FEB-1988 21:47
                               -< Kate Millett >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Kate Millett  1934 -
    
      Personal: b. 9/14/34. Married Fumio Yoshimura (a sculptor),
    Education: U. Minn. B.A. (cum laude), 1956; St. Hilda's College,
    Oxford, earned first class honors, 1958; Columbia Univ., Ph.D. (with
    distinction), 1970. POLITICS: Radical Feminist. Religion: Born
    Catholic.
    
      Career: In late 50's went to NYC to paint and sculpt while support-
    ing herself as a bank clerk and kindergarden teacher. Moved to Japan
    & taught English at Waseda Univ., continued sculpting, and held
    her first one-woman show at Mirami Gallery, 1961-63; returned to
    NYC, ...exhibited her "suite of furniture" at Judson Gallery in
    Greenwich Village, 3/67; taught English at Barnard College in 1968,
    and conducted an experimental communal school of philosophy there
    in 1969; directed an all woman crew in a documentary film, 1970;
    taught a course on the sociology of women at Bryn Mawr College,
    1970. Sculptor and writer, 1971 -. Exhibited her 9 - foot sculptures,
    "Naked Ladies," at Los Angeles Women's Building, 5/77. MEMBER: National
    Organization for Women (NOW: chairperson of education committee),
    Congress of Racial Equality, Phi Beta Kappa.
    
     Writings: Sexual Politics, Doubleday, 1970; Flying, Knopf, 1974;
    Sita, Farrar, Strauss, 1977. Writer of filmscript, "Three Lives"
    documentary; released by Impact Films, 1971.
    
     Sidelights: A political activist, Kate Millett assumed the role
    of movement leader upon the publication of her doctoral dissertation,
    'Sexual Politics', a book the New York Times labeled the "first
    above-ground political analysis" of the women's liberation movement.
    Because of the theories expounded in the book--that sexual distinct-
    ions are political definitions, that sexual domination in a patriarchal
    system has artificially maintained women in a dependent, powerless
    status--it was met, predictably, with hostile reviews. Critic Irving
    Howe wrote that "there are times when one feels the book was written
    by a female impersonator."
      Nancy Allen pointed out that "it is important to put this book
    in the right perspective. Its main value is that it shows how many
    of the great opinion moulders throughout history have, deliberately
    or unconsciously, perpetuated certain myths to the detriment of
    women." Reviewer Tracy Morley explained that "In a non-sectarian
    way, Millett sees the power relationship between the sexes as an
    integral part of the overall social and political oppression in
    society." And, in a 2 part interview for New York Times, Christopher
    Lehmann-Haupt stated that "*Sexual Politics* is a radical feminist's
    study of the infinite variety of man's exploitation of women, and
    it should be said at once that the book is supremely entertaining
    to read, brilliantly conceived, overwhelming in its arguements,
    breathtaking in its command of history and literature, filled with
    shards of wit and the dry ice of logic, and written with such fierce
    intensity that all vestiges of male chauvinism ought by rights to
    melt and drip away like so much fat in the flame of a blowtorch."
    
                                                 from Contemporary Authors

... and


XCELR8::POLLITZ                                      77 lines   7-FEB-1988 01:06
                            -< 50 plus reviews... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              Book Review Index '70 - 74
    
    Millett, Kate  Sexual Politics/Ant R-v30-summer '70-p263 Antioch
                   SP/BS-v30-Ag-15 '70-p189       Booksellers
                   SP/BW-v4 -Ag 9 '70 -p5         BookWorld
                   SP/BW-v4 - D 6 '70 -p22            "
                   SP/CC-v87- D 9 '70 -p1487      Christian Century
                   SP/CF-v50- N   '70 -p277       Canadian Forum
                   SP/CSM-v62 S 10 '70 p11        Christian Sci Monitor
                   SP/Cath W-v212-N '70 p99
                   SP/Comw-v93-O 2 '70 -p25       Commonweal
                   SP/HM-v241- D  '70 -p110       Harper's Magz
                   SP/KR-v38-My 15 '70-p588       Kirkus Reviews 
                   SP/LJ-v95-Ag   '70 p2705       Library Journal
                   SP/Life-v68-Jl 24 '70 p8       Life 
                   SP/NL-v53-D 14 '70 - p5        New Leader
                   SP/NO-v9-Ag 10 '70 - p21
                   SP/NW-v76-Jl 27 '70 -p72       Newsweek
                   SP/NY-v46-S 19 '70 -p137       New Yorker
                   SP/NYT-v119-Ag 5 '70 p33       New York Times (daily)
                   SP/NYT-v119-Ag 6 '70 p31        "    "    "     
                   SP/NYTBR - S 6 '70 - p8        N Y  Times Bk Review
                   SP/NYTBR - D 6 '70 - p2         "    "     "    "
                   SP/Nat R-v22-S 22 '70 p1004    National Review
                   SP/New R-v163-Ag 1 '70 p26     New Republic
                   SP/PW-v197-My 11 '70 -p37      Publisher's Weekly
                   SP/Prog-v34-O   '70 -p57       Progressive
                   SP/SR-v53-Ag 29 '70 -p22       Saturday Review
                   SP/SR-v53- N 28 '70 -p30           "      "
                   SP/Time-v96-Ag 3 '70 -p70      Time
                   SP/VV-v15-D 3 '70 - p6         Village Voice
                   SP/WSJ-v176-Ag 26 '70 p8       Wall St Journal
                   SP/WSJ-v176-D 8 '70 -p22         "  "     "
                   SP/B&B-v16-Je   '71 -p62       Books & Bookmen
                   SP/BW-v5- Ag 29 '71 -p9        BookWorld
                   SP/Comt-v51-Mr '71 -p64        Commentary
                   SP/Econ-v239-Ap 3 '71 -pR6     Economist
                   SP/Enc-v36-Je '71 - p39        Encounter
                   SP/JMF-v33-Ag '71 -p597  Journal of Marriage & Family
                   SP/LJ-v96- S 1 '71 p2591       Library Journal
                   SP/Lis-v85-Mr 25 '71 p355      Listener
                   SP/NS-v81-Mr 26 '71 p429       New Statesman
                   SP/Obs-Mr 21 '71 -p37          Observer
                   SP/PW-v199-Je 28 '71 p65       Publisher's Weekly
                   SP/Punch-v260-Ap 14 '71 p514   Punch
                   SP/Spec-v226-Ap 10 '71 p489    Spectator
                   SP/TLS-Ap 9 '71 - p410         Times Literary Suppl.
                   SP/TT-v28-Jl '71 -p237         Theology Today
                   SP/YR-v60-Je '71 -p590         Yale Review
                   SP/NYTBR-Jl 30 '72 - p2        N Y  Times Book Review
                   SP/BL-v69-Ja 1 '73 p434        Booklist
                   SP/TN-v30 Ja  '74 - p202
                  
                   Now that's a LOT of Reviews!
    
                                        
                   I think this book had considerable social and
                   political impact.
    
                                        
                   Biographical sources for the Contemporary Authors
                   article on Kate Millet included:
    
                   Sharon Smith -- Women who make Movies,
                   Hopkinson + Blake '75
                   Newsweek 7-27-70             Ramparts 11-70
                   Wash Post 7-30-70            Canadian Forum Nov-Dec'70
                   New Republ 8-1-70,7/6-13/74  New Leader 12-14-70
                   NY Post 8-1-70               Books & Bookmen 6-71
                   Time 8-3-70, 12-14-70        Mademoiselle 2-71
                        7-26-71, 7-1-74         Sat Review 6-15-74,5-28-77
                   NY Times 8-5-70,8-6-70       NYTBR 6-23-74, 5-13-77
                   12-18-70,11-5-71,5-13-77     New Yorker 8-9-74
                   National Review 8-30-74      Kirkus Reviews 3-1-77
    
    
                                                          Russ
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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713.1k.m. discussion (moved by moderator)MEWVAX::AUGUSTINEMon Feb 08 1988 13:4116
SALEM::AMARTIN "YO HILLNINNY+MATT KISSER, I is here" 12 lines   7-FEB-1988 03:23
                            -< NO, NO, Not again!! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    RE: 162,63
      Russ,  I have come to the conclusion that I no longer want to
    write in this conf, but SOME of the stuff that you write really
    makes me wonder about you.  Why do you persist on trying to take
    these topics and twist them to your satisfaction?  I have about
    had it with this whole thing but you , you seem to enjoy this.
      So, tell us "mr library" what in the hell does this (.162,3) have
    to do with female tyranny or the women's movement not treating men
    as allies?  From what I have read, she seems smart enough not to
    be a one-sided troublemaker, or an US/THEM type.  Please, Mr Library,
    whats your point THIS time?  
                                                         @L
713.2k.m. discussion (moved by moderator)MEWVAX::AUGUSTINEMon Feb 08 1988 13:4472
XCELR8::POLLITZ                                      67 lines   7-FEB-1988 23:37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    re .164   Has it ever donned on you that the ideas of the Women's
            Movement have been successfully assimilated in the U.S.
            The largest population group (women) is legally seen as
            having been unfairly discriminated against by 'Male Dominator
            Patriarcal Society. This being the case (supposedly) laws
            have been passed to correct these atrocities. Women are
            now considered a 'Minority' group and have the benefit of
            programs like 'Affirmative Action.' 
              Also the American consciousness has been inundated with
            all sort of accusations from the movement like "Patriarchy,
            Male-domination, sexist, chauvanist, discrimination," etc.
            I see a lot of emasculated 'men' walking around. And I have
            concerns about that. Not being a chauvanist is one thing,
            giving in to a mass culture movement's ideas on most everything
            is quite another thing. What ever happened to the days when
            Men were Men and Women were Women? Ha, I'm trying not to
            cry. Enough of this-back to the topic.
              So the movement has affected us. I am very curious about
            just how Great the Movements Leaders were regarding moral
            fiber, wisdom, intelligence, feelings, and pointing us all
            in the right direction. Means justifying the ends.
              So what does all this mean regarding this topic. It means
            let's take a close look at the Women's movement. The Leaders
            supporters, and followers. Who they are, where they came
            from, what they did, and how it affects us all. Perhaps
            that's too big a scope for here. 
              What we can look at is the possibility that men were not
            viewed too favorably by the movement as an ally. Certainly
            when a movement argues vehemently against a "male dominated
            Patriarchal Society" those statements-by extension or insin-
            uation are statements that criticize men. It is criticism
            against the ways that men have structured business and family
            life. And such criticism, if viewed as correct by the public
            or political realms, can have far-reaching consequences.
            The reality of the sexual revolution and affirmative action
            are but 2 examples.
              At any rate what I'm trying to see is if the movement
            on a whole, viewed men favorably or not. What were the Leaders
            and supporters attitudes regarding men. And regarding women.
            In the Movement's eye, just how did it define 'liberation'?
            Liberation from Patriarchy, men, oneselfs old ways-what?
            What political attachments and statements did the people
            in the movement make?  Ideologies, agendas, speeches, press-
            releases, and so forth. 
              With regards to Kate Millett she is the person I would
            like most to discuss. It seems that her book 'Sexual Politics'
            is what really got the movement going full blast. I can't
            think of a more exciting feminist to study than Kate Millett.
            I would like to talk about her with Conference noters who
            know about her work and her various contributions to the
            movement. For my part I plan to throw out various reviews
            and personal opinions about 'Sexual Politics', along with
            interviews that she made. These things will be directly
            related to the basenotes idea of man as non - ally.
              Here is an example in advertising of the notion of man
            as foe:
                              New Republic ad 7/25/70
    
                              Women's Liberation:
            'Notes from the Second Year' 35 radical feminists articles
             on love, left debate, vaginal orgasm, consciousness raising,
             housework, MAN-HATING, consumerism, etc. $ 1.50 each. 
             P.O. Box AA, Old Chelsea Station, NY, NY.
    
             Yes let me order one of THOSE right now.
    
                                                           Russ
    
713.3k.m. discussion (moved by moderator)MEWVAX::AUGUSTINEMon Feb 08 1988 13:5018
SALEM::AMARTIN "YO HILLNINNY+MATT KISSER, I is here" 13 lines   8-FEB-1988 01:39
                       -< OH, Mr Library speaks AGAIN?! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    RE:last
      Gee, Mr library, sounds like this is your lifes work, is it? 
    I have heard of Betty Friedman, Gloria Steinem, AND Kate Millett
    but I never thought that she was the so called feminist leader the
    you are somewhat labeling her.  Mind elaborating a bit?  HMMMM?
      As far as that add, ONE ADD doesn't mean that all those involved
    in the movement think like that.  Gimme a break you can do better
    than that!  You know, you should REALLY have some sort of evidence
    to back up the thought that something like that came from **FROM**
    the movement, and not some isolated group.  I really doubt that
    the movement would embrace such 'negative' concepts.
      Go back to the library dude!
                                                         @L
    
713.4k.m. discussion (moved by moderator)MEWVAX::AUGUSTINEMon Feb 08 1988 13:5329
SUPER::HENDRICKS "The only way out is through"       24 lines   8-FEB-1988 06:39
                      -< Please start a new topic, Russ >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Kate Millett's work is an appropriate topic for Womannotes,
    but I think you should start a new basenote about her.  I think
    it is inappropriate to discuss her work seriously in a topic entitled
    "The Real Enemy?" in Womannotes.
    
    Russ, if you are interested in sharing your point of view about
    her and hearing others, I think this is a good place to do it. 
    If you are only interested in putting her down and discrediting
    her at the expense of all other views, I don't think this is a good
    place to do it.   You have some good points about the way ideas
    of the women's movement have been assimilated, but I'm not sure
    that everyone who writes in this conference wants to start with
    the assumption that such assimilation is negative.
    
    I met her at a party once and enjoyed talking with her, and her books
    meant a lot to me personally in the 1970s.  Please keep in mind
    that what was fresh and new and liberating 15 years ago may indeed
    sound a little rhetorical in 1988, especially in tone, and that
    is not a valid reason to discredit the importance of a work in its
    own time.                                                    
    
    Holly
         
    
    
713.5One vote for MillettCIMNET::WALKERTue Feb 09 1988 12:386
    Wow! Did I ever get this note wrong!  I didn't know the mindset
    of the person who inserted it, but I thought when I read it "what
    an interesting woman.  Why haven't I taken the time to read her
    before this."  
    
    I really thought that was the purpose of the note.
713.6FlyingSUPER::HENDRICKSThe only way out is throughWed Feb 10 1988 07:5317
    She is interesting!
    
    Her book Flying received some terrible reviews because it was a
    confessional novel.  In some cases she spares the reader no gory
    details, and the effect (for me) of reading the book was feeling
    like I was going through a great deal of her pain with her on a
    moment to moment basis.
    
    It probably will never be counted as great literature, but to me, its
    value was very great.  It is an extremely thought provoking book, and
    one that did not idealize the women's movement at a time when most
    feminist writers were caught up in blissful visions of a women's
    society. 
    
    Has anyone else read it?
    
    Holly
713.7Thunder from the LeftXCELR8::POLLITZThu Feb 11 1988 02:0147
    re .0   I would appreciate it if you would contact me first before
          moving any of my more important notes around. As it is I'll
          just mail the 40+ reviews/interviews out to interested parties
          now. I am a noter that merits the courtesy to be contacted
          about possible note transfers--and I never have been contacted
          about such ideas--until after the fact. ......................
    
    re .1  Since this was in 606, your note is invalid here. The note
          being transferred makes no sense. It is out of context in
          a new discussion. 
    
    re .2  If I had wanted to start a basenote about Kate Millett (a
           posibility) then I never would have said at the end of this
           note "...man as non-ally".... ending with the MAN-HATING
           radical ad. That's a 606 discussion and does NOT belong here.
           For the record the Libr Journal issue (9/1/71) listed about
           100 movement related books. Here is one of them:
             RADICAL Feminists. 'Notes from the First Years (1968) and
           Notes from the Second Year (1969)' P.O. Box AA Old Chelsea
           Station, NY,NY. 10011.
           A yearly "journal" of outstanding, provocative articles from
           the radical wing of the *movement*. Many key articles, such
           as Pat Mainardi on housework, and Ellen Willis on the "Founding
           of a Radical Feminist Movement" are here.
             Yes Al, an *isolated* group.  Here's another one:
            Solanis, Valerie. The SCUM Manifesto. Olympia 1968.
           Represents one portion of the *movement*--the **Society for
           Cutting Up Men**--which posits that "life in this society
           being at best an utter bore and no aspect of society being
           at all relevant to women, there remains to *civic-minded,
           responsible, thrill-seeking females*, only to overthrow the
           government, eliminate the money system, institute complete
           automation, and DESTROY the MALE SEX."
             Do you want more. Plenty. Just ask.
    
    re .3   Same as .1 (ibid) PS Mr Anti-Library: I do my homework.
           Do you??  Has everyone else?
    
    re .4    Regarding "what's appropriate", how's this topic starting
           off?  Oh, the reviews are on the way.
    
    re .5   I don't know what this topic is about either. 
    
    re .6   Yes, there were mixed reviews. If I sustain an interest
            in Millett I'll read her auto-bio, but I dunno. 
    
                                                         Russ
713.8some scattered thoughtsSUPER::HENDRICKSThe only way out is throughThu Feb 11 1988 09:0622
    It seems almost impossible to put the "SCUM manifesto" in perspective
    now...but all I can say is don't take it too literally.
    
    I do respect the fact that you are reading it now and don't like
    it.  I'm not arguing that.        
    
    It was intended to be deliberately outrageous.  I don't think the
    writer ever intended anyone to go out and murder men.  She was trying
    to get readers' attention, and I think she was also trying to challenge
    a number of assumptions we all took for granted. 
    
    In that way, it was a little bit like Swift's 'Modest Proposal'. No one
    really thought Swift was suggesting that anyone go out and follow his
    exhortations; he was trying to call attention to something else by
    making outrageous statements and comparisons. 
                                                    
    Keep in mind that it was written at a time when a large number of
    people still thought it was just fine to keep women 'barefoot and
    pregnant'.  [my opinion]  Others still felt that salary discrimination
    was justifiable if the man had a family to support and the woman
    was just a career girl, after all.
    
713.9foremotherVINO::EVANSThu Feb 11 1988 12:3825
    RE: SCUM manifesto
    
    Yes, How outrageous that women would go out and murder men.
    
    My, how interesting that men murder women at the rate of once
    every 22 days in Massachusetts. And *without* a Manifesto!
    
    Conclusions are left as an exercise to the reader...
    
    [Sorry if this is a rathole, but I couldn't let it pass]
    
    RE: Kate
    
    I read FLYING and found it very affecting. Her work (and she herself)
    was *very* important in the young days of the women's movement.
    It would have been less without her presence. Perhaps someof her
    work hasn't stood the test of time. Perhaps we've gotten "above"
    all that. Perhaps we'll find that being "above" all that gets us
    nothing. Or worse.
    
    If we forget our herstory maybe we will indeed be doomed to repeat
    it.
    
    --DE
    
713.10exFDCV03::ROSSThu Feb 11 1988 12:5712
    RE: .9
    
    So, Dawn, rathole or not, do you agree with the SCUM Manifesto?
    
    And I bet that men murder men at an even-more-frequent rate than
    once every 22 days. Also *without* a Manifesto!       
    
    Some men may be sexists, but when it comes to murder, they do
    seem to follow equal opportunity guidelines.
    
      Alan
                                                
713.11apples and orangesVINO::EVANSThu Feb 11 1988 13:2510
    Let me put it this way:
    
    Men murder the women they supposedly love at the rate of 1
    every 22 days in Massachusetts. These women are *beaten* to death.
    
    I believe this type of murder is in a very different category than
    men-killing-men. This crime is aimed totally at women.
    
    --DE
    
713.12So Do You Agree with SCUM?FDCV03::ROSSThu Feb 11 1988 14:477
    RE: .11
    
    Dawn, I take your word that your statistics are true.
    
    Given that they are, do you, then, subscribe to the SCUM Manifesto?
    
      Alan
713.13Unequal Opportunity at it's WorstYODA::BARANSKIThe Mouse Police never sleepsThu Feb 11 1988 15:1141
In the statistics of spousal murders, 50% of the victims are male.

"While everybody seems to know that men commit significantly more crimes, it is
perhaps less well known that they are also significantly more likely to be the
victim.  Males are the victims of aggravated assault 143% more often; 404% more
often the victim of a burglary; 150% more often the victim of larceny; and 45%
more often the victim of robbery.37  And according to the 1972 Uniform Crime
Reports, men were the victims of murder in approximately 80% of the cases.38
Although men are arrested for murder six times as often, when it comes to spouse
killings which compromise over 10% of all murders, almost half of all these
killings are committed by women.39

These is a special hazard to being a male homosexual in our culture.  As a
recent study pointed out, "The major emphasis of legislation in the field of
criminal justice is directed toward the male homosexual, as laws are almost
never enforced concerning the female homosexual."40 

A cursory search by that researcher of fifteen law enforcement agencies in
southern California revealed an apathy toward female homosexuality.  Females
arrested on charges related to this ranged from 2% to 4% of the total number of
arrests for homosexuality. "... the Los Angeles Police Department has had a
range of 2.9% to 4.3% of a five year period."  The researcher concluded that
there was almost a "... total lack of interest in female homosexuals as a law
enforcement problem."41

No chapter on the hazards of being male would be complete without a discussion
of the suicide statistics.  They are perhaps the most telling of all the
statistics regarding the "glories" and "joys" of being male.  Up to the age of
twenty four, the male rate of suicide is over three times as high as the
female's.  Over the age of sixty five, the rate is almost five times as high as
the female.42  These statistics do not account for the many automobile
accidents leading to death which may have been suicides.  Men have a twelve
times higher ratio of success to failure in suicide attempts in comparison to
women.  That is, women attempt suicide approximately four times as often as men
while men actually succeed in killing themselves three times more often."


(From "The Hazards of being Male: Surviving the Myth of Masculine Privilege",
by Herb Goldberg PhD.)

Jim.
713.14I didn't think so.REGENT::BROOMHEADDon&#039;t panic -- yet.Thu Feb 11 1988 15:146
    Alan,
    
    Does your mind really work in such a way that you think there
    *must* be a causal connection between two statements?
    
    						Ann B.
713.15Moderator RequestVIKING::TARBETThu Feb 11 1988 15:474
    Could we either plug this rathole or take it to a new note, please?
    Thanks. 
    
    						=maggie
713.163 slugs for Andy...not too literate.........................XCELR8::POLLITZMon Feb 15 1988 02:377
       Consider it plugged. I've taken what I know about the 'manifesto'
    to Soapbox. Hopefully someone will discuss Millett's contributions
    here--unfortunately I will not. 
       
                                                      take care,
    
                                                                Russ