Books in Brief

Professing Feminism: Cautionary Tales from the Strange World of Women’s Studies, by Daphne Patai and Noretta Koertge (Basic, 235 pp., $24)

WE ARE feminists and we are friends of feminism,” state Daphne Patai and Noretta Koertge, and deliver a thorough and damning critique of Women’s Studies programs in America’s universities. Their book tells tales that are nightmares come to life: feminist students disrupting classes because there are male authors on the reading list; feminist students and professors disregarding “hard scholarship” because they value feeling over intellect; an almost complete subjection of academic goals to political activism and indoctrination; and most dangerous of all, deliberate measures to silence any disagreement from fellow feminists. Professors Patai and Koertge, who themselves teach Women’s Studies, did not endear themselves to many colleagues by writing this dissent; the academic women who share their views are so intimidated by “ideological policing” among colleagues and students that they agreed to speak with the authors only on the condition of anonymity. This book seeks not to kill Women’s Studies, but to save it. Feminists should listen closely.

Featured Tags

Professing Feminism: Cautionary Tales from the Strange World of Women’s Studies, by Daphne Patai and Noretta Koertge (Basic, 235 pp., $24)

WE ARE feminists and we are friends of feminism,” state Daphne Patai and Noretta Koertge, and deliver a thorough and damning critique of Women’s Studies programs in America’s universities. Their book tells tales that are nightmares come to life: feminist students disrupting classes because there are male authors on the reading list; feminist students and professors disregarding “hard scholarship” because they value feeling over intellect; an almost complete subjection of academic goals to political activism and indoctrination; and most dangerous of all, deliberate measures to silence any disagreement from fellow feminists. Professors Patai and Koertge, who themselves teach Women’s Studies, did not endear themselves to many colleagues by writing this dissent; the academic women who share their views are so intimidated by “ideological policing” among colleagues and students that they agreed to speak with the authors only on the condition of anonymity. This book seeks not to kill Women’s Studies, but to save it. Feminists should listen closely.