Rich Lowry thumbs through men’s magazines

WHY is Susan Faludi writing for one of our magazines? It’s a question that might occur to any male lured into picking up the October issue of the men’s magazine Details. The cover, a photo of beautiful woman TV stars in black underwear (“The Girls That Make You Lose Remote Control”), suggests nothing untoward. But, inside, here is Miss Faludi, author of the feminist screed Backlash, interviewing author Sadie Plant about her daft new book arguing that the digital revolution heralds a new era of female dominance. “Lots of men,” says Miss Plant, “are undergoing what’s maybe a sort of post-traumatic stress.”

Well, I guess so. This isn’t exactly the sort of backlash we had in mind. Details editor Michael Caruso explains the Plant interview in his letter to readers with an air of resignation, but holds out some hope: “There are, of course, a few places left where it’s still (to sample James Brown) a man’s man’s man’s world.” The football field, for instance. “Women may rule the future, but at least we still have football,” writes Caruso. “That’s a fair trade, right?”

About the Author

Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

Featured Tags

WHY is Susan Faludi writing for one of our magazines? It’s a question that might occur to any male lured into picking up the October issue of the men’s magazine Details. The cover, a photo of beautiful woman TV stars in black underwear (“The Girls That Make You Lose Remote Control”), suggests nothing untoward. But, inside, here is Miss Faludi, author of the feminist screed Backlash, interviewing author Sadie Plant about her daft new book arguing that the digital revolution heralds a new era of female dominance. “Lots of men,” says Miss Plant, “are undergoing what’s maybe a sort of post-traumatic stress.”

Well, I guess so. This isn’t exactly the sort of backlash we had in mind. Details editor Michael Caruso explains the Plant interview in his letter to readers with an air of resignation, but holds out some hope: “There are, of course, a few places left where it’s still (to sample James Brown) a man’s man’s man’s world.” The football field, for instance. “Women may rule the future, but at least we still have football,” writes Caruso. “That’s a fair trade, right?”