Excellent article, James. I agree that this book would be sneered at now, because it doesn’t reserve its sympathy for the ‘right’ ‘oppressed’ minorities. It is possible to acknowledge that racism is disgusting while also acknowledging that working-class white people are also the victims of sneering and prejudice.
As for some women wanting it all, I experienced this as a junior anaesthetist when I went out for a post-work drink with some of the theatre nurses. Although most were fair, one dominated the evening by boasting about the expensive gifts different men had bought her, and judging them on that while simultaneously boasting about working for years in the Arab world and not paying taxes, thus building up a stash of wealth. And yes, I have no truc with people who spend their time moaning about the failings and cruelty of all members of the other sex. The answer for their failure often lies in themselves - narcissism, entitlement, greed, laziness, selfishness..
I read _Self-Made Man_ some time ago (probably when it first came out), and was very pleasantly surprised that Norah Vincent "got it"; which is to say I could recognize actual behaviors, rather than projected neuroses, which so often characterize feminist literature.
Excellent article, James. I agree that this book would be sneered at now, because it doesn’t reserve its sympathy for the ‘right’ ‘oppressed’ minorities. It is possible to acknowledge that racism is disgusting while also acknowledging that working-class white people are also the victims of sneering and prejudice.
As for some women wanting it all, I experienced this as a junior anaesthetist when I went out for a post-work drink with some of the theatre nurses. Although most were fair, one dominated the evening by boasting about the expensive gifts different men had bought her, and judging them on that while simultaneously boasting about working for years in the Arab world and not paying taxes, thus building up a stash of wealth. And yes, I have no truc with people who spend their time moaning about the failings and cruelty of all members of the other sex. The answer for their failure often lies in themselves - narcissism, entitlement, greed, laziness, selfishness..
Thanks Leyla, really glad you liked it.
I read _Self-Made Man_ some time ago (probably when it first came out), and was very pleasantly surprised that Norah Vincent "got it"; which is to say I could recognize actual behaviors, rather than projected neuroses, which so often characterize feminist literature.