Sexual Politics
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Sexual Politics is a classic feminist text written by Kate Millett. Based on her dissertation, it was published in 1970.
In the book Millet argues that "sex has a frequently neglected political aspect." The book goes on to discuss the role that patriarchy plays in sexual relations, looking particularly at the works of D. H. Lawrence, Henry Miller, and Norman Mailer. Millet argues that these authors view and discuss sex in a patriarchal and sexist way. In contrast, she applauds the more nuanced gender politics of homosexual writer Jean Genet. Other writers discussed at some length in the book include Sigmund Freud, George Meredith, John Ruskin, and John Stuart Mill.
Sexual Politics was an important theoretical touchstone for the second wave feminism of the 70s. It was also extremely controversial. Norman Mailer, whose work, especially his 1965 novel An American Dream, had been criticized by Millett, wrote his article "The Prisoner of Sex" in response. In it he attacked Millett's claims and defended Henry Miller and D. H. Lawrence. More recently, Camille Paglia has accused Sexual Politics of being responsible for what she sees as the excesses of women's studies departments, especially for attacks on the sexism of male authors of the Western canon.
[edit] Editions (incomplete list)
- Kate Millett, Sexual Politics (New York: Doubleday, 1970)
- Kate Millett, Sexual Politics (London: Rupert Hart-Davis Ltd., 1971)
- Kate Millett, Sexual Politics (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2000)pt:Política Sexual
