7 lies of feminism

By Lucia Canovi

7 lies of feminism 

Can feminism be proven by any sort of logic? Does its rhetoric still hold against meticulous examination? By reading this small book, you will discover and analyse seven lies of so-called "universalist" feminism. A feminism that advocates skirts for men and mini-skirts for women walking about alone at night... 

About the author 

Winner of six literary prizes and specialist in contemporary literature, Lucia Canovi dedicates her life to writing. Her readers appreciate the liberating content in her books, as well as her sparkling humoristic style. Passionate about personal development, she perpetually seeks out the simplest and most efficient ways to reprogramme her mind for success and happiness. Her books have been translated into English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Japanese. 

About the translator 

Originally from London, Daisy Reid studied French and Italian translation at two top European universities and now dedicates her time to translating essays and literature on a variety of humanities-based subjects. Her original creative writing has also been featured in various UK magazines and blogs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: lucia-canovi.com
• Release date: Mar 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386061533

Lucia Canovi

Lucia Canovi est née en 1973. Elle gagne six prix littéraires entre 1987 et 1994. Agrégée de lettres modernes, elle abandonne l'enseignement pour se consacrer à l'écriture. Elle est l'auteur de plusieurs blogs, d'un recueil de citations et de proverbes, et d'un livre-phare : "Marre de la vie ? Tuez la dépression avant qu'elle ne vous tue !" (à paraître sur smashwords) Mariée au meilleur mari de l'univers, Lucia Canovi est la mère d'une petite fille ayant beaucoup de charisme, l'air scrutateur, et pour l'instant quatre dents.

Book preview

Lucia Canovi

7 lies of feminism

Translated from French by Daisy Reid

© lucia-canovi.com 2015

All rights reserved.

I like the Cyclostyle ink; it is so inky. I do not think there is anyone who takes quite such a fierce pleasure in things being themselves as I do. The startling wetness of water excites and intoxicates me: the fieriness of fire, the steeliness of steel, the unutterable muddiness of mud. It is just the same with people…When we call a man manly or a woman womanly, we touch the deepest philosophy.

G.K. CHESTERTON (1874-1936)

Introduction

Not all of feminism is unsalvageable.

It is unjust that women are paid less than their male colleagues for doing exactly the same work. It is strange that so many commercials resort to showing barely-clothed females to sell their products. It is shocking that politicians with no discernible morals express such limitless disdain for one half of the human race. (Without their mothers, would they be where they are now? In fact, would they have been born at all…?). It is appalling, and again unjust, that rapists are so lightly punished. Appalling, too, that victims of rape are so badly treated in police stations and that their statements are subjected to such contemptuous doubts.

However, despite the fact that many feminist causes are legitimate and to be admired, feminist ideas are of a far lesser quality. Many are even completely false, as will be discussed.

This book is comprised of seven chapters, one for each false feminist idea. Each chapter is illustrated by one, two or three quotations from feminists. I will admit freely that I found these quotations on the Internet.

Yes, I know, the Internet isn’t necessarily a trustworthy source of information. But if I had found these quotations from more respectable sources, the result would have been exactly the same, for these seven ideas are entirely classic feminist ideas. I have not put words into feminists’ mouths that they did not come up with themselves; I base myself exclusively on their own arguments, their own rhetoric, which I know like the back of my hand.

The reason that I have the right to criticise feminism is threefold:

I am passionate about logic, and have studied it in depth (I have even taught it);

I am a woman¹;

I have been a feminist myself.

Many years ago (I’d prefer not to count how many), I campaigned for the Mix-Cité feminist association in Toulouse, while the young Clémentine Autain was president. During my feminist period, I read an enormous amount of feminist authors. The University of Toulouse-le-Mirail has a well-stocked feminist library and once a week, I surrounded myself with books. I devoured feminist leaflets and studies like others gulped down Tagada strawberries or romance novels. I also attended numerous feminist conferences and groups. I was up to my ears, up to my eyes, in feminist ideology. I saw everything through the lens of feminist reading, even the coupling of my parents. (My father is reading the paper while my mother wipes the table?! Abomination, barbarianism, crime against humanity!...) In short, when I talk about feminism, I really do know what I’m talking about.

A small word of warning before I begin: there is not just one type of feminism. There are two. The first is essentialist, while the other is universalist.

The first type of feminism is distinctly lesser-known, for one simple reason: it does not get subsidies. Essentialist feminism does not have the good fortune of appealing to those with power in the world, while universalist feminism is extremely well-funded. This in itself is something that should really be pondered by feminists…how on earth can a worthy cause be supported by Rockfeller and the Rothschilds? But moving on…

Essentialist feminism recognises and admits the double nature of humanity: masculine and feminine. Like Chesterton, quoted previously, essentialist feminists see something beautiful, something admirable, in the femininity of the female and the masculinity of the male. This sort of feminism has my sympathy; it is not this that I am criticising.

The object and, let’s be