Maureen Dowd, winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, became a columnist on The New York Times Op-Ed page in 1995 after having served as a correspondent in the paper's Washington bureau since 1986.
In today's sexual politics, are women equal -- and are men even needed? That's the question New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd asks in her new book, Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide.
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She may be smart, incisive, witty, and keenly observant but with the release of Are Men Necessary?--a series of pithy (some might say piqued) ruminations on the sexes--Maureen Dowd will never, ever be championed by guys. Not that she cares. Even those who seek to avoid her columns in the august pages of The New York Times are certain to stumble over her invective in syndication. Dowd, it often seems, is everywhere. So those seeking even more via this book should be warned: Are Men Necessary? not only asks the eponymous question; it seeks to answer it with myriad examples (some convincing, some not) drawn from the Toronto Star to Kenneth Starr, from Cosmopolitan to Condoleezza Rice. You can bet a lot of folks aren't going to relish the answer.
With hands on hips and eyes wide open, Dowd surveys gender relations in contemporary settings such as the workplace, the White House, the mall, and the media, comparing and contrasting as she goes. And while her secondary sources are endless--and, let's face it, the subject of gender inequality is not exactly new--Dowd manages to produce a fair share of bons mots. To wit, this pearl on the subject of plastic surgery and men: "I have yet to see a man come out of cosmetic surgery without looking transformed into some permanently astonished lesbian version of himself," Dowd quotes a source as saying. "It's terrifying. My friend's father had just his eyes done by the best, most highly sought-after cosmetic surgeon in New York City. And he doesn't look refreshed or well rested. He looks like he's being stabbed to death by invisible people." Dowd's generously dispersed anecdotes, though seldom as funny, are equally readable. In the end, though, one wishes Are Men Necessary? went beyond simply grocery listing examples of sexual disparity to offer concrete suggestions for change. Then again, maybe that's too great a task even for a woman like Dowd. --Kim Hughes
Excellent Writting and a Pleasurable Read, November 11, 2005
Reviewer: Jason E. Bradfield (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
I strongly recommend buying and reading this book, not because I agree with what Dowd says, but because it is a fun read that makes you think.
The one thing to keep in mind is that Dowd is not a scholar and is obviously not taking a scholarly approach in this book. Most of the criticisms assume that this book has some sort of thesis backed up by strong evidence. It doesn't, but anyone who is familiar with Dowd knows that her strength is in entertaining and sparking debate and she does this masterfully.
I am constantly amazed by her verbal creativity and sharp wit. If you want to be able to carry on an interesting conversation about gender relations in the near future, this book is going to be a must-read.
Just remember to not take it too seriously. "Are Men Necessary" is a fun look at relations between men and women, it ignites debate, and it provides some useful facts, but it is not a solid, research-backed argument in favor of or opposed to feminism. The title is a question and Dowd is more interested in raising questions here rather than making an argument.
These are questions that need to be raised not only in the public sphere but in our private relationships as well.
Bottom line: regardless of your beliefs about feminism, regardless of your politics, regardless of your gender, buy and read this book!
