Germaine Greer, Australian born 29 January 1939, literature educated, with past careers in movies; book writing and recently a UK article writer for ‘The Guardian’ newspaper.

Germaine first created controversy with her book ‘The Female Eunuch’ that became an international best-seller in 1970, thence forth evolved into a member of women's liberation, embracing gender differences in a positive fashion.

Greer argued in her book, ‘The Female Eunuch’, that women do not realize how much men hate them, and how much they are taught to hate themselves, that the ignorance and isolation of most women meant that they are incapable of making conversation.

A book dated at the time, raised important issues along similar lines of women being outcasts from public bars/places etc where men conversed, prior to lounges for women.

This is pattern continually arises throughout Greer’s life of feminism, focusing on the continual spite through her own experiences, being excluded from male dominate discussions.

Read More... https://bretthutton.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/germaine-greer-all-washed-up/

Brett I thought she was washed up thirty years ago
Not against the womens movement it was needed but she did her self no favors after that book it was all down hill.

Brett; preview you link before posting.Here it is. http://bretthutton.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/germaine-greer-all-washed-up/ I think Germaine Greer is a sad story of a woman too entranced by her own world.Being totally absorbed by an academic life makes the best of us institutionalised and divorced from the real world.

Perhaps she suffers from men envy and will never be happy with the cards she has been dealt.There are certainly bigger issues she could tackle today but her ego seems paramount.

Arjay>> Perhaps she suffers from men envy and will never be happy with the cards she has been dealt.<<

Just say it Arjay, Germaine has penis envy, a term us fellas never contemplated until the de eunuching of the modern gal.

But on Greers credibility, she was the product of the liberated uni campus of the 1960’s, an ideologue rather than a devotee through personal need or experience. She grew up in a middle class bay side home, went to a private school then uni and was fired up enough by her psychological castration during these trying years that she became a fire brand for womens emancipation. Her primary concern was the wearing of bras, not the glass ceiling but bras, like twiggy she was a five minute social icon. If we want to talk real liberation have a look at the words of Helen Reddy, now that is a game plan for liberation, and she is a singer songwriter not a Romantic Poetry master as is our romance deficient Germaine.

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You have to remember the era in which she was born and put her views in context. I disagree with the comment that Greer is shallow - she is actually quite complex. A few years ago I read Christine Wallace's biography of Greer and it helps to understand the person although Greer's own reaction to the book was:

"Greer responded to Christine Wallace's biography, Germaine Greer: The Untamed Shrew (1997), by claiming that biographies of living persons are morbid and worthless, as they can only be incomplete. She said: "I don't write about any living women... because I think that's invidious; there is no point in limiting her by the achievements of the past because she's in a completely different situation, and I figure she can break the moulds and start again." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer

It is not unreasonable to argue that some men do hate women and many find it difficult to accept women as equals in the sense of opportunity and old notions of 'man as the head of the household' are difficult for some to overcome. Men are as much conditioned as women and then add the biological differences.

It was not just about equality but freedom for Greer.

"Greer has defined her goal as 'women's liberation' as distinct from 'equality with men', She asserts that women's liberation meant embracing gender differences in a positive fashion, a struggle for the freedom for women to define their own values, order their own priorities and determine their own fates. In contrast, Greer sees equality as mere assimilation and "settling" to live the lives of "unfree men". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer

Germaine Greer is still refreshing even today. I am quite fond of those who completely disregard political correctness and are not afraid to be honest about what and why they think in a particular way even if many will disagree.

Pelican: I disagree with the comment that Greer is shallow - she is actually quite complex.

See, nuts.

It is not unreasonable to argue that some men do hate women

& Vice versa.

"Greer has defined her goal as 'women's liberation' as distinct from 'equality with men',

Agreed, then the rest her fellow nutcases ran with "women hate men."

Greer sees equality as mere assimilation.

In the beginning... I agree. Now, she has joined the rest of the femenene nutcases.

Greer is another one of those people who uses their position to impose their cause because they think they are better than the common swill. Comment on that, "what I got banned for in a previous post."

Jayb,

Perhaps some people "are" better than the common swill : )

Yes Poirot, some are.

There are state, national & world champions, superior surgeons, architects & welders.

Then there are those who allocate themselves this superiority. Many of these are found in academia, where mutual admiration is essential to maintain the illusion.

There are one hit wonders in popular music, & in authors, & Greer fits this category quite well. Not perfectly however, as the best thing about her hit was merely the title, it was all down hill after that.

I'm absolutely delighted Germaine is growing old eccentrically. It's always been seen as a British thing, and I wonder if she'd been influenced by spending so long in England. But the world is richer for eccentrics like Germaine.

But don't be fooled by the superficial mad eccentric/celebrity persona you see in the media. Some years ago I went to a talk by Germaine at rural writer's festival. There was big audience - many no doubt there just because of her notoriety. We were treated (and it was a treat) to a fascinating and entertaining, but deeply serious and professional, insight into Shakespeare. It's probably the most memorable talk I've ever heard on literature.

In a way Germaine has several parallel lives - young author of one of the 20th century's pivotal books (everything you do afterwards will be compared with it, usually negatively), a serious academic scholar, and a mad media-boosted (created?) eccentric. Re the latter, just maybe she's having a lend of us all?

Germaine Greer All Washed Up?

Really? Says who?

I certainly hope not and frankly I can't imagine it ever happening.
She's too feisty. I know she's different things to different people.
But to me - she's absolutely remarkable. I too have been privileged to hear her speak (also on literature) and found her to be extremely entertaining. Perhaps not as entertaining as Peter Ustinov - but close.

Anyway, a few generations ago, Germaine Greer wondered about women:
"What will you do?" She convinced many women that they win by giving
themselves permission to eat, to be sexual, to age, to wear overalls, to do whatever they choose in following, or ignoring their own aesthetic. All washed up? Never.

Lexi

Germaine appeared in a brief cameo role with the Little Britain boys in their new comedy show "Come Fly With Me" last night.

Washed up? Only to those who:

See GG as a 2 dimensional figure

and

never liked her and never will.

Pelican

Your post summarises Germaine very well.

The only thing that Germaine Greer achieved was to make a many females feel inadequate. Sure, she fought for equal pay for males/females doing the same type of work, but for the rest she has almost destroyed the gender differences.
If you are a female, there is no way you can become a male (with the exception of those who rightly undergo transgender surgery.) Females are built differently, think differently and behave differently, and there is nothing (short of a miracle) which can change that. Many years ago I worked in a day care centre, working with 0 - 2 year olds. Those children who were ably developed enough would separate, the boys ran straight to the trucks and cars, blocks etc., and the girls made a beeline to the dolls, dress up clothes and pretend tea-sets.
Our family Doctor once told us that even with a baby wearing a nappy could he pick up a child and know straight away the sex of the child.
Males and Females are genetically programmed for their lives. For example, women being the nurturers and men being the hunter gatherers.
I am a modern thinking female, but there is, and always will be a gender difference, and each one can never be the same as the other.
There are things that both sexes are programmed to accomplish.
One thing that really breaks my heart, is the amount of females who are willing to leave their children in day-care on a full time basis.
There is no substitute for a mother, even the father doesn't have the same nurturing instinct. As with everything, there are extenuating circumstances. I feel very sad for Germaine Greer. She got many things wrong, and the young ones are paying the price.

Dear Ammonite,

I guess some men would find her threatening. After all she did say:

"English culture is basically homosexual in the sense that the men only really care about other men."

At least she had an opinion. Unlike some who just wear whatever happens to be in style.

Lexi

If life was a musical:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQAR-nx4w88

Dear Ammonite,

Thanks - I needed that!

Is it only me, or are others getting mildly annoyed by Mr Hutton's habit of cross-posting from his blog into OLO?

I suppose there's nothing against it. But it's tacky, to say the least.

Mr Hutton's posting history here is almost exclusively related to either starting a thread with a cross-posting, or responding to his own OP. More often than not he just writes a few paragraphs, provides a link, then walks away.

This one I found particularly offensive, simply posting a mean-spirited remark about a public figure - "all washed up", accompanied by some trivial factoids, ending with that inevitable narcissistic link.

Tasteless, pointless, and grubby.

Wonder if she'll ever write a cookbook ... because of the kitchen ... and all that.

"It is not unreasonable to argue that some men do hate women
& Vice versa."

JayB
Obviously, but the post was about GG and her comments about men. Apologies I should have added that caveat - in the interests of not starting the usual one-upmanship circular arguments on gender issues.

The world is better for eccentrics as Cossomby writes. Better than the bland homogeny that dominates. Greer is worth a listen on many subjects (not just feminism) as she examines puts out there a different perspective.

I don't agree with GG on many fronts but I really like her. Can't help myself, in the same way I like many others who some might be categorised as eccentric and who stray into radical honesty. Eg. Bob Brown, Bob Katter, Albert Einstein, Barnaby Joyce, Ayn Rand (who I definitely not in sync), Margaret Olley, Paul Watson and many more.

Pelican,

Have to agree regarding eccentrics and people who generally stand apart from the crowd.
Many of the great authors were at least a little eccentric or didn't fit in with the heard to some degree - in fact, it may be something of a prerequisite to be a little "odd" or different to be able to take a perspective not available to the general population.

Imagine living next door to Proust or Virginia Woolf. These people were not cut from ordinary cloth - and humanity is richer for it.

Of course, some eccentrics prefer to post their musings without undertaking a quick editing scan - and consequently see their typo lit up in neon - "heard" should of course be "herd".

Pelican

I agree with your points about admiring some people even though you may disagree with some or even all they have to say. Glad you mentioned Ayn Rand, I first read the Fountainhead when I was 16, it left me feeling very confused at that young age. I agreed with her protagonist's desire to be free to design buildings free of traditional restraints, but had difficulties with her views on welfare, that people only help others for selfish reasons. As a result I learned a lot - mainly that things are not black and white, the some people do help others for less than altruistic reasons and freedom of expression is a hard won value.

Overall, I found her to be preachy. And despair that she is taken so seriously by the far right.

I enjoy listening to GG and do not always agree, but I do always find her informative and entertaining and a genuinely passionate person. Many people like to excuse their bad behaviour as merely passion. Not so Germaine, she is very real and is not afraid to stick her neck out.

Charles Manson was quite eccentric.

Pelican; The world is better for eccentrics as Cossomby writes. Better than the bland homogeny that dominates.

I agree. It stimulates discussion & from that comes change, mostly for the better. However the problem then arises where, like reformers everywhere, the extreme starts to take over. Eg; Feminism, Workplace Health & Safety & Political correctness.

When I was a young lad we had a lot of "Remitance Men" living in our town (Ayr.) They were mostly English essentrics who were paid by their very rich families to "stay away." As a kid, I befriended some of them. They were all very well educated. GG would have fitted in quite well. Later in life, I knew a Doctor in Townsville, also essentric. He would go to work with his trousers on inside out, or a thong on one foot & a shoe on the other. It appers he was sent to Burma before WW2, when the Jappanese arrived he was sent to Australia, where he set up practice. It was many years before the AMA caught up with him. He didn't even know he was in Australia. He was one of the forensic scientists that worked on the Asaria Chamberlin case. A brilliant man, but nuts. He also used to set the Doctors exams for Universities. Some say that, I too, can be a litte essentric at times. ;-)

Pelican; Greer is worth a listen on many subjects (not just feminism) as she examines puts out there a different perspective.

I agree. When GG is not on her femine high horse she can be quite interesting.

She owns a property about 30 k's from where I live or about 10, as the crow flys.

Dear Pelly,

Did you watch Q and A on Monday night? Bob Katter was on the panel -
very entertaining.

Dear Pericles,

I've just read your earlier comment about Mr Hutton. You could be right about that gentleman. He's probably trawling for ideas on this subject - and people are givining him quite a few to choose from.

Houellie,

"Charles Manson was quite eccentric."

We usually reserved the term "eccentric" for those who don't always adhere to standard social convention - not for those who are totally off their nut....which, I suggest, applies to Charles Manson.

That's very charitable, Lexi.

>>He's probably trawling for ideas on this subject<<

I think he's just trawling for visitors to his blog, so he can earn a bob or two from the Google ads.

The reason I conclude this is that he rarely re-appears. It's just a set-and-forget. I wonder how many others he uses in the same fashion.

I wouldn't even have mentioned it, except that his attack on Germanine Greer was unprompted, gratuitous and cheap.

Dear Pericles,

Thanks for that. Whatever his motives may have been in starting
this thread - people have responded to it - and
they seem to be enjoying it - don't you think? I've found it
interesting reading the various opinions.

@ Noisy Scrub Bird

I think you are being just a tad generalistic in what you have stated. Women are not always nurtures and men can be just as nuturing. True my father will say that a dad cannot replace a mother, but I think he did a pretty good job of raising 3 girls on his own. His brother is equally good with young kids, happily giving cuddles,teaching bits and pieces and changing nappies (both their sisters are nurturers as well). I had to have my dad teach me about puberty, tell me it was time to buy my first bra (although I went by myself to do that), critique my outfits, and come shopping for my wedding dress with me. No real complaints (apart from the obvious teenage rebellion).

I also disagree with inbuilt tendencies. My daughter was as happy playing wth trucks as dolls and my son loves his trucks, but is also happy raiding his sisters lipgloss. He will cart around a play handbag (usually filled with toy cars). As they get older they tend to morph more into the gender roles, based as much on what they see at school and daycare than anything else.

I've steered clear of Germaine Greer. I haven't read her books and don't intend to. It's not that I don't like her ideas or are threatened by them (hell, I don't even really know what they are). It's just that every time she makes headlines it's because she has chosen to be vindictive about one person or another. She had nasty things to say about Michelle Obama, possibly because she (M.O.) got where she is by being married to a powerful man. I don't know Mrs Obama, and I doubt that she cares much about Ms Greer's opinion, but it seemed unnecessary and unneeded there.

On the one hand, I can see the argument that she is 'all washed up' having some merit. Like I said, she makes the headlines for her spite and little else, these days. That said, somebody is obviously paying attention to what she says, and sees her voice as valuable enough to report that spite to the world. I'm sure there's a lot more depth to her than the media lets us believe. At the end of the day, I'm just not interested enough in her to care if she is 'washed up' or not. She has made a successful living by expressing her opinions, and for that I congratulate her. Many others have tried, and had far less success than her.

Otokonoko

The press only reports the more controversial statements from Greer and you would have noted from reading this thread that the people who admire her accept that they do not always agree with her.

She is worthwhile reading and listening to, so it would be a shame if you were deterred from so doing as a result of a strident mainstream press.

Hello Country Gal,
Thanks for your response to my post, you might recall that I stated that there are extenuating circumstances in some instances....my husband lost his first wife leaving him to look after a 6 month old baby girl, and he managed the role exceedingly well.
I managed to be a tom-boy myself, more interested in cars than frilly dresses. But the nurturing really kicked in with a vengeance when I had my first and second child.
Glad that you were on the receiving end of a nurturing father :)
Cheers,
Noisy Scrub Bird

JayB
I am sure your eccentricity endears you to your family and friends? :)

GG is unfortunately (as Ammonite put it) fodder for the media and many of her other achievements and writings go ignored. But she certainly is a mixed bag of eclectic opinions.

Houlley as a bit of a character yourself I thought you would relish those who are different from the pack. Charles Manson was a little TOO different and psychopathic sociopath is not the same as eccentric.