Gendered Lives (Wadsworth Series in Communication Studies)

The overall theme of this book is man bashing, and bases too much on stereotypes. I used this book for class, and it was hell reading it.

I didn't like the book. I had to read it for class. It was interesting to read, but she put so much facts in there that I couldn't remember everything that she said. It needs to be more oraganized and maybe less man biased like the other two men said. Before bashing me or my review, I'm a woman.

Edit: I put two stars, but I meant one, I changed my mind.

While I don't doubt the author's intentions weren't honestly good, the prescence of society influenced bias is ever present.

Just to point out a lone example from the first chapter, "In general, African American women are more assertive than European American women, and African American men tend to be more communal than White men".

Notice how she cares to use extensive titles for women and African American men, but when she discusses European American males we are merely "White" males. So much for an unbiased presentaton :)

Julia Wood takes every chance she can to insult and denigrate men. In fact, the only men she will acknowledge in a positive way are those who have distinctly "feminine" traits. Many feminists may find this refreshing and validating, but it does little to foster better communication or interaction with members of the opposite sex. Wood is guilty of the same spiteful attacks on men that she portrays as happening to women.

Having read way too many textbooks in my academic career, I feel pretty confident saying that this is one of the best. The author presented the material (some of it difficult to swallow) in a straight-forward way, interjecting much-needed humor here and there. Many different viewpoints are addressed, and comments from other students, from a wide variety of walks of life are included, giving the reader exposure to a wide variety of thoughts and opinions.
The text reads quickly, and a lot of territory is covered. The author addresses everything from the various 'waves' of feminism to media coverage and violence. There is a lot of material in the book, and if it is read with an open mind, I don't see how the reader can help but be moved and possibly changed. There is no one that this book won't relate to - everyone has a gender.