Germaine Greer

Germaine Greer

Germaine Greer is a highly opinionated and controversial feminist whose ideas and theories have divided critics over the decades. She first gained infamy with the release of her first and groundbreaking book The Female Eunuch in 1970 – she was turned almost overnight into an international success and a household name, bringing her both adoration and criticism. Former British MP Edwina Currie has called her "a great big hard-boiled prat" , while others such as New York novelist Bruce Benderson have a markedly different take on the matter; "Her job is that of an artist, to reveal as clearly as possible what exists in nature and society, but not to take advantage of it" . This essay hopes to outline her place in modern history and to determine the accuracy with which she is portrayed. This essay will conclude that history does indeed present a balanced interpretation of Greer – although critics maintain division on her ideas, her place in history is neither guaranteed nor obvious. History cannot judge someone who is still publishing books based on contradictory themes and ideas. She seems to be unable to illicit contentious comment, but history will hopefully eventually judge her as someone who contributed to the modern furtherance of the emancipation of women.

Greer is certainly not someone who espouses indifference – people are either for or against. One is unlikely to remain indecisive about her, she has always been one to shock and is perhaps one of the first women to make controversy a career choice. Greer is either one of two things; an intellectual feminist who nobly breaks outmoded social dictates, or a woman with little relevance who might be ignored. Historians continue to remain divided about her, bu...

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...on, Bruce, Feminism and Greer, The New York Times, 2004

Bulbeck, Chilla – Living Feminism: The Impact of the Women's Movement on Three Generations of Australian Women (Reshaping Australian Institutions) –Cambridge University Press 1997, pg 8, 135

Devine, Miranda, The Sydney Morning Herald, July, 2003

Greer, Germaine – The Female Eunuch, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, first published 1970

Greer, Germaine – Sex and Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility, first published in 1984

Matthews, Damion, The Australian, August 13, 2003

Merritt, Stephanie Danger Mouth, The Guardian, October 5, 2003

Wallace, Christine – Germaine Greer: Untamed Shrew, Metro Publishing, 2000

Outrage as Greer brands Australians dull as Neighbours, The Scotsman, January 28, 2004.

Australian feminist Greer attacks Croc Hunter, Daily News & Analysis, August 6, 2006

BBC News, January 12, 2005