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I thought I’d read the best feminist books and honestly didn’t expect to be particularly impressed by this one, all the more so that it has been written by a man. However, Masculine Domination now holds a leading place in my list of books every woman should read at least once in their lives. Bourdieu’s work perfectly sums up my thoughts on the topic; I highly recommend it.
Having grown up in a conservative society and family, according to the patriarchal blueprints, nothing predisposed me to becoming a strong, independent and free woman, much to the contrary. Treated by my parents (whom I adore) like a princess, the latter also used to impose on me countless limits, under the influence of religion, culture and traditions, and on the pretext of my gender: girls should behave (morally and physically), do their family honor, never be outrageous, dress decently, have a good reputation, be sweet, ask for a man’s help when needed because (obviously) physically weaker, follow their family’s advice because incapable of making decisions by themselves, be discreet and the best, never ever have sex before marriage, because this female body part is sacred and there’s only one lucky guy that’s going to be able to access it.
The vagina, socially constituted as a sacred object drives women to think they’re special, and to behave as objects of desire that must be courted, won over, and spoiled. An attitude that encourages women to take particularly care of their appearance, reinforces their narcissism and confines them in their dependance not only to men, who hold the power to provide females with the ultimate gratification whenever they give in to their charms, but also to others’ (women included) outlook of her, from which she draws the validation of her existence.
All these rules that have been dictated to certain girls ever since their childhood, profoundly condition their behavior, orient their hobbies toward superficial activities, weakens their self-confidence, promotes their enslavement et contribute greatly to the creation of a social mask, to the non self-development, in favor of manipulation of their every move and words to satisfy social and family orders, to “look good”.
Masculine Domination takes roots in the disruption that occurred in labour division, following the invention of new tools, during an era of revolution of agriculture techniques such as the appearance of the plow, which manipulation required intense work and great physical strength, therefore, only accessible to men. Consequently, the value of women’s housework decreased in front of men’s productive work; patriarchal families were born and women were oppressed. As a result of this enslavement, typically feminine behaviors (frustration, jealousy, manipulation, seduction games to win their case or as a way to reclaim their power) emerged and left durable impacts which traces can still be felt today.
Masculine domination is a product of an unceasing work of reproduction, to which contribute agents and institutions (family, schools, religious institutions, governments).
As Simone de Beauvoir said: “It is the absurdity of her upbringing that creates woman’s inferiority”. And it is by means of education, first at home and then at school, that we will be able to improve women’s position and condition in societies, as Bourdieu explains in this brilliant essay.
