WHAT EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEN

by Joyce Brothers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 1981

An attempt at easing the male-female relationship--largely by exhorting the woman to ""understand."" It does make one hope that men will be the object of Dr. Brothers' next plea for mercy; but her substantial female following will doubtless snap up this exegesis on what makes men tick--in the workplace, in stage theory, in love, and in bed. To Brothers, most of men's idiosyncrasies originated either in the womb or in the ice age. Insecurities, for instance. Since men are socialized to assume dominance, why are they so insecure? The answer, says Brothers, lies not only in mommy's awesome omnipresence during boyhood, but in the very fact that the fetus begins as female and has to ""fight"" every step of the way (via hormones) to become male. This tends to explain male ""fragility,"" as well as aggressiveness; and though she's no feminist, Brothers is inclined to think international incidents will be fewer when women enter high-level politics. In fact, Brothers contends that men and women even sport ""his and hers"" brains; according to her somewhat muddled explanation, better communication between hemispheres makes a woman's brain more perceptive--so she can tell the difference between what people say and what they mean. The section on stage theory focuses on the Pivotal Decade (a.k.a. midlife or male menopause): before, during, and after. Sexual harassment in the workplace? Further evidence of insecurity. Ask the man nicely to stop; and if he doesn't, tell his boss. (No one ever suggested that Brothers' forte was originality.) As for sex itself: honesty is the best policy, we're told, so stop faking those orgasms (no need, though, to admit you've been doing it for years--that could rock the marriage). And if your husband is having an affair, don't let on; just make home life cozier than ever (unless he confesses or contracts VD--then it's over anyway, so you can risk an ultimatum). It doesn't hurt for women to learn more about the male ego, or a man's vulnerability and needs; but some of this make take progress back a generation. For the mildly reactionary, though, moderately helpful.

Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1981

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1981

Categories: NONFICTION