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From: moiram@tektronix.UUCP (Moira Mallison )
Newsgroups: net.books,net.singles
Subject: Re: New book for single women
Message-ID: <5636@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 23-Aug-85 14:19:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: tektroni.5636
Posted: Fri Aug 23 14:19:35 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Aug-85 01:32:44 EDT
References: <465@moncol.UUCP> <449@enmasse.UUCP> <184@unc.unc.UUCP>
Reply-To: moiram@tektronix.UUCP (Moira Mallison )
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 45
Xref: watmath net.books:2226 net.singles:8889
Summary: 

In article <184@unc.unc.UUCP> fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann) writes:
>Since this book is the female equivalent of "How to Pick Up Girls",
>I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at the hostile reaction in net.singles.

>>	You begin by making
>>	yourself as attractive as possible, first by taking a little
>>	quiz to find the areas that need improvement.

>This is merely being realistic.  Virtually every man I know will reject
>a woman merely for not looking good enough, though the standard of what
>is good enough will vary from man to man.  

No, Frank, you've simplified it too much.  The emphasis on making yourself
"as attractive as possible" is in Madison Avenue terms.  Another question
from the quiz is:  You read the following magazines every month (one point
for each):  Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Mademoiselle.
Other high point items are polished nails, wearing cologne daily, wearing
make-up all the time, etc.  

>
>>	In the world of this book, the woman who grabs a man 
>>	in the shortest period of time wins.  The author makes no
>>	mention of the fact that in the long run, this woman is very 
>>	likely to lose.  And so, equally, will the man she marries.
>
>For a woman approaching the end of her safe child-bearing years,
>it's critical to meet the right man SOON.  

NO! not necesssarily.  There are a *LOT* of other options.   Besides,
it doesn't sound (from Nancy's description - she was able to stomach
the book longer than I) as if there were  any emphasis on "right" man, 
at all. 

>This is analogous to the "how to pick up girls" books ...
>they tell how to INITIATE relationships (i.e. how to meet people).
>
>>	What I want to stress is the fact that this book places the titular
>>	above the reality: a "husband" is the goal and the man behind the title
>>	is perceived as an unimportant detail.

Frank, have you read the book?  If not, why not accept that it may  be 
as shallow as Nancy says?

Moira Mallison
tektronix!moiram