Down girl The logic of misogyny

This book's subtitle promises an examination of contemporary misogyny. Manne (philosophy, Cornell) surmises that women are still implicitly required to serve as laborers--emotionally, physically, psychologically--in ways most men are not. She distinguishes between sexism and misogyny: misogyny upholds patriarchal social norms whereas sexism justifies them. Manne disagrees with labeling misogyny "dehumanizing," arguing that women must be viewed as human to fulfill their expected role of givers. But her thesis seems reliant on an ontological humanism (the recognition of other minds) rather than a Kantian moral position of the autonomous self. Manne covers a wide expanse of current events, including Donald Trump's misogyny, Mike Pence's religious antiabortion position, and the misogynistic treatment of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. But at times, Manne seems to be preaching to the choir, so the book can seem more partisan than philosophical. Writing before the #Metoo movement, the author describes the "testimony injustice," the marginalized experience because of an "economy of credibility" that predetermines some as more trustworthy than others when it comes to sexual assault (this leads to "himpathy"). In the conclusion, Manne writes "So I give up." Perhaps future editions will address the current shift toward holding sexual assaulters accountable. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. --Margaret Alison Betz, Rutgers University, Camden