Cunt: A Declaration of Independence
LC Class | HQ1233 .M87 2002 |
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence is a 1998
.The book was placed at number six on a list of "Best-Selling Lesbian Books" in May 2000 by
The word cunt inspired a movement called Cuntfest, a celebration of the female gender, and Cuntfest events were held with multiple artists in different cities in the United States after the book's publication. The book became an important piece of third-wave feminism, the importance of "pussy power", and courage in women, and was required reading in a course about women's health at the University of Virginia.
Publication history
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence was first published in 1998 by
Content summary
Muscio begins by discussing the origins of the terms
The next section of the book discusses how women have been made to feel ashamed of
Next comes the topic of
Muscio then delves into the history of prostitution, citing the works of activist Carol Queen about the treatment of such women in ancient times, when prostitutes were sacred to some religions. Muscio states the need for women to reclaim 'Whoredom' and work to end the stigma surrounding it.
The Cuntlovin' Guide to the Universe in the back of the book is an index for information on all topics covered in the book.
Themes
The Capital Times observed that the book addresses themes of gender empowerment and self-esteem among women.[5]
Reception
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence was placed at number six on a list of "Best-Selling Lesbian Books" in May 2000 by Curve magazine.[6] The magazine gave the work a positive review and recommended it to their readers.[7] Writing for Curve, Rachel Pepper commented: "Far from a farce, this book takes a look-both serious and playful-at our most private female body parts."[7] She wrote that the book was instructional on the commonalities between women.[7]
Herizons journalist Wendy Barber reviewed the book and called it "a delightful, thought-provoking read about our relationship with our bodies, in particular, our cunts."[9] Barber wrote that Cunt "is one of the best feminist books about the female body" that she had read after Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom.[9]
The book received a critical review in Publishers Weekly.[10] The review characterized the work as "self-indulgent exercise in feminist reclamation".[10] Publishers Weekly lamented that the book's structural flow was hampered by "rambling digressions" and "jarring prose".[10] The review concluded: "Although this work may constitute a move toward women's acceptance of themselves and their bodies, it is a very small step."[10]
Impact
Inga Muscio received hate mail after the publication of Cunt, and a greater amount of hate mail after her next book Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: My Life and Times in a Racist Imperialist Society was published.[5]
The book inspired a movement called Cuntfest, a celebration of women, and Cuntfest events were held with multiple artists in different cities in the United States after the book's publication.[11]
By the time the book reached its second edition, it had become an important fixture within the movement of Third-wave feminism.[8] Cunt was required reading as part of a selection of third-wave feminist viewpoints in a course Women's Health Activism about women's health at the University of Virginia.[12]
References
- OCLC 460513687
- ^ ISBN 978-1580050753.
- OCLC 237886509
- OCLC 56912460
- ^ a b Schroeder, Heather Lee (September 22, 2006). "Literary Lunch". The Capital Times.
- ^ Pepper, Rachel (May 1, 2000). "Fiction Blooms in May". Curve.
- ^ a b c Pepper, Rachel (January 1, 1999). "Start your year off with a good read - Review". Curve.
- ^ off our backs.
- ^ a b Barber, Wendy (January 1, 2001). "Cunt: A Declaration of Independence; Inga Muscio". Herizons.
- ^ a b c d "Nonfiction Book Review: Cunt: A Declaration of Independence". Publishers Weekly. 1998. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- ^ O'Connor, Jennifer (April 1, 2007). "Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: My Life and Times in a Racist, Imperialist Society". Herizons.
- ISBN 978-1433107696.
Further reading
- Barber, Wendy (January 1, 2001). "Cunt: A Declaration of Independence; Inga Muscio". Herizons.
- Lee, Michelle (July 1, 2003). "Cunt: A Declaration of Independence (expanded and updated second edition) by Inga Muscio. Book Review". off our backs.
External links
- Cunt: A Declaration of Independence Archived 2005-10-01 at the Wayback Machine, at website of author Inga Muscio