this book is a must have if you study any form of feminist fiction. judith fetterly breaks down how women portrayed in well known works in the western canon are seen as sexless shrews, hysterics, man-hating, and oversexed lunatics to name a few --but are tolerated or fetishized for their subservient placement in the system of male power. As long as they do nothing to challenge the power construct, and actually support it, they are portayed in a half cruel light and simulataneously worshipped as well. They don't buck the power and if they do they pay for it and are blamed any breakdowns in the natural systems of order as well. it will make you burn, burn, burn and that defiant, healthy way. and in that bad, bad, bad,way.