Are Women Human? Penetrating, Sensible, and Witty Essays on the Role of Women in Society Paperback – August 6, 2005

This is a great book. It is two essays, ‘astute and witty essays on the role of women in society.’ They need to be read today. They are logical answers to questions on feminism. The Introduction by Mary McDermott Shideler is as good as the two essays. As Mary says, “...she espoused...a way of life that she practiced on the premises that male and female are adjectives qualifying the noun ‘human being’, and that the substantive governs the modifier.” And her essays expand on this concept. Very, very interesting.

Even in 1938, she knew. Dorothy Sayers has given us two very provocative essays on her thoughts about humanism as opposed to feminism. It is remarkable that her insights and observations of her time were espoused 30 years later as almost miraculous epiphanies by those who wrote for "women's magazines" (yes that is how they described themselves) and after reading these essays you will understand why Miss Sayers would find that term an oxymoron.Perhaps it is her knowledge of medieval history and scholastic thinking that allows her to frame this important topic in such a unique and concise way. Being one of the first women to be awarded a degree from Oxford she explains that in her mind the problem that men had this, is that it confounded their thinking concerning the "roles of women" in academia because it challenged their conception of the "roles of men" in general.Brilliantly framed and studded with allusions to gender bigotry, this is simply the finest presentation of what it means to be a human, i.e. why are women the opposite sex as opposed to the "neighboring sex". If one wishes to engage in the discussion of sexism, feminism, misogyny, etc. let them begin by thinking about her unique concept of "vir, femina, and homo."As I said she was a medievalist but one with a sense of humor. I would have bought this girl a drink anytime or perhaps she would have bought me one.

In Dorothy Sayers book "Are Women Human," which was a short story on how women were treated in England in the early 1900s. It was her thoughts on gender notions and how women were treated in society, but asserting why she was not a feminist to the cause. She argues that women and men are all humans that have the same needs, or different ones depending upon the individual. However, nevertheless it shows how women are associated and still compared to our male counter parts. Miss Sayers continues the argument that women and men are all humans that have the same needs, or different ones depending upon the individual. It's ok to have a certain amount of classification, which is necessary and presents no harm in doing so.In her second short story entitled "The Human-Not-Quite-Human, she focused on women acting more like men than anything else. She compared the human factor of Vir being the male, Femina the female and Homo being both male and female. She described that men have always dealt with Vir and Homo while women only dealt with Femina.Sayers argue the point that men (Vir) have always demanded that women (Femina) shall act lady like at all times; regardless if she's engaged or in a Homo relation or not. Men have always been attracted to women and will appropriate it without any regard to having scruples. Based on her concept of this last statement; it still holds true within today's society. However, if women acted as such; she labeled them as being unworthy or a scamp.Overall, both short stories were amusing and delightfully funny as Sayers poked fun about being human. Reading this book provided some insight on how things were then and now. It's worth reading.

Sort, witty and intelligent-plus it is funny and very modern.

This is a quick read - I read it the very evening I received it. I think she would be a little more progessive if she had lived in a later period, but I think that it was pretty progressive for her time. I appreciate her critique of the brand of feminism that is single-mindedly trying to copy men, or claiming wome to "be as good as men." We are all individuals and excel at different things, depending on our interests and abilities, regardless of our gender. All we need is a world where we are able to pursue our aspirations without so much emphasis put on gender. Not to say we are exactly the same, but our gender differences don't determine whether we should be at home with the kids or in the courtroom as a judge. My favorite part was when she described what it would be like for a man to be in a woman's world, much like women are in a man's world. Very funny.

A great book to have come across. So many sentences and paragraphs I read and found myself saying "Yes, this exactly this, is how I've felt. It has been hard to be a Christian. So many churches I have gone to I felt I wasn't as a women quite as human as the men were. The Bible didn't appear to be the problem but what I was told it meant.