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Brave Dames and Wimpettes
by Susan Isaacs
Copyright 1999
ISBN: 0-345-42281-3

In this look at the way female characters are portrayed on screen and in books Isaacs points out how just because a woman appears to be in a position of power does not automatically make her a powerful woman.

She explores the differences between characters who live by the Brave Dame Philosophy and those who live by the Wimpette Philosophy.

After the author explains the differences between her two categories of women she goes on to give examples of characters in different roles of life and points out where on the spectrum they fall. She has chapters on women characters as wives, mothers, workers and friends.

Overall this was an interesting book that made some important points about the way that women are still portrayed in the entertainment industry. I would have liked it more, I think, if it had been longer. At 145 pages of text, Isaacs didn't really have enough room to go into the sort of detail I would have liked.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Brave Dame Philosophy:
- Article One: A brave dame is passionate about something besides passion.
- Article Two: Even in the worst of times, a brave dame does not give up; she is resilient.
- Article Three: A brave dame is competent.
- Article Four: A brave dame is willing to face moral and physical challenges.
- Article Five: A brave dame has high ethical standards.
- Article Six: A brave dame stands up to injustice.
- Article Seven: A brave dame is a true friend.

Wimpette Philosophy:
- Article One: All men are really little boys at heart.
- Article Two: Your worth rises in direct proportion to your masochism.
- Article Three: A wimpette always opts for indirection and subterfuge.
- Article Four: Men are strong and women are weak.
- Article Five: A wimpette has low ethical standards. She is a moral lightweight except, occasionally, in sexual matters (and even there her abstinence has to do with her perceived value to a man rather than any deeply held belief).
- Article Six: A wimpette betrays other women, including her friends.
- Article Seven: A wimpette does not take responsibility for her own actions and blames her lack of action on others.
- Article Eight: A wimpette looks to a man to give her an identity.

And, I updated my To Read List.
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