So, why do women like the world of Jane Austen?
I do hope some mannered yet virile gentleman will arrive to enlighten us!
Is it because, having both boobs and X-chromosomes (two of each, generally), we just can’t get enough of the “structured undergarment eaten by ruffles” look? Maybe it’s to do with the steady diet of finger cakes—mmm, nutritious!—and pianoforte music! Surely we’d rather spend the day embroidering in poorly lit rooms than work hard at careers we love, and obviously, we live to obsess over the socio-romantic dynamics of our neighborhoods—or we would, if Jane didn’t use such gosh-darned big words! Golly!
You’ve shown me, good sir, that “the ideals of civilized and refined living these stories represent” must be what keeps me coming back for more of Austen’s work. Do you think I could grow up to live in a world where women can dance, draw, sing, play now-obsolete musical instruments, and spend their energy worrying about the fact of their own financial dependence? Do you really think so?
I always thought women loved Jane Austen because she tells the truth about the human experience. I thought women loved Jane Austen because her characters are timeless. I thought women loved Jane Austen because she offers insight into what it means to love and be loved, as a lover or as a friend or as a sister or as a member of the community at large. I thought women loved Jane Austen because her novels are funny and poignant and deceptive in their simplicity.
I thought men loved Jane Austen, too.
Guess I was wrong.
Tagged: Jane Austen, Jane Austen Hates You, Michael Heaton, rants, sexism, women on Thursday, March 11, 2010 · 6 Comments »
Oh this is going to be so fun to post over on the RoP board and let the male JA fans attack this guy. I can’t wait to see their response!!! Thanks for this jewel.
I think the next fight club needs to include him being taken down by any of the gentleman “waiters” (his word).
I find it fascinating that historically Austen biggest fans were men (Scott, George IV, Forster, Chapman) but modern machismo prevents so many men from even giving her books a chance unless there is a zombie thrown in the mix. When men to actually take the time to read her books, they usually sing a different tune.
John Thorpe lives.
Please don’t judge all of Cleveland by Mr. Heaton. And usually he’s not so jerky.
Lannie – Feel free to pass it along, and watch the trail of rage. This could be v. entertaining!
Alexa – This is very true–we know lots of male Austen fans. Once they see how awesome she is, the stigma tends to fall away, at least on a personal level. (Also, good sirs, please notice that ladies worldwide read books meant for gentlemen, and nobody seems to mind much. Surely we as a culture can adjust to the opposite, no?)
Rosemary – True, and ugh.
kathy – We’ll try. Thanks for the disclaimer!
He’s totally right. I’m only into Austen for the finger cakes.
Why do people who have no understanding in the slightest of Jane Austen feel the need to write books and articles judging us for liking her?