Thursday, June 4, 1998
Difficult women are easy to find
BOOK: Author’s sarcastic social critique derides, lauds notable
females
By Laura Noguera
Daily Bruin Contributor
In a world where women pose for Playboy and Penthouse to satisfy
men’s tastes, one author posed nude on the cover of her own book
for a different reason.
The angry author, Elizabeth Wurtzel, tears this seemingly man’s
world apart, piece by piece, woman by woman, advocating women to
use their so-called "pussy power" to get what they want.
Wurtzel’s new book, "Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women" timely
follows her first book, "Prozac Nation," which created a loud buzz
in 1994. In "Bitch," Wurtzel depicts a suffering women’s world
through five critical essays in which scores of women are either
redeemed or diminished based on tragedy and manipulation, innocence
and honesty. Creating a new spin on society, "Bitch" tests any
reader’s morals and gives a worthwhile taste of Wurtzel’s extreme
interpretations.
Wurtzel examines intriguing females, from the Bible’s Delilah to
pop culture rock stars whose personalities, both passive and
dominating, determine their appreciation within Wurtzel’s mind.
Backwards opinions about modern day harassment and scandal are
meant to be shocking as Wurtzel’s logic reveals a true
"Bitch-style."
"Bitch" spits out scandals, current and past, like a runaway
paper shredder, sacrificing every sheet of memory to Wurtzel’s
arguments. Readers spin around inside twisted lives like those of
Margeaux Hemingway, Natalie Wood, Nicole Simpson and Amy
Fisher.
Wurtzel’s temper is "Bitch’s" guiding light, as she relieves
tense manifestations, abusing America’s "good girls" and their
ill-fated worthless lives. Having no patience for the sellouts,
Wurtzel criticizes Hillary Clinton for dismissing a successful
political career for a position as Bill’s wife and marvels at Rush
Limbaugh’s supporters for mocking Hillary’s position within the
White House.
Contrarily, Wurtzel praises those women known for their public
rebellions. Supporting women who make their own lives and
relationships, Wurtzel supports Shannen Doherty’s and Naomi
Campbell’s bitchy personalities.
"When their feet start to hurt, they bitch about it a lot, until
someone agrees to carry them home. Bad girls understand that there
is no point in being good and suffering in silence," Wurtzel
writes.
"Bitch’s" most sincere moments are dedicated to evaluating
Sylvia Plath’s bravery for writing and publishing "The Bell
Jar."
"Sylvia Plath suffered from wanting so much in a world that did
not allow women to want anything," Wurtzel writes.
There is no leniency for transitions within Wurtzel’s
idealizations either. Wurtzel bluntly bashes Courtney Love for
abruptly shedding the whore-like dresses and shredded tights she
wore while on Kurt Cobain’s arm for the lush lifestyle she leads
today. The stylish designer gowns and plastic surgery are merely a
"marketable act" in Wurtzel’s mind.
Although most of her complaints are valid, plowing through many
thickly caked social skirmishes leave some of Wurtzel’s arguments
mismatched. Personal prejudices slightly impair Wurtzel’s ability
to rationalize during some argumentative segments, making it
difficult to grasp the point on hand. Rattling off long lists of
women who relate to Wurtzel leaves others wondering if it’s really
fair to compare Jodie Foster to Drew Barrymore.
"Bitch’s" weakest statement addresses America’s fascination with
the youthful Hollywood actresses and media center stage grabbers,
like JonBenet Ramsey or the newest fresh face.
After claiming that France should be laughing at America,
Wurtzel manages to doom every woman, pointing out that the downfall
of all women is age, and no brains can recover the sexual
manipulation which women need to be successful. "As soon as a girl
understands what she is doing, she is no longer fit to do it,"
Wurtzel writes.
Wurtzel’s sarcastically angry energy jumps out at the reader,
often in the form of parenthetical remarks. These emotions
sometimes reveal Wurtzel’s tone, but mostly distract from the
point. No one really believes that cunnilingus is alluded to in the
Bible as Wurtzel implies during her retelling of the Delilah and
Samson story.
Wurtzel is a woman of complaints and philosophies intended to
make people squirm, but some of "Bitch’s" advice may be helpful to
women during their next encounter with a perverse man who yells,
"Nice tits!" during a peaceful jog. Women can be like Wurtzel and
take the compliment in stride, saying, "I know," without
hesitation.