Feminism Against Progress

By: Mary Harrington

Narrated by: Mary Harrington

In Feminism Against Progress, Mary Harrington argues that the industrial-era faith in progress is turning against all but a tiny elite of women. Women's liberation was less the result of human moral progress than an effect of the material consequences of the Industrial Revolution. We've now left the industrial era for the age of AI, biotech and all-pervasive computing. As a result, technology is liberating us from natural limits and embodied sex differences. Although this shift benefits a small class of successful professional women, it also makes it easier to commodify women's bodies, human intimacy and female reproductive abilities.

This is a stark warning against a dystopian future whereby poor women become little more than convenient sources of body parts to be harvested and wombs to be rented by the rich. Progress has now stopped benefiting the majority of women, and only a feminism that is sceptical of it can truly defend female interests in the 21st century.

©2023 Mary Harrington (P)2023 Swift Press Audio

Great book capture the history problems solved and pitfalls created by feminism

Harrington expertly diagnoses the state of relationships and the effect medical modernity has had on the fundamental relationship between the sexes in egalitarian societies. Her description of progressivism’s metamorphosis into a cyborg theory is well thought out

Insightful, relevant, compulsory reading for all modern women

I bought this book because I had heard Mary Harrington being interviewed by Louise Perry, and was interested to know more.

Her language is more academic than Perry’s in her book, and I think I will have to relisten at least once more because a lot of it went over my head. Nevertheless, her writing is impressive, and she has a lot of important thoughts to share on modern culture, what it’s like being a ‘reactive feminist’, as well as a woman and mother in todays world. Totally fascinating. I will certainly follow anything Mary does going forward. She is an important voice currently, with a finger very much on the pulse of the current culture.

Fascinating and extremely timely book

I came to this book after seeing a lot of Mary Harrington’s interviews on various podcasts and YouTube conversations. Anyone who is a fan of her work there will find this book to be an intellectual feast. This is a bit of a dense read, but still surprisingly accessible. I can’t recommend it enough if you’re tired of the standard culture war tropes about the war between the sexes - Harrington offers a genuine and human-centric alternative that is deeply needed in this societal moment. Highly recommended!

Excellent analysis of feminism

Mary Harrington presents a thorough analysis of feminism’s roots, applications, and results. She also takes a hard look at contemporary culture and offers some ameliorating suggestions for a very complex situation.

About the book

An excellent and enlightening book that everyone should read, especially women. Mary thank you for speaking the truth.

Must Read

If curious about how we ever got into an intrasexual "cold war" - and possibilities for a way out - this is an outstanding critical analysis.

We're at our best when we are together.

women should read this book, especially feminists

Loved this book, has historical context and cited proofs as well as discussing the natural and logical progressions of certain thought processes and issues that we face today when it comes to gender dynamics in this century. This should be a must read for every female especially those who claim to be feminists and are of the "liberal progressive" type. hopefully would give them some self reflection about life and critically question their belief system and if it is really "the way".

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT

I don't know how to write a review that does this book justice without including personal information. So let's just say that it's been almost 30 years since I determined that Capital "F" feminism was not for me.

Mary Harrington did not blow my mind with information and facts I was unaware of that somehow changed everything I thought I knew. What she did was do the hard work of putting a book together that is entertaining, easy to listen to in that it is not chocked full of impenetrable jargon, and absolutely spot on in it's critics of the modern world and in her prescriptions going forward.

And while there's no pseudo academic jargon anywhere to be found "bio-libertarian meat lego gnosticism" is my new favorite descriptor. It's so apt and perfect.

I find the author's narration perfect. As an American I loved the absurdity of listening to an English accent read the lyrics to "WAP" I think dramatic readings of modern vulgar music with a proper English accent needs to be a thing.

I work from home in a fashion not dissimilar to the woodworking family in the book. Audio books go with me through out my work day. This one... I'm going to order a hard copy to float amongst my children and recommend it to everyone I know.

Must read!

Excellent

Thoughtful, intelligent, and timely. This books is crucial reading for everyone. Read beautifully by the author.

Flawed but insightful

Mary is clearly sexist and can’t help herself when it comes to a complete lack of empathy for men. It colors her identification of the problem, and limits her identification of the solution. She makes a TON of wonderful points and this is worth reading, and it is very important. That said, she makes some unintentional points by being extremely biased and making it clear that she only cares about women, as men are just a means to an end. I’d love to pick her brain and challenge her to a friendly discussion, because she does a lot of homework and she does care deeply about the issues at hand.