The Book “Fascinating Womanhood”: Have you read it?

survivinghistory · 2020-11-19T17:24:18+00:00

There are some aspects I don't like, and I think it should be read with her daughter's updated edition also, but it has some really good advice. Keep in mind that the "vintage" edition is written from a Mormon worldview, if that conflicts with your beliefs. The new version takes out some of the religious tone to make it more accessible.

One thing to watch out for in FW is the idea that a wife shouldn't "kill her own snakes." I read the book initially when I was a fundamentalist Christian and even then, I thought it was ridiculous that a wife should leave what are really petty things to her husband to deal with, when he already has so much on his plate providing for the family, just for the sake of protecting his masculinity and authority as the head of the family; I also thought it would be a very patronizing thing to do, like a mother giving her toddler a small, insignificant task to make them feel like a big helper. A helpmeet is someone meet (suitable) to help. She and her husband should communicate well enough that she should be able to make decisions on her own that line up with how he would feel about them, or handle situations that she's capable to handle. He should also not feel threatened by this, and understand that it's to make his burden easier (good leaders delegate, it's an established fact in any leadership program you would find in a workplace), if it does make him feel like his role is threatened, that should be worked through and overcome, not coddled.

An anecdote: My husband built our house and it's a work in progress. The inside is done, and now stone and siding are being put on the outside. While he was at work, a delivery came and the driver ignored the instructions he'd been given and woke me up to ask me where he should leave the materials, with the suggestion that we put them on the porch. My husband built a really large, really strong porch (we intend on hosting a lot of outdoor parties), but I knew that literal tons of stone would be too much for it to bear in one spot. I told him to put it in a spot as near the porch as possible without blocking the stairs so that he would have a shorter distance to heft the stone. I moved my husband's truck a safe distance away so that it wouldn't get damaged, the materials got dropped off, and then I called my husband to tell him that it had been delivered. He was irritated that the instructions hadn't been followed, but was thrilled with how I handled it because I did exactly what he had wanted. He appreciated not having to deal with the hassle, and I felt great for having made things a bit easier for him. Fascinating Womanhood would have had me call my husband and make him stop what he was doing to sort out the issue at home, which would have been totally unnecessary.

TLDR: The original FW is good overall, the updated edition by her daughter is just as good, but there are flaws to keep an eye out for. Like with everything, glean what is useful and applicable but don't use it as the only marriage book you take advice from.

raspberry_rain · 2020-11-19T04:21:08+00:00

I adore it 😊

TakeYourTime109 · 2020-11-19T06:02:12+00:00

I found it really refreshing, and I always keep the ideas fresh in my mind by revisiting it every once in a while and by watching the author’s conversations with her daughter on YouTube.

PearlSunrise · 2020-11-19T13:02:50+00:00

I read through Fascinating Womanhood and dip the exercises at least once a year! Its been interesting to see how I have grown and where I still need improvement. I keep a little journal where I jot down notes pertinent to my journey and having a time capsule to transport me back to some of the magic aha moments can be helpful when I am struggling with being my best.

Side note: a while ago we did a book club where we read through chapter by chapter. I would loooove a book club like that again!

IcarusKiki · 2020-11-19T17:17:58+00:00

I like most of her stuff but she does come from a place of privilege where she can tell other women they should be stay at home mothers and submit completely to their husbands without understanding that shit can go wrong at any point and that being 100% reliant on a man is setting yourself up to be at the mercy of life. It’s easy to say that stuff when you haven’t experienced abuse or betrayal from a romantic partner and also have a career as a guru.

OxanaHauntly · 2020-11-19T14:05:18+00:00

Meh, there’s being submissive and there’s being a fool. Her stories seem that women should roll over and take anything, including infidelity. My husband is my captain and a man of god, that’s what we strive for. Not to be a clown who lets him to and take all he wants whilst I turn to books.

thetallyogi · 2020-11-19T09:43:18+00:00

Hi, welcome! There’s a commentary on Fascinating Womanhood in here. Click ‘About’ on the sub, then click ‘Wiki’ and you’ll find a list of chapters with thoughts and comments. I had a good read through yesterday.

-ladykitsune- · 2020-11-19T06:53:43+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read it but now I want to :)

cohost3 · 2020-11-19T10:52:55+00:00

I loved FW and The Secrets of FW (which is basically like FW fan fiction).

2020-11-19T13:01:56+00:00

I’ve been reading it recently and I’ve been finding it very helpful in bettering myself and I wish it wasn’t such a taboo book because the people it could help the most are probably the ones who would stick their noses up at it. Even a few years ago, I would’ve stuck my nose up at it.

LateralThinker13 · 2020-11-19T13:19:24+00:00

I often recommend it. It's solid, if a bit dated in language.

LouiseConnor · 2020-11-19T21:47:59+00:00

I have just started it. I love to read, and usually read very quickly, but I find this one is a slow read for me. I really enjoy it so far. I’ve read quite a few books on femininity and wifehood, but this has some things I’ve never heard before.

dickens102115 · 2020-11-20T04:38:16+00:00

I enjoyed it! It definitely has some valuable advice, but there’s a few chapters that haven’t...aged well.

Title	The Book “Fascinating Womanhood”: Have you read it?
Author	junior_primary_riot
Upvotes	47
Comments	17
Date	November 19, 2020 3:42 AM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/RedPillWomen
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/RedPillWomen/comments/jwvc4x/the_book_fascinating_womanhood_have_you_read_it/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/RedPillWomen/the-book-fascinating-womanhood-have-you-read-it.334380 https://theredarchive.com/post/334380

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