Official Review: The Last Taboo by Rosemary Agonito
Posted: 28 Feb 2015, 13:59
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Last Taboo" by Rosemary Agonito.]
3 out of 4 stars
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In a society increasingly devoted to parenthood, and motherhood most especially, saying “no” to having children has remained an alien concept despite the work of many generations of feminist scholars. Now, in an attempt to summarize and collate many of those debates, Rosemary Agonito explores the struggles that women face as they attempt to resist dominant contemporary ideologies concerning the binary relationship between womanhood and motherhood and offers support for those women who consider The Last Taboo: Saying No to Motherhood.
Richly sourced, the book offers anecdotal, statistical, personal and scholarly debate surrounding the issue and leaves few avenues unexplored. Beginning with a brief account of many of the key characteristics of parenting throughout history -– considering medieval peasantry and their labour-based necessity to raise children as well the modern idolization of the child and the various New Parenting methods relating to it -– Agonito explores the patriarchal ideologies that govern the various ways in which women have been for millennia appreciated as mere child-bearers. Though well-researched, this section could certainly have been expanded so that the ideologies familiar to the modern reader are more traceable and clear. One might consider, for example, the religious (but not necessarily monotheistic) roots of these ideologies from the ancient Greeks and the figure of Aphrodite to the symbolic potency of the Virgin Mary which have contributed to a contemporary understanding of female fertility and, inextricably, femininity.
It is important to note that despite its focus on motherhood the argument is not exclusive only to women and much can be applied to men. Indeed, there are moments in which Agonito rightly considers the pitfalls into which women place themselves in their attempt to become the perfect mother, most particularly believing in the dated stereotype of the incapable father. Although littered with bad male role models (though there are as many bad females ones), the author recognizes the ongoing attempt of many men to challenge their status as “hopeless” fathers, only to find their efforts frustrated by a mother who seeks to do everything (supposedly) “naturally” better. This is incredibly important because it points not just to a “cultural mandate” administered to women but one that is also administered to men. After all, not every man wields the sceptre symbolically attributed to him and even men are susceptible to cultural conditioning. For those who might be put off because they assume the book is a feminist rant, they needn't worry: always fair, always objective and always clear, the argument is generally unbiased, just as it ought to be.
However, the book could have used a little more focus in particular areas, with many of the quotes and references being somewhat forced in and not explained thoroughly enough, if at all. There are also numerous structural problems, with several sub-headings rendered pointless and a few points seeming more relevant to other parts of the book than their current position. Because of this, the argument becomes a little diluted in places and many parts feel like a missed opportunity to really flesh out the point. There was also no bibliography, though there are very detailed and accurate endnotes if the reader wished to read around the subject. I also feel it necessary to point out how nicely formatted the books is, which makes the information much more digestible.
To sum up, the book is a wonderfully critical, insightful and thorough exploration of the topic and is an essential read for anybody who either wants to say “no” to motherhood or simply wants to understand the subject more. Very relevant to everyone and not just women, this is an important read and I therefore rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
******
The Last Taboo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
In a society increasingly devoted to parenthood, and motherhood most especially, saying “no” to having children has remained an alien concept despite the work of many generations of feminist scholars. Now, in an attempt to summarize and collate many of those debates, Rosemary Agonito explores the struggles that women face as they attempt to resist dominant contemporary ideologies concerning the binary relationship between womanhood and motherhood and offers support for those women who consider The Last Taboo: Saying No to Motherhood.
Richly sourced, the book offers anecdotal, statistical, personal and scholarly debate surrounding the issue and leaves few avenues unexplored. Beginning with a brief account of many of the key characteristics of parenting throughout history -– considering medieval peasantry and their labour-based necessity to raise children as well the modern idolization of the child and the various New Parenting methods relating to it -– Agonito explores the patriarchal ideologies that govern the various ways in which women have been for millennia appreciated as mere child-bearers. Though well-researched, this section could certainly have been expanded so that the ideologies familiar to the modern reader are more traceable and clear. One might consider, for example, the religious (but not necessarily monotheistic) roots of these ideologies from the ancient Greeks and the figure of Aphrodite to the symbolic potency of the Virgin Mary which have contributed to a contemporary understanding of female fertility and, inextricably, femininity.
It is important to note that despite its focus on motherhood the argument is not exclusive only to women and much can be applied to men. Indeed, there are moments in which Agonito rightly considers the pitfalls into which women place themselves in their attempt to become the perfect mother, most particularly believing in the dated stereotype of the incapable father. Although littered with bad male role models (though there are as many bad females ones), the author recognizes the ongoing attempt of many men to challenge their status as “hopeless” fathers, only to find their efforts frustrated by a mother who seeks to do everything (supposedly) “naturally” better. This is incredibly important because it points not just to a “cultural mandate” administered to women but one that is also administered to men. After all, not every man wields the sceptre symbolically attributed to him and even men are susceptible to cultural conditioning. For those who might be put off because they assume the book is a feminist rant, they needn't worry: always fair, always objective and always clear, the argument is generally unbiased, just as it ought to be.
However, the book could have used a little more focus in particular areas, with many of the quotes and references being somewhat forced in and not explained thoroughly enough, if at all. There are also numerous structural problems, with several sub-headings rendered pointless and a few points seeming more relevant to other parts of the book than their current position. Because of this, the argument becomes a little diluted in places and many parts feel like a missed opportunity to really flesh out the point. There was also no bibliography, though there are very detailed and accurate endnotes if the reader wished to read around the subject. I also feel it necessary to point out how nicely formatted the books is, which makes the information much more digestible.
To sum up, the book is a wonderfully critical, insightful and thorough exploration of the topic and is an essential read for anybody who either wants to say “no” to motherhood or simply wants to understand the subject more. Very relevant to everyone and not just women, this is an important read and I therefore rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
******
The Last Taboo
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like ryanj1's review? Post a comment saying so!
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