Book Review – "The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism is Harming Our Young Men" by Christina Hoff Sommers

1. What are the main points/arguments made by the author?Christina Hoff Sommers outlines the constant gender battle and how it affects both sexes in her recent book, “The War Against Boys.” Sommers, a mother of 2 boys, is a moderate feminist. The book provides a plethora of examples in which boys are now and have been for a few decades forgotten. Sommers suggests that our society has been so focused on the success and advancement of young girls and women that we have forgotten about our young boys and men. “The War Against Boys” brings this gender situation to the surface and deals with it accordingly.

Sommers references some well-known names, Carol Gilligan and William Pollack, and disagrees with them quite publicly. She often refers to their research as “not scientific.” However, there are some of her advocates that comment the her writings are “Provocative…an important new book…[she] has a keen intellect, a sense of fairness and a deep respect for facts.”

Young Women (organization)

English: Christina Hoff Sommers, scholar at the Am...

Diana Sommer

Richard Bernstein of The New York Times stated it best, “One may agree with Ms. Sommers or one may disagree, but it is hard not to credit her with a moral urgency that comes both from he head and from the heart.” Thus, the debate within the realm feminism continues.

2.What is the evidence presented?The title of this book is very provocative and of course, controversial. Sommers’ ideas and beliefs of feminism seem to be moderate and can therefore accommodate to both sides of the gender spectrum. She explains how the extreme feministic views are hurting young boys and men, just as women were hurt and suppressed years ago. This ideology could be viewed as discrimination of males.

Carol Gilligan referred to young girls as being “in a crisis” whereas Sommers cited this claim to be...