Female Perversions

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Kaplan, citing the behavior of Flaubert's Madame Bovary and such literary figures as George Sand and Edith Wharton, demonstrates her belief that female perversions are gender-identity disorders that parody feminine ideals. ``This masterful study breaks new ground in our understanding of sexuality, gender roles and the way modern society trivializes erotic expression,'' said PW. (Jan.)

Library Journal

New York psychoanalyst Kaplan mixes Freudian theories with gender stereotyping and comes up with perversions--aberrant human behaviors designed to deceive the conscious mind and subvert anxieties, feelings of shame, repressed aggression, and cross-gender ambitions. For proof, she relies on case studies and her analysis of major characters in Flaubert's Ma dame Bovary . Although she emphasizes ``female'' perversions--defined as kleptomania, anorexia, and ``delicate self-cutting''--Kaplan also gives an overview of such ``male'' aberrations as exhibitionism and pedophilia, plus an analysis of four perverse male scenarios reported in the literature. A comprehensive and compelling academic work, well documented and replete with many literary references--not to mention jargon. Recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with large women's studies collections.--Janice Arenofsky, formerly with Arizona State Lib., Phoenix