Self-Made Man
I saw a brief interview with Norah Vincent, author of Self-Made Man and decided to research the story on the internet. Vincent, a journalist, decided to undertake an 18-month project and disguise herself as a man. She undertook this “human project” as a way to “find something out about the human creature.”
The ABC review I read was fascinating. So much so, that I’ll probably read the book.
She provides great insights into a man’s world and revelaed much more than I would have thought possible. I mean, dressing up as a man and “invading” a man’s world couldn’t really offer too much more than what men tell us, right? Wrong.
Vincent says her views about men have changed forever:
“Men are suffering. They have different problems than women have, but they don’t have it better,” she said. “They need our sympathy. They need our love, and maybe they need each other more than anything else. They need to be together.”
Ironically, Vincent said, it took experiencing life as a man for her to appreciate being a woman. “I really like being a woman. … I like it more now because I think it’s more of a privilege.”
Interesting.
I remember this plot line from a movie made in the 80s called “Just One of the Guys.”
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/6302862787/104-7339726-6043101?v=glance
Saw an article about this book in People. I was very confused by what little (like two lines) I read, so I didn’t finish the article. Now I know what I missed.
Comment by Martha | January 30, 2006