Why people recommend it
Ivan Illich's Gender offers a radical historical critique of modern sex roles, arguing that the rise of industrial society destroyed a premodern golden age of vernacular gender complementary. On an episode of Modern Wisdom, Mary Harrington strongly recommended the book to male listeners interested in exploring the deep history of relations between the sexes. Harrington expanded on these themes during an appearance on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, explaining that she drew from the 1980 text to understand the historical transition away from traditional structures. She noted that Illich's analysis frames this shift not as a moment of genuine empowerment, but rather as a significant historical loss of agency for women. Through these podcast discussions, Illich's work is presented as a vital, countercultural lens for evaluating modern feminism, maternity, and the evolving social roles of women across different historical epochs.
Who recommended it
- Mary Harrington Recommended
Mary Harrington — 2 mentions
“I've drawn from Ivan nich's 1980 book gender in the book to to to to understand the the transition which illich reads and I agree with him as as really a not not a not a moment of empowerment but as as a significant loss of agency”
“ivanich writes beautifully about this in gender which I strongly recommend men as a book if you're interested in in the the Deep history of of the relations between the Sexes”