Item #5710 On Becoming a Woman (FIRST PRINTING). Harold SHRYOCK.

On Becoming a Woman (FIRST PRINTING)

Washington DC: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1951. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. 5 3/8 X 7 7/8 Inches. 186 PP. Very Good / Good. Item #5710

Early 1950's guide for girls credited with spreading "gay panic" throughout American society. The author successfully renders the female as a full second-class citizen! Rather archaic teaching that female homosexuality is a perversion and "circumcision" or removal of the clitoris is an acceptable measure to stem the desire to stimulate it and/or satisfy it's cravings... I love this from chapter 6: "My wife and I were once guests in a girls dormitory. The dean in charge of this dormitory told us it had been rumored among her girls that two of their group had developed this homosexual type of attraction for each other. As a result of the rumor, practically all the girls were panic stricken." Another great quote from Chapter 6: "Homosexual tendencies usually occur in persons who are otherwise poorly adjusted in life."

While much of the material in the book can be looked upon as simply an attempt to guide young women to a life the author himself thought would be suitable, there is little doubt that this book is offensive to much of society at this point. We offer it here as we simply adore material such as this as it reminds us of how far we truly have come as a society.

Original red cloth boards with gilt decoration to front cover. Large section where price was on front flap has been trimmed away. DJ a bit worn with wear to edges and folds. A few spots of paper loss and chipping. Overall, a very nice copy of an increasingly difficult book to find in the first editon format.

Price: $150.00

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