• The Tragedy of Heterosexuality

  • By: Jane Ward
  • Narrated by: Dara Rosenberg
  • Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (88 ratings)

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The Tragedy of Heterosexuality  By  cover art

The Tragedy of Heterosexuality

By: Jane Ward
Narrated by: Dara Rosenberg
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Publisher's summary

A troubling account of heterosexual desire in the era of #MeToo

Heterosexuality is in crisis. Reports of sexual harassment, misconduct, and rape saturate the news in the era of #MeToo. Straight men and women spend thousands of dollars every day on relationship coaches, seduction boot camps, and couples' therapy in a search for happiness.

In The Tragedy of Heterosexuality, Jane Ward smartly explores what, exactly, is wrong with heterosexuality in the 21st century, and what straight people can do to fix it for good. She shows how straight women, and to a lesser extent straight men, have tried to mend a fraught patriarchal system in which intimacy, sexual fulfillment, and mutual respect are expected to coexist alongside enduring forms of inequality, alienation, and violence in straight relationships.

Ward also takes an intriguing look at the multi-billion-dollar self-help industry, which markets goods and services to help heterosexual couples without addressing the root of their problems. Ultimately, she encourages straight men and women to take a page out of queer culture, reminding them "about the human capacity to desire, fuck, and show respect at the same time."

©2020 New York University (P)2020 Tantor

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What listeners say about The Tragedy of Heterosexuality

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Fantastic

This book is a fantastic read and has an interesting view in heterosexual culture, I was captivated the entire time.

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Life-Changing!

This book is so important. Everyone should read it, but most especially straight identifying women!

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The tragicomedy of heterosexuality

An excellent, incisive and witty perspective that my queer friends and I have discussed at length but haven’t seen portrayed often enough in all our years of enduring a painfully straight culture. Highly recommend!

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Most definitely worth it

Totally worth reading/listening too. Highly recommend. You really get the understanding of heterosexuality and the way that it is forced in our society.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Truest story ever told!

I listened twice! It definitely explained everything I felt went wrong in my marriage. never again.

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life changing

a celebration of queer life. an honest, deep, historical look at heterosexual life. an invitation to live a happy, fulfilling, less straight life.

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Validating

I think this book should be read by everyone no matter their identity. Straight people are not okay!

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Opens up my eyes

As a queer male identifying person, This book helped me or at the very least brought awareness to the heterosexual lenses in wish I saw relationship with a partner and my self.

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interesting premise, weak proof

this is interesting and raises several important questions but it seems to be rather off the cuff and does not take a well researched or balanced view of the issue. I would recommend the feminine mystique instead.

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