Sheila Jeffreys born 13 May [1] is a former professor of political science at the University of Melbourne , born in England. A lesbian feminist scholar, she analyses the history and politics of human sexuality.
Jeffreys' argument that the " sexual revolution " on men's terms contributed less to women's freedom than to their continued oppression has both commanded respect and attracted intense criticism. She is the author of several books about feminism and feminist history , including The Spinster and Her Enemies , [6] The Sexuality Debates , [7] Anticlimax , [8] Unpacking Queer Politics , [9] Beauty and Misogyny , [10] and Gender Hurts Jeffreys was born to a working-class army family from London's East End.
After attending an all-girls grammar school , she studied at Manchester University , then taught at a girls' boarding school. In , Julie Bindel writes, Jeffreys decided "to abandon both heterosexuality and her feminine appearance". In I gave up beauty practices as part of [the feminist] movement, supported by the strength of the thousands of heterosexual and lesbian women around me who were also rejecting them.
I stopped dyeing my hair 'mid-golden sable' and cut it short. I stopped wearing make-up. I stopped wearing high heels and, eventually, gave up skirts.
I stopped shaving my armpits and legs. I did not go back to these practices even during the darkest years of the s and early s, when the strength of the Women's Liberation Movement was no longer there to support the rejection of these cultural requirements.
