Published in the early 1970s, 'Little Tales of Misogyny' is a collection of (very) short stories, each exploring a particular female stereotype prevalent at the time. We meet manipulative coquettes, perpetual mothers, unfaithful wives, disposable sex objects and innocent-looking psychopaths. They can be passive, compliant or silent, principled, vocal or bossy. With calm cruelty and dark humour, Highsmith takes the tracks onto which females can be tied, then follows them to apparently inevitable endings.
This book is a very interesting exploration of the female identities that women might choose, or feel expected, to fulfil. It's the sort of book that would have fascinated me as a teenager, negotiating what sort of woman I wanted to be in a world of conflicting instincts, expectations and media messages.
'Little Tales of Misogyny' is essentially a collection of adult fairy tales, controversial because of the way they reduce their subjects to black-and-white stereotypes fixated on an acceptable female role and invoke murder and rape in cold, matter-of-fact ways, as though they are the inevitable results of being a certain type of girl/woman. There are times when I was wondering whether the author actually hated women and this was her way of ridiculing and punishing them and their follies. In the end, however, I finished the book feeling that it was more a frustrated cry to draw attention to the ridiculous way women can behave and be treated by men, each other and themselves.
As with traditional fairy tales, I'd like to think that they represent something historic and long gone, that many of these stereotypes no longer exist in the 21st century, made irrelevant by increased opportunities and better education for women. But it is often easier to slip into the role that's expected of you rather than push for something else and not every girl is fortunate to grow up in an affluent country which recognises the importance of equality and fulfillment for all its citizens.
Overall, I think 'Little Tales of Misogyny' is an interesting read for anyone interested in feminism and women's roles and aspirations. While it isn't the usual taut suspense thriller that Highsmith is famous for, it does feature her sharp character portraits and dark edge. An interesting and thought provoking read indeed.
