On This Day - Oct. 28, 1971

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Germaine Greer rocks! She is so more rational, more intelligent and more composed than the sexist interviewing her. Far more attractive, too . . .

Submitted by: Dave Webb

GG handled herself with remarkable control and restraint even as it was becoming evident that LZ was not just playing a sexist devil's advocate but was genuinely condescending in his facile effort to undermine GG's credibility. It was a truly pathetic effort, on LZ's part, to use red herring class arguments to try to belligerently shut up GG. (And, weirdly enough, it reminds me of the condescending criticism Naomi Klein faced for her book No-Logo when, instead of arguing the merits or weaknesses of her book's argument, critic after critic tried to to shame her for being a hypocrite for having had the book published with an interesting cover.) On the one hand I was a little saddened to see that Canadian journalism has had its own arrogant, ignorant, condescending Bill O'Reilly's in their so-called 'hallowed' halls. On the other hand, this interview was a nice touch stone, for me, that re-affirmed just how big a gulf existed between male and female equality forty years ago, and how far it has come.

Submitted by: Guy Duperreault

Germaine Greer vs. Larry Zolf

Broadcast Date: Oct. 28, 1971

Sparks are flying between feminist Germaine Greer and CBC TV host Larry Zolf. Greer, author of the blockbuster 1970 feminist manifesto The Female Eunuch, is supposed to debate anti-abortion politician Joe Borowski. But the discussion is lacklustre until Zolf jumps in, sneering at Greer's middle-class background and accusing her of ignoring ethnic and class differences among women. "I think that solidarity of women is possible beyond those bounds," Greer responds in this clip.

Greer is backed up by a member of the studio audience, who shouts at Zolf about his "(bleep)ed-up views." Later, Zolf attacks Greer for advising university girls to date truck drivers. "The truck driver is not castrated, you're suggesting, while the advertising executive is," says Zolf. "You liar!" responds Greer. "I never suggested any such thing. I cannot have you sitting here distorting my book for the people who are foolish enough to think that you know about things."

Germaine Greer vs. Larry Zolf

• Born in 1939 near Melbourne, Australia, Germaine Greer completed a PhD in literature and went on to teach at the University of Warwick in England.
• In 1970 Greer published The Female Eunuch. Trade magazine Publishers Weekly said: "In her book she talks candidly, often relying on four-letter sexual terms, about the differences between the sexes, woman's role and the relationship of men and women to each other."

• The book's title referred to Greer's theory that modern women had become "eunuchs," or, according to Publishers Weekly, "castrated creatures who have been deprived during their education in "femininity" of their true individuality and sexuality… If they are unhappy in their marriages they think it is their own fault, that they have done something wrong."
• "I wrote the book for these women," said Greer. "They read it and it works like a shock of recognition."

• The Female Eunuch was a remarkable success and was translated into at least 12 languages. The New York Times called it "the best feminist book so far." Newsweek said it was "a dazzling combination of erudition, eccentricity and eroticism."
• According to Greer's biographer, the book ignited heated arguments between the sexes. One woman concealed her copy in plain brown paper because her husband didn't want her to read it.

• At the time she appeared on this CBC Television program, Greer was visiting Canada not to promote her book but to speak out for women's liberation. She told the Toronto Star she wasn't doing it as a member of the movement but "as an individual who's drawn enough attention to herself so that the public will listen."

• Greer went on to teach and published several more books on women, sexuality, menopause, literature and art.
• Greer also did a short stint as an actress. She played a hippie in the 1971 movie Universal Soldier.
• In January 2005 Greer appeared as a contestant on the British reality TV series Celebrity Big Brother alongside an assortment of has-beens from the British entertainment industry. She left the show after five days.

• Australian feminist and politician Susan Ryan defended Greer's legacy in a 1999 biography. "Women who were housewives, who were pretty miserable ... felt inspired by her book and their life changed. They didn't become megastars, but they became a librarian or something. I've heard women say again and again when the subject of Germaine comes up: 'Well, her book changed my life for the better.' And they'll be modest women living pretty ordinary lives, but better lives."

• Interviewer Larry Zolf began his CBC career in 1962. He was a host and contributor on the 1964-66 current affairs program This Hour Has Seven Days and many others.

Germaine Greer vs. Larry Zolf

Medium: Television

Program: Midweek

Broadcast Date: Oct. 28, 1971

Guest(s): Joe Borowski, Germaine Greer

Interviewer: Larry Zolf

Duration: 5:29

Last updated:
March 20, 2008

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