Charles Bukowski and women?

Question

Why do you think that Bukowski wrote about women in sometimes negative or only in sexual ways?

I never know how to explain him to other people. How would you?

Im a woman that loves reading Bukowski mostly because he says things how they are. I've read Pulp, Women, South of No North, Ham on Rye, and Hot Water Music and plan on continuing.

Answer 1

I don't explain it. As a reader I am not obligated to explain either my tastes or the motivations of the author. I enjoy both his writing and his insights. I don't particularly care for some of his attitudes toward women, but so what? He has a right to them and they form a part of the mind that creates the other things I value. His sexism in no way diminishes his talents, nor is it really his defining characteristic. In addition to which, some relationships really are like that and there is nothing wrong with describing it. I don't think Bukowski was really trying to explicate the universals. He is one of the most autobiographical writers out there, as were many of the Beats. He speaks his experience more than he tries to delineate ours.

No, I don't think he did it deliberately to make his writing more interesting. I don't think he was that contrived as a writer. I think he held those attitudes. I think he came by them naturally, they were, after all, pretty much the norm at the time. I also don't see how they would in any way prevent him from having a deep and heartfelt relationship with one individual woman. To hear his wife tell it they, in fact, did not.

Were I you I would simply tell people that there is far more to Bukowski than sexism, and continue to read what you like, as you like.

Answer 2

Well, call me ignorant, but I've never read anything by him, so I really have no idea. Maybe he was just raised as a sexist and is a flat-out chauvinist pig. That shouldn't mean that he's a bad writer, probably. And if you like him want to put up with his views then go ahead and read him.

Answer 3

He is great. Keep reading. He probably had a hang up or two about women. Most people have their flaws.