Germaine Greer

Germaine Greer is the author of 1970's The Female Eunuch, a pioneering and influential work in the history of feminist literature. A scholar, journalist, social critic, media personality and provocateur, Greer was a lecturer at Australia's University of Warwick when her book became an international bestseller. The book challenged women to rethink their roles as wives and mothers in a male-dominated culture that considered them chattel. Greer adapted to the publicity the book generated and became a frequent contributor to newspapers, journals and television shows, becoming famous for her smarts as well as her unabashed sexuality. Greer's place in the history of feminism is solid, but her role as an agitator has made her a polarizing figure. Greer's other books include Sex and Destiny (1984), The Change (1991) and On Rape (2018). A controversial figure full of surprises, Greer appeared on the reality show Big Brother in 2005, but quit the show early in the season in protest over how contestants were treated.