Vilar’s central thesis is that women are not oppressed; rather, they have cultivated a position of power by conditioning men to be providers and protectors. She claims that:
: Using over-dramatized emotional reactions, such as crying or feigned distress, to force compliance from men. The Manipulated Man
: Much like Pavlov’s dogs, men are conditioned from a young age to seek female approval, which women dispense only when their own needs are met. Vilar’s central thesis is that women are not
The book’s "cold-blooded" analysis triggered intense backlash, including death threats against Vilar. such as crying or feigned distress