Naomi Wolf

Naomi Wolf is an American author, journalist, and political activist best known for her 1990 book *The Beauty Myth*, which became influential in third-wave feminism.

Naomi Wolf is an American author and activist best known for her 1990 book *The Beauty Myth*, a key text in third-wave feminism. Her later career has been marked by controversy over factual inaccuracies and promotion of conspiracy theories.

What it is

Wolf’s *The Beauty Myth* argued that cultural beauty standards and media images are used to control women, limiting their power and freedom. The book became a bestseller and a milestone in third-wave feminism, influencing discussions on body image and gender politics.

Why it matters

Wolf’s work has drawn significant criticism, especially for factual errors in her later books. A 2019 U.S. publication of *Outrages* was cancelled after mistakes in historical sourcing were identified. She has also promoted anti-vaccine views and conspiracy theories, which have damaged her credibility as a public intellectual.

Key details

Born in 1962 in San Francisco, Wolf studied English literature at Yale University and later attended New College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Beyond *The Beauty Myth*, she wrote *The End of America* and *Vagina: A New Biography*, and has worked as a journalist and political commentator.