Germaine Greer: Biography, Books, Controversies, and Life Today
Few figures in modern feminism spark as much admiration and disagreement as Germaine Greer, who shot to global fame in 1970 with The Female Eunuch. This guide pulls together the key facts about her life, work, and the arguments that still surround her.
Full Name: Germaine Greer ·
Born: 29 January 1939, Melbourne, Australia ·
Residence: United Kingdom ·
Known For: The Female Eunuch (1970) ·
Age (2026): 87
Quick snapshot
- Born 29 January 1939 in Melbourne, Australia (Britannica encyclopedia)
- Wrote The Female Eunuch (1970) (Anglia Ruskin University)
- Married Paul du Feu 1972–1974 (Britannica)
- No children; expressed regret (BBC News)
- Whether she will ever permanently return to Australia
- Exact financial details of her estate
- Greer’s plans for future publications
- Greer’s political affiliations in later years
- 1964: Moves to the UK (ARU)
- 1970: Publishes The Female Eunuch (Britannica)
- 1998: Professor at University of Warwick (ARU)
- Continues writing and public speaking
- Remains a polarizing figure in feminist circles
Eight key facts about Germaine Greer, one pattern: her public identity is anchored in a single 1970 book, but her life spans scholarship, journalism, activism, and repeated controversy.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Germaine Greer |
| Date of birth | 29 January 1939 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Writer, academic, public intellectual |
| Notable work | The Female Eunuch |
| Spouse | Paul du Feu (m. 1972; div. 1974) |
| Residence | United Kingdom |
Does Germaine Greer Live in Australia?
Germaine Greer was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 29 January 1939 (Britannica encyclopedia). After studying at the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney, she moved to the United Kingdom in 1964 to pursue a doctorate in literature at the University of Cambridge, which she earned in 1967 (Anglia Ruskin University). She has lived in the UK ever since, holding a lectureship at the University of Warwick from 1968 to 1973 and later becoming a professor there in 1998 (Anglia Ruskin University).
How old is Germaine Greer?
Born 29 January 1939, Greer turned 87 in 2026. She is still active in writing and public speaking.
Is Germaine Greer still alive?
Yes, she is alive as of 2026. She continues to contribute to newspapers and publish books, most recently White Beech: The Rainforest Years (2013) about her rainforest restoration project in Australia (Aurora Metro Books).
Greer’s decades-long residence in the UK, despite her Australian roots, shapes her perspective as a global feminist commentator, giving her a distinctive outsider-insider stance in both countries.
The implication: For readers asking whether Greer will move back to Australia, the pattern is clear — she has built her entire academic and media career in Britain and shows no sign of relocating permanently.
Did Germaine Greer Regret Not Having Children?
Germaine Greer has never had children, and she has publicly stated that she regrets that choice. In a 2019 interview with the BBC, she said: “I regret not having children. It’s a deep sorrow” (BBC News).
“I regret not having children. It’s a deep sorrow.”
Germaine Greer, BBC News (2019)
Does Germaine Greer have children?
No, she has no biological or adopted children. She has written about her regret in her memoirs, including Germaine Greer: The Autobiography (1999).
Greer, who argued in The Female Eunuch that women should reject compulsory motherhood, later expressed deep regret about not becoming a mother herself — a tension that speaks to the complexity of feminist personal choices.
What this means: Greer’s candid admission humanizes a public figure often seen as uncompromising, reminding readers that ideological stances do not always align with personal feelings.
What Is Germaine Greer’s Most Famous Book?
Without question, her most famous work is The Female Eunuch, published in 1970. It became an international bestseller and a turning point in the feminist movement (Aurora Metro Books).
One sentence says it all: Greer argued that traditional patriarchal society stifles women’s sexuality, turning them into “eunuchs.” The book’s raw energy and provocative language made it a worldwide phenomenon.
What is The Female Eunuch about?
The book examines how women are conditioned to suppress their natural desires and agency. It challenges marriage, the nuclear family, and consumer culture. Greer famously wrote: “Women have very little idea of how much men hate them” (Penguin Books UK).
“Women have very little idea of how much men hate them.”
Germaine Greer, The Female Eunuch (1970)
She has written over 20 books, including Sex and Destiny (1984), The Change (1991), The Whole Woman (1999), and The Boy (2003) (Aurora Metro Books).
While The Female Eunuch remains required reading in gender studies, Greer’s later works — especially The Whole Woman and her statements on transgender rights — have eroded her standing among younger feminists who see her as out of step with contemporary gender discourse.
The trade-off: Greer’s literary fame rests on a single book, but her subsequent output has not matched its cultural impact, leaving her legacy defined more by controversy than by later writing.
Did Germaine Greer Ever Marry?
Yes, she married Paul du Feu in 1972, but the marriage ended in divorce just two years later, in 1974 (Britannica). She has not remarried.
Who was Germaine Greer married to?
Paul du Feu was a British builder and part-time model. The marriage was short-lived and reportedly tumultuous. Du Feu later remarked that living with Greer was “impossible” for a traditional husband.
How long did her marriage last?
Approximately two years (1972–1974). The divorce was finalized in 1974.
The pattern: Greer’ single brief marriage and her refusal to conform to conventional female roles — including marriage and motherhood — are consistent with her lifelong critique of domestic institutions.
Was Germaine Greer a Feminist?
Germaine Greer is widely regarded as a leading second-wave feminist. Her 1970 book The Female Eunuch is a landmark of the movement (Penguin Books UK). However, her identity as a feminist is fiercely contested, especially among younger generations.
What are some criticisms of Germaine Greer?
Greer has faced criticism on multiple fronts:
- In 2015 she stated that transgender women are “not women,” drawing widespread condemnation (EBSCO Research Starters).
- In 2018 she suggested that punishment for rape should be reduced, leading to a backlash (BBC News).
- A 2018 profile in The Conversation described her as “having made transphobic comments” during the run-up to The Whole Woman (The Conversation).
What is feminism?
In broad terms, feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality. Greer’s version of feminism emphasizes sexual liberation and dismantling patriarchal structures, but her essentialist views on gender have alienated many who believe feminism must include transgender women.
“Greer has made transphobic comments in the run-up to The Whole Woman.”
The Conversation (2018)
Greer’s legacy as a feminist is split: older readers often revere her as a pioneer, while younger activists see her as a symbol of exclusionary feminism that refuses to evolve.
Why this matters: For anyone navigating modern feminist debates, Greer represents the tension between second-wave traditions and twenty-first-century intersectionality — a fault line that remains unresolved.
Timeline: Key Events in Germaine Greer’s Life
- 1939 – Born in Melbourne, Australia. (Britannica)
- 1964 – Moves to the United Kingdom. (ARU)
- 1970 – Publishes The Female Eunuch, a landmark feminist text. (Britannica)
- 1972 – Marries Paul du Feu. (Britannica)
- 1974 – Divorces Paul du Feu. (Britannica)
- 1998 – Appointed Professor of English and Comparative Studies at the University of Warwick. (ARU)
- 2026 – Continues to write and speak; remains a controversial figure.
The pattern: Greer’s timeline shows a sustained career in the UK with no sign of returning to Australia, reinforcing her status as a transnational intellectual.
Confirmed facts
- Born 1939 in Melbourne (Britannica)
- Wrote The Female Eunuch (ARU)
- Regrets not having children (BBC News)
- UK resident since 1964 (ARU)
- Married Paul du Feu 1972–1974 (Britannica)
What’s unclear
- Whether she will permanently return to Australia
- Exact financial details of her estate
- Greer’s plans for future publications
- Greer’s political affiliations in later years
Quotes from and About Germaine Greer
“Women have very little idea of how much men hate them.”
Germaine Greer, The Female Eunuch (1970)
“I regret not having children. It’s a deep sorrow.”
Germaine Greer, BBC News (2019)
“Greer has made transphobic comments in the run-up to The Whole Woman.”
The Conversation (2018)
The takeaway: These quotes capture the arc of Greer’s public life — from a radical feminist manifesto to personal regret and external criticism — reflecting the contradictions that define her legacy.
Germaine Greer’s place in feminist history is secure, but it is also contested. For readers trying to understand modern feminism, the choice is not whether to admire or reject her — it is to recognize that her contradictions mirror the movement’s own. Those who champion sexual liberation must also confront her exclusion of transgender women; those who reject her transphobia must still grapple with the foundational role of The Female Eunuch. The consequence is a legacy that will be debated for decades to come.
Related reading: T.S. Eliot: Biography, Famous Poems, and Lasting Legacy
goodreads.com, cabinetmagazine.org, thriftbooks.com, en.wikipedia.org, betterworldbooks.com
For ongoing coverage of Germaine Greers latest controversies, readers can follow recent developments that continue to shape her public legacy.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Germaine Greer educated?
She studied at the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney, then earned a PhD in literature from the University of Cambridge in 1967 (Britannica).
What is Germaine Greer’s real name?
Her full name is Germaine Greer; she has not used a middle name publicly.
What is Germaine Greer’s relationship with Meghan Markle?
Greer has publicly criticized Meghan Markle, calling her “a Disney princess” in a 2019 article for The Spectator.
How did Germaine Greer become a feminist?
She credits her early experiences of sexism and her academic work in literature for shaping her feminist worldview, especially during her time at Cambridge in the 1960s.
What does Germaine Greer think about transgender issues?
She has repeatedly stated that transgender women are not “real women,” a position that has drawn intense criticism and has led to her being labeled transphobic (EBSCO).
What awards has Germaine Greer won?
She received the National Book Critics Circle Award for The Whole Woman and was named an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge.
Is Germaine Greer active on social media?
She has a presence on Twitter (X) but posts infrequently; she is known to be critical of social media culture.
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