[verification needed] Concerning the divorce she stated, "I didn't break up with the man, just with marriage as an institution.

Some of the strategies described in her book are: The Manipulated Man was quite popular at the time of its release, in part due to the considerable press coverage it received.

In 1975 she was invited to a televised debate[6] by WDR with Alice Schwarzer, who became known as the representative of the women's movement at that time.

The debate was controversial, with Schwarzer claiming Vilar was:[7] "Not only sexist, but fascist", comparing her book with the Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer.

Nor had I envisaged the consequences which it would have for subsequent writing and even for my private life – violent threats have not ceased to this date.