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How the Biggest Book Club on Goodreads Is Making a Real-World Impact
When Emma Watson starts a book club, readers pay attention. On January 6, the British actress and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador announced her intention to start a feminist book club. It took less than 24 hours for Watson to turn her intention into reality. By January 7, Our Shared Shelf was up and running—and less than a month later, it became the largest group on Goodreads with 100,000 members (and counting).
But Our Shared Shelf is more than just a place to find reading recommendations.
Watson's sitting down with leading feminists (and you're invited).
Tickets went fast for the first interview, but more events are on their way. To prepare for her discussion with Steinem on February 24, Watson asked her book club members for questions. She'll be sharing the video of the entire event on Our Shared Shelf.
Have a question about feminism? Ask, answer, and discuss!
Our Shared Shelf has become a thriving community of curious, passionate readers who want to know more, understand more, and share more about the social issues that affect all of us. From comparing what feminism means around the world (China, India, Brazil, and more!) to telling stories of personal struggle, this is a place to embrace the challenges and rewards of feminism.
It's got ties to the UN's HeForShe solidarity campaign.
Watson hasn't wasted any time since her UN Women Goodwill Ambassador appointment in 2014. Besides starting her feminist book club here on Goodreads, she also helped launch the UN Women's HeForShe campaign with a powerful speech at the UN Headquarters in New York City. HeForShe seeks to engage men and boys as agents of change for the achievement of gender equality. So far, over 1.3 million men and boys have taken the HeForShe pledge. Some of those same men and boys are now on Our Shared Shelf, citing Watson's UN speech as their eye-opening introduction to feminism.
Members are meeting up and organizing all over the world.
Some things are too good to keep online. Book club members are organizing in-person discussion groups from Los Angeles to Sydney. Others are teaming up for email campaigns to promote girls' education in Yemen and Pakistan. And if you're in a corner of the world without an Our Shared Shelf presence (yet)? Meet up with your fellow book club members on Skype!
Are you already a member of Our Shared Shelf? Tell us about your experience in the comments! (And if you haven't joined, check out what you're missing here.)
Comments Showing 151-176 of 176 (176 new)
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Elly wrote: "You obviously never lived in a socialist country"It depends on your definition of socialism. Americans think we do, we don't really. But I have seen the results of the state socialism, fortunately for us it's sometimes worth to fight a few wars in order to save ourselves from that experience...
That remark was about/for the other poster who blames feminists and/or socialists or "neo-marxists" for everything and especially the problems of men but I guess he has a problem with capitalism, too. I found it ironic.
Tytti wrote: "Yeah, like you address them here by blaming all feminists and probably most women... "Tytti wrote:."
Yeah, like you address them here by blaming all manists (yes feminists sounds just as dumb) and probably most men in general for women's problems that are mainly caused by other women? Here's a suggestion: do something about them, don't just expect men who have their hands full already to talk about things they know nothing about and who have no control over them.
yes , same as yours , horrible
Do you even understand why men are more likely to kill themselves and don't go to the doctor , you talk about equality yet you have no understanding of men or care about their problems and yet you expect them to care about yours, yes women have problems , but guess what so do men
men don't seek help because men don't get help when they try , they are humiliated, its one of the first lessons you get , needing help makes you weak and subhuman
I don't like feminism because a lot of its members seam to have your mentality "us against them " the moment someone takes that stand its clear the other side will refuse to have anything to do with you
And much respect to Jessica
Cristian wrote: "mainly caused by other women?"Yes, because women are known to harass and rape other women. The reason why there is fewer women in higher positions is because those almost nonexistant women don't hire other women? It's not like most of the people who are in the position to make decisions and laws are men? They possibly can't have any control over the issues that concern women, right? How much of the world's wealth is owned by men? You realise how stupid you sound?
Yes, I don't understand why men don't go to the doctor when people around them, usually women, ask and beg them to go? How do you suppose other women could make them go? And who humiliates those men? Could it possibly be the other men? What do you expect women to do about it, people who are also humiliated by the same men?
The reason for men's problems is that men are taught to think that being weak (or "feminine") is somehow subhuman, just like you said. Could that possibly be sexist thinking, you know the same thing feminism fights against? You think women don't know that some men think like that? That's exactly the reason why feminists are needed!
Men don't need women's help to make changes, they already are in the position to make them. Women can't do that because many of the things that affect them are not in the hands of (only) women and many of the women's problems are directly caused by men, like sexual violence for the most part. Even sexual violence towards men is mainly caused by other men, not women.
" Tytti -Yes, because women are known to harass and rape other women"Yes because men in general are responsible for the actions of the very few"
You want to know who is more likely to kill their own child ? the mother .
The fact that some deranged mothers do this doesn't change my views on women why would rapists change your views on men
"Tytti -It's not like most of the people who are in the position to make decisions and laws are men? They possibly can't have any control over the issues that concern women, right? How much of the world's wealth is owned by men? You realise how stupid you sound?"
Do you really think the rich and powerful fight for the rights of men ?` does the fact that most rich people are men bring any comfort to a poor man ? Or are you under some delusion that women are immune to the corrupting influence of power ?
"Tytti -And who humiliates those men? Could it possibly be the other men?"
Women can and will be just as cruel just less confrontationally
"Tytti- The reason for men's problems is that men are taught to think that being weak (or "feminine") is somehow subhuman, just like you said. Could that possibly be sexist thinking thinking, you know the same thing feminism fights against? You think women don't know that some men think like that? That's exactly the reason why feminists are needed!"
This line of thought is promoted by both men and women, you see this behavior even in very small children
My point is there are a lot of social problems plaguing mankind and they affect both genders to a greater or lesser extent ,effort should be made on issue no the gender , race , religious views of the "victim"
-So you think women don't have to worry about getting raped? I guess violence between men is not a problem then, either. Ever heard of the postpartum depression? Do you know what giving birth can do to a woman, or taking care of a baby alone? These are issues that don't affect men but they affect many women but have usually been ignored.-Well if the men don't fight for the rights of the other men, what do you expect women to do? And there are very few powerful women in the world. Women have had to fight for their rights, so have all the other groups.
-Yes, women can be cruel, but they rarely have the power to do decisions over men. We still live in a patriarchy where everything masculine is considered a good thing and everything feminine a bad thing. Guess who suffers from this more, men or women? I still don't understand how it prevents men from studying or going to the doctor.
-Maybe it's promoted among the people and the culture where you live, I don't recognise it. My quite masculine father took care of me alone for a couple of months after my mother returned to work and I was only one year old and he was proud of it.
-There are many social problems in the world but many of them affect more women than men. Your remark about "this doesn't change my views on women why would rapists change your views on men" demonstrates that you just don't understand it. Or are you afraid every day that your mother will kill you?
Tytti - Is it your purpose to alienate every single man you come across? Do you think everything you've said is some new third wave feminist objective. I am pushing 50. I have heard the same old agenda for over 35 years. Do you all read the same book, same classes? I really don't know. Are you linked by wi-fi to some kind of collective hive mind. I'm sorry but that's how it appears. When it comes to any feminist issue its like you're all reading from the same script. There doesn't seem to be any individual thought. It's like listening to a broken record. Its boring, outdated and in today's society is no longer relevant. Lets be honest about it. If you're a white western women you are already the most privileged species that ever existed in human history. If you can't see that you must be delusional. Why do you think so many women are dissociating themselves from the word feminism? And I don't mean the odd few, they are leaving in their thousands. Do you even care or are they a new enemy to attack with your hard-wired views.I'm not happy you accuse me off misogyny. I love women very much. I dislike people like you. Thankfully you are a minority. I tried to post links to youtube to demonstrate different views, off which 3 out 5 were narrated by women. Your response to anything that didn't conform to your programming was no less than an entitled, infantile hissy fit. Sadly trying to debate anything with you is futile, as other posters have also experienced.
Feminists want empowerment? Well sorry but from my perspective the only empowered women I see are the non feminists, those who can strive forward and set their own agenda in life, whether they decide to settle down as housewife's, work towards the top CEO jobs or anything they decide to aim for, all based around their own freewill and individualism, rather than the collective whining year after year and sense of entitlement until someone just gives in and undeservedly hands it to you. Read Jessica's post in this thread to understand real empowered women.
Third wave feminism is just toxic to society and I believe has gone beyond cleaning. Feminism is a minority movement. Why is that? Quite simply because the majority don't believe in it.
God this comment section is a mess. In stead of coming together and talking openly about the problems both genders are facing in today's sociaty, trying o understand where the other one is coming from, people are going at each other's throats with their "I'm right. You don't understand..." We raise our boys to be tough, don't show emotions, don't cry and girls to be nice and behave, then get on line and complain. All I see is a lot of complaining and little to non suggestions how to solve it.
Tytti wrote: "Elly wrote: "You obviously never lived in a socialist country"It depends on your definition of socialism. Americans think we do, we don't really. But I have seen the results of the state socialis..."
Don't get me wrong, I don't advocate socialism, but some of its traits like universal healthcare as a principle of a solidarity I'm fond of. People should stop being terrified when the Government is using "big" words.
La-Lionne wrote: "God this comment section is a mess. In stead of coming together and talking openly about the problems both genders are facing in today's siciaty, trying o understand where the other one is coming f..."It's hard to change a society when individuals just wave their hands in a manner: "it's not my problem". They won't listen.
Steve wrote: "Tytti - Is it your purpose to alienate every single man you come across? Do you think everything you've said is some new third wave feminist objective. I am pushing 50. I have heard the same old ag..."I just wanted to thank you for that beautiful text. You're everything that's right with this world. Men's rights are a joke in my country (because men can't be abused and such things), and I hope that will change soon, not just here, but in the whole world. If anyone ever asked me, I'd say I'm not a feminist, but I believe in equality (where we can be equal, biology is a different thing) between genders. Equality for all, not just for a small group of people.
La-Lionne explain to me how we can come to any understanding with someone who thinks men are rapists and have way less problems than women ?Every time one of these people has a problem they think its because of sexism , oh i have to prove myself at work , sexist pigs , how dare they expect the same of me as of everyone else. I'm a special snowflake and should be given what everyone else fights for.
feminists claim radical feminists are the vocal minority , yet the radical ones are the most popular and very few feminists actually talk against them.
Cristian wrote: "La-Lionne explain to me how we can come to any understanding with someone who thinks men are rapists and have way less problems than women ?Every time one of these people has a problem they think ..."
For starters, not to generalize. Men are like this and women are like this. Not all men are evil and not all women are bitches. We talk about each other like we're from different species. We should learn to listen before we speak. We beat our kids into behaving, then expect them to be decent sociaty members and not do it to others when they grow up. We raise boys one way and girls another way, then expect them to treat each other's as equals.
Both genders of our generation, and generations before that, have been exposed to injustice in different ways. Let's educate ourselves about it so we can teach younger generation to do and behave better.
Adria wrote: "Really interesting discussion! I stumbled across this when all I wanted to do was rate my latest book.But seriously, a book club that is making a real world impact? Give me a break. Just like "#b..."
Adria, I had never heard of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, but het life story and mission souns incredible and definitely something I'm interested in. Thank you!
Steve wrote: "Tytti - Is it your purpose to alienate every single man you come across? Do you think everything you've said is some new third wave feminist objective. I am pushing 50. I have heard the same old ag..."I don't really know, nor do I really care. Most of the men I know actually agree with me. They don't go around crying about "men's rights" because they already know that it's the men are the ones who are priviledged when it comes to matters of gender and blaming women for the problems mostly other men might cause to other men won't get you anywhere.
I still haven't seen one problem that men face which women would be in a better position to solve than the men themselves. Who decides about the financing for social work? Where are all the male social workers, teachers, nurses, day care workers? Why most of the violence happens between men?
Cristian wrote: "La-Lionne explain to me how we can come to any understanding with someone who thinks men are rapists and have way less problems than women ?"Most of the rapists ARE men, and most of the victims ARE women. Even most of the male victims are victims of MALE rapists. For a woman there is no way of knowing which of the men they see every day is a potential rapist. That is something that affects ALL women, they have to think about their personal safety a lot more than men, every day of their lives. Do you know what it's like to be afraid? I do, I once had a strange man stalking me for hours, just because I was looking around the sights in a foreign town and happened to lock eyes with him for a second. I am not a small woman but he of course was bigger than me. I finally had to ask the security to look after me for a short way that I had to walk to the metro alone.
Men have problems, yes, but women (can) have exactly the same problems and some more because of their gender. Problems that they can't themselves do much about because it is the society built by sexist men that cause them. Men who think ALL women are somehow inferior because of their gender or that ALL women are emotional and weak. (They are also often the same people who think that men shouldn't be weak.)
MeerderWörter wrote: "Folks:I'll quote Emma to make sure we're talking about the same issues:
Feminism by definition is the belief of the social, economic and political equality of the sexes.
it is about opportuniti..."
Thank you for elaborating on the subject so eloquently!
Francesca wrote: "AlegnaB wrote: "A poll that just came out: Less than a third of women are feminists"Those results make me sad. Not because people won't call themselves feminists but because of their reasons for ..."
It is sometimes hard to get past the "cliches" and so people erroneously choose not to enlighten the real purpose behind this idea. Also, just because a movement, per say, does not cover every single shade of the spectrum does not mean it does not suffice in reaching it's goals.
Imowen wrote: "Feminism is not about equality period it's really about reducing the population. Gloria and her lap dog alice walker are nothing but tools to trick women that men are mistreating them. History less..."Germany or Sweden, India and Central America., Africa and the Middel East...Regardless!....the point is to START somewhere. Speaking, representing, networking are all small stepping stones to involvement and movement towards the end result.
Maureen wrote: "My first and last question is what qualifies Emma Watson to BE appointed the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador? And in response to the first line of this article, I am a woman, I am a feminist, and I d..."
If I knew nothing about Emma Watson previously, I would still appreciate her passion for womens rights and desire to research and bring light to the subject.
Well said Dee!
I've been a part of the group for a couple of weeks and read 2 selections so far, every one is so nice the books are great, the conversations enlightening, honestly its a great group in my opinion, and an eye opener. life changing.5 Stars
Jessica wrote: "Anny wrote: "A more apt observation would be:"Are you a feminist?'
"No. I prefer my own achievements and morality to be assigned to me, not commandeered for a movement I do not subscribe to, and likewise for all other women but that's entirely up to them."'"
Perfectly said.
Personally while i support gender equality i dont label myself as a feminist. Mostly because i hate any kind of label to begin with and hate people trying to define or pigeon hole me into a certain type of box. Furthermore, i find its much easier to communicate with people regarding gender equality if you dont have the feminist label attached anyway. Its like if you were trying to discuss the problems with racism but did so while having a tattoo of a swastika on your arm. The swastika itself does not mean white supremacy or hatred but because of how it was used by Hitler and the course of many years it now has that stigma attached to it. There is just too much negativity attached to the word of feminism and truthfully, its not a word that is really needed to stand up for equality anyway through my own personal experience.
Alivia wrote: "But feminism isn't focused on equality, otherwise it would focus on both genders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmzH9..."
I guess you don't understand what the definition of feminism is then and are just going on your worldview bias?:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio...
I think they are a part of what is calle..."
You obviously never lived in a socialist country - if you did, you'd noticed some things that aren't that bad. It ain't perfect, but capitalism ain't perfect either.