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I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times
What is feminism? Why does it still matter? What exactly does intersectionality mean? In order to answer these (and many other) questions, I Am a Feminist first examines the history of feminism and then addresses the issues girls and women continue to face today. The book also looks at the ways in which people, especially young people, are working together to create a world where gender equality is a reality, not a dream. The author shares stories about the courageous individuals who have made a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. From suffragists to the #MeToo movement, I Am a Feminist encourages readers to stand up and speak out for equality and justice.
- GenresNonfictionFeminism
176 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 30, 2019
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I think the title is off-putting to much of the targeted audience, at least in my view. If I were to write a book like this, I'd want boys and men to read this!! It's unfortunate to turn them away with a cover and picture that screams "this is a women's rights book". Conservatives, men/boys would be unlikely to pick up this book to read. And why? Because of the title and picture on the cover. It has a fist with painted nails- a kind of aggressive gesture. So, first thing I would do is change the title and cover. I can imagine what nay-sayers would say, "no, leave it as is, there's no need to kowtow to males and make anything more palatable ", but my response to this is, well, you just may be shooting yourself in the foot. The point of this book, I believe, is to educate and to attract otherwise improbable readers, to open their eyes, to instruct, to broaden perspective, to raise awareness of women's roles and needs and struggles and oppression. It serves no purpose to write and publish a book just to preach to the choir.
Apart from that, this book is an excellent overview of women's issues. It is geared for middle schoolers, but I as a middle aged woman found it informative and helpful. Polak is from Canada, so much of the history is about her country, but she does include statistics from the US, and her general points are valid cross culturally. She defines terms well, such as rape culture "Rape Culture refers to the trivialization of male violence against woman to the blaming of victims". Polak includes some great photos too, such as one of a woman holding a sign which says:
What causes rape?
a) drinking
b) short skirts
c) flirting
c) rapists
Of course the answer is c!! But there are many women who would say all of the above. Sadly, even women will blame themselves for violence committed against them. We need to do something about this if we're going to stop it. We need to change our language about rape, and stop talking about it in the passive voice ie 'I was raped'.. instead, 'he raped me'. Stuff like this is so important.
Polka addresses many other crucial issues, such as unequal pay for women, sexual double standards, body image, media and advertising, and sexual harassment. She begins the book with a short history of women's roles, the suffragette movement and women working outside the home. There were several points I disagreed with, such as abortion rights, but over all, Polak does a good job of giving middle schoolers an informed look at the history of women and the work that still needs to be done for women's rights.
I so wish feminism were not a movement solely associated with extreme liberals. So many people dismiss feminism in this way, because of leaders they disagree with (like Gloria Steinem, but let's remember she stood up to Hugh Hefner and she did a great job!)or causes they can't support, and I do understand this, but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let's listen and learn something. Women still need to fight against harassment and unequal pay and mistreatment and violence. It's not a liberal issue. It's all women.
First of all, I think the title is off-putting to much of the targeted audience, at least in my view. If I were to write a book like this, I'd want boys and men to read this!! It's unfortunate to turn them away with a cover and picture that screams "this is a women's rights book". Conservatives, men/boys would be unlikely to pick up this book to read. And why? Because of the title and picture on the cover. It has a fist with painted nails- a kind of aggressive gesture. So, first thing I would do is change the title and cover. I can imagine what nay-sayers would say, "no, leave it as is, there's no need to kowtow to males and make anything more palatable ", but my response to this is, well, you just may be shooting yourself in the foot. The point of this book, I believe, is to educate and to attract otherwise improbable readers, to open their eyes, to instruct, to broaden perspective, to raise awareness of women's roles and needs and struggles and oppression. It serves no purpose to write and publish a book just to preach to the choir.
Apart from that, this book is an excellent overview of women's issues. It is geared for middle schoolers, but I as a middle aged woman found it informative and helpful. Polak is from Canada, so much of the history is about her country, but she does include statistics from the US, and her general points are valid cross culturally. She defines terms well, such as rape culture "Rape Culture refers to the trivialization of male violence against woman to the blaming of victims". Polak includes some great photos too, such as one of a woman holding a sign which says:
What causes rape?
a) drinking
b) short skirts
c) flirting
c) rapists
Of course the answer is c!! But there are many women who would say all of the above. Sadly, even women will blame themselves for violence committed against them. We need to do something about this if we're going to stop it. We need to change our language about rape, and stop talking about it in the passive voice ie 'I was raped'.. instead, 'he raped me'. Stuff like this is so important.
Polka addresses many other crucial issues, such as unequal pay for women, sexual double standards, body image, media and advertising, and sexual harassment. She begins the book with a short history of women's roles, the suffragette movement and women working outside the home. There were several points I disagreed with, such as abortion rights, but over all, Polak does a good job of giving middle schoolers an informed look at the history of women and the work that still needs to be done for women's rights.
I so wish feminism were not a movement solely associated with extreme liberals. So many people dismiss feminism in this way, because of leaders they disagree with (like Gloria Steinem, but let's remember she stood up to Hugh Hefner and she did a great job!)or causes they can't support, and I do understand this, but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let's listen and learn something. Women still need to fight against harassment and unequal pay and mistreatment and violence. It's not a liberal issue. It's all women.
June 7, 2019
| Reader Fox Blog |
The best thing, I think, about reading I Am a Feminist by Monique Polak, in my opinion, is the fact that it touches on the unfortunate truth behind why many people are not feminists, or rather...why many people believe they are not feminists when they actually are. You see, way back when and once upon a time, about eight years ago when I was just starting college I genuinely did not consider myself a feminist. Why? Well, because of the negative connotations that had begun to be associated with the word. My own ignorance played a large role in this, of course, as I didn’t really understand what feminism actually was.
And I feel as though this is a prevalent problem within our society today.
Far more often than is okay, so many people and, even more, unfortunately, so many young girls have a bad view of feminism because of the way that others portray it. But the fact of the matter is that when the information is lain out in front of you, discussed logically, and explained...only the bigoted, brainwashed, and sexist can really remain un-feminist. Now, I loved this book. I loved how it was researched, I loved the amount of information and history it provided, and I loved the fact that it discussed intersectionality.
Was it the best feminist book I’ve ever read? Nah.
But it was an amazing start that provides a plethora of information to anyone out there who doesn’t understand feminism. It even provides an opportunity for those who do understand feminism to learn a few things they might not already know. And the truth is that we need so many books like this because not enough people are educated on this matter. There’s so much misinformation going around that I cannot even begin with how frustrating I find the lack of feminism in people who, if they were merely aware of accurate information on the matter, would be feminist.
I will admit that the cover and the title will probably turn away quite a large number of people who need to read this book. And the audience who will find it will likely be those who don’t need to read it as much as the ones who don’t pick it up. But it’s out there and it’s a fantastic source of information for anyone who does manage to get their hands on it. I do hope that it will reach the hands of those who truly need education on this matter. The fact is that the more people who have access to this information, the better our world will be.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
The best thing, I think, about reading I Am a Feminist by Monique Polak, in my opinion, is the fact that it touches on the unfortunate truth behind why many people are not feminists, or rather...why many people believe they are not feminists when they actually are. You see, way back when and once upon a time, about eight years ago when I was just starting college I genuinely did not consider myself a feminist. Why? Well, because of the negative connotations that had begun to be associated with the word. My own ignorance played a large role in this, of course, as I didn’t really understand what feminism actually was.
And I feel as though this is a prevalent problem within our society today.
Far more often than is okay, so many people and, even more, unfortunately, so many young girls have a bad view of feminism because of the way that others portray it. But the fact of the matter is that when the information is lain out in front of you, discussed logically, and explained...only the bigoted, brainwashed, and sexist can really remain un-feminist. Now, I loved this book. I loved how it was researched, I loved the amount of information and history it provided, and I loved the fact that it discussed intersectionality.
Was it the best feminist book I’ve ever read? Nah.
But it was an amazing start that provides a plethora of information to anyone out there who doesn’t understand feminism. It even provides an opportunity for those who do understand feminism to learn a few things they might not already know. And the truth is that we need so many books like this because not enough people are educated on this matter. There’s so much misinformation going around that I cannot even begin with how frustrating I find the lack of feminism in people who, if they were merely aware of accurate information on the matter, would be feminist.
I will admit that the cover and the title will probably turn away quite a large number of people who need to read this book. And the audience who will find it will likely be those who don’t need to read it as much as the ones who don’t pick it up. But it’s out there and it’s a fantastic source of information for anyone who does manage to get their hands on it. I do hope that it will reach the hands of those who truly need education on this matter. The fact is that the more people who have access to this information, the better our world will be.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
October 23, 2020
https://audrasbookblabbing.wordpress....
Topics to consider: rape, sex, and abortion.
One out of every four North American women will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. 17 percent of girls under the age of 16 experience incest. 57 percent of Indigenous women are sexually assaulted. Only six out of every 100 sexual assault cases actually gets reported to police. This book is such an eye-opener.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly to any gender who wants to learn more about the world around them! It covers so many topics from body image to domestic violence to race to education to harassment to teaching young men to express emotions! I was so impressed by how well-researched and organized Polak’s book is.
Not only does this book talk about tough subjects, but it also breaks down myths and tells histories of women that made great impacts. I was shocked that I hadn’t heard some of their stories before! The photos are very impressive and contribute greatly to the overall messages. Having extra resources and a glossary of terms in the back also makes this an excellent teaching tool.
If you would like to learn more about sexism, society standards that affect women’s self-image, intersectionality, world-wide movements, and so much more – read this book!! Not only is it interesting to read, but you will also learn some things you never may have heard of before!
~I was sent a free ARC copy of this book for an honest review~
Topics to consider: rape, sex, and abortion.
One out of every four North American women will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. 17 percent of girls under the age of 16 experience incest. 57 percent of Indigenous women are sexually assaulted. Only six out of every 100 sexual assault cases actually gets reported to police. This book is such an eye-opener.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly to any gender who wants to learn more about the world around them! It covers so many topics from body image to domestic violence to race to education to harassment to teaching young men to express emotions! I was so impressed by how well-researched and organized Polak’s book is.
Not only does this book talk about tough subjects, but it also breaks down myths and tells histories of women that made great impacts. I was shocked that I hadn’t heard some of their stories before! The photos are very impressive and contribute greatly to the overall messages. Having extra resources and a glossary of terms in the back also makes this an excellent teaching tool.
If you would like to learn more about sexism, society standards that affect women’s self-image, intersectionality, world-wide movements, and so much more – read this book!! Not only is it interesting to read, but you will also learn some things you never may have heard of before!
~I was sent a free ARC copy of this book for an honest review~
February 24, 2019
This is a great nonfiction book for teens, for both genders. It is such a well-detailed and highly researched book that realistically explores the true meaning of feminism. It does not sugarcoat any of the social issues that young people will face in this century. It makes readers face them head on and truly examine the issues that otherwise may make us uncomfortable. My approach of feminist ideas has completely changed after reading this book and I believe that is the whole point. The author wants us to reexamine our initial ideas and approach them with a new way of thinking. A great book for all ages to read.
April 25, 2019
I Am a Feminist is a light overview of the many ways feminism is still needed. It is geared toward teens and is written in clear, simple language with lots of illustrations and photos.
It has seven sections beginning with a history of feminism and the challenges women and girls face around the world. Further chapters focus on specific issues such as objectification and body image, issues of sex and relationships, feminist issues in the workplace, and intersectionality. It also does not leave feminism just to the women and includes a chapter on how to be feminist men.
There are several insets with profiles of various feminists who have does good work to advance the rights of women and girls. After the final chapter, there is a glossary and a list of resources for staying current on the issues.
I am not the audience for I Am a Feminist but I think it is an excellent resource for young women in junior and senior high to counter the anti-feminist messaging in film, books, and on the internet. Young girls face more challenges than ever before with social media amplifying the power of bullies and misogynists. They need books like this to function like a vaccine to stave off the many negative messages they are shown every day. Just today, an announcement about an upcoming STEAM event at a high school set aside a special section STEAM for Girls inadvertently implying all the rest was for boys. These messages are constant and this book is just the kind of medicine the feminist doctor ordered.
I Am a Feminist will be published May 7th. I received an ARC from the publisher through LibraryThing.
I Am a Feminist at Orca Book Publishers
Monique Polak author site
★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
It has seven sections beginning with a history of feminism and the challenges women and girls face around the world. Further chapters focus on specific issues such as objectification and body image, issues of sex and relationships, feminist issues in the workplace, and intersectionality. It also does not leave feminism just to the women and includes a chapter on how to be feminist men.
There are several insets with profiles of various feminists who have does good work to advance the rights of women and girls. After the final chapter, there is a glossary and a list of resources for staying current on the issues.
I am not the audience for I Am a Feminist but I think it is an excellent resource for young women in junior and senior high to counter the anti-feminist messaging in film, books, and on the internet. Young girls face more challenges than ever before with social media amplifying the power of bullies and misogynists. They need books like this to function like a vaccine to stave off the many negative messages they are shown every day. Just today, an announcement about an upcoming STEAM event at a high school set aside a special section STEAM for Girls inadvertently implying all the rest was for boys. These messages are constant and this book is just the kind of medicine the feminist doctor ordered.
I Am a Feminist will be published May 7th. I received an ARC from the publisher through LibraryThing.
I Am a Feminist at Orca Book Publishers
Monique Polak author site
★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
April 7, 2019
What an excellent introduction to the many sides and aspects of feminism. From intersectionality to sex workers rights, this is an amazing primer for those who want to become better about supporting the people in their lives through activism. Several different organizations were mentioned and promoted within these pages.
5/5
5/5
June 12, 2019
I received an ARC of this from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.
This book, which is a brief and informative history and description of the feminist movement, is an excellent read. Although its intended target is probably female teens, most people, regardless of age or gender, would benefit from reading it.
The book is well laid-out, beginning with the history of the movement in the first section, then moving through various aspects of feminism, before finishing up with a chapter on why males can and should be feminists. The author is Canadian, so I appreciated reading things from more of a Canadian point of view. The author included a few of her own experiences, which added to the overall story.
The book is also well illustrated and contains a good number of mini biographies of people associated with the feminist movement. The book is quite up to date and included accounts of fairly recent events and happenings, such as the #metoo movement. Although it is more of an overview than a detailed book, this book would be a great starting point for anyone not too familiar with feminism. The author included a great selection of resources at the end of the book for anyone wishing to delve deeper.
This is a book I'd recommend to anyone and I definitely benefited from reading it.
This book, which is a brief and informative history and description of the feminist movement, is an excellent read. Although its intended target is probably female teens, most people, regardless of age or gender, would benefit from reading it.
The book is well laid-out, beginning with the history of the movement in the first section, then moving through various aspects of feminism, before finishing up with a chapter on why males can and should be feminists. The author is Canadian, so I appreciated reading things from more of a Canadian point of view. The author included a few of her own experiences, which added to the overall story.
The book is also well illustrated and contains a good number of mini biographies of people associated with the feminist movement. The book is quite up to date and included accounts of fairly recent events and happenings, such as the #metoo movement. Although it is more of an overview than a detailed book, this book would be a great starting point for anyone not too familiar with feminism. The author included a great selection of resources at the end of the book for anyone wishing to delve deeper.
This is a book I'd recommend to anyone and I definitely benefited from reading it.
May 30, 2019
Thank you @orcabook and @netgalley for my ARC of I Am a Feminist.
"Life made me a feminist."
I Am a Feminist is a great introduction to feminism for teenage readers. I absolutely loved reading this book! It is a clear, approachable introduction to a topic that can be a little scary and off-putting to some. As an adult, this book was a great reminder to me about why feminism is important in the year 2019. I enjoyed traveling back through the history of women's rights.
This book does a great job reminding the reader of how much farther we have to go as a society, while still not feeling hopeless. Even though I'm not the author's intended audience, I finished reading I Am a Feminist with an invigorated sense of purpose in our fight for equal rights. Teenage girls and boys will learn a lot from this story of hope and change.
"Life made me a feminist."
I Am a Feminist is a great introduction to feminism for teenage readers. I absolutely loved reading this book! It is a clear, approachable introduction to a topic that can be a little scary and off-putting to some. As an adult, this book was a great reminder to me about why feminism is important in the year 2019. I enjoyed traveling back through the history of women's rights.
This book does a great job reminding the reader of how much farther we have to go as a society, while still not feeling hopeless. Even though I'm not the author's intended audience, I finished reading I Am a Feminist with an invigorated sense of purpose in our fight for equal rights. Teenage girls and boys will learn a lot from this story of hope and change.
September 15, 2024
In Monique Polak's I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times, the author offers many well researched topics related to Feminism, other people's struggles to advocate for change, and at times a personal narrative of her related experiences. The historical aspect of this book is very informative in describing the Four Waves of Feminism, how the issues that are integral to Feminism are important to solve world-wide, how women and girls are objectified, healthy versus unhealthy relationships, equity in the workplace and home, inclusive Feminism that is inclusive of diversity, and how men and boys can be allies against Sexism.
This book is appropriate for a middle-high library collections.
This book is appropriate for a middle-high library collections.
June 6, 2019
**I received an ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
This book has tons of useful information on what feminism is and I think the information itself would be beneficial for individuals who are interested in feminism.
The book itself though, the way it was written, was just terrible. It wasn’t organized in a very good way. And there were way too many examples in some spots. Otherwise, it was a good book.
This book has tons of useful information on what feminism is and I think the information itself would be beneficial for individuals who are interested in feminism.
The book itself though, the way it was written, was just terrible. It wasn’t organized in a very good way. And there were way too many examples in some spots. Otherwise, it was a good book.
August 8, 2019
This is a great book for budding feminists. It covers nearly all of the issues of the Movement in simply and relevant ways. It's clearly a book for young people. It's full of important information and great graphics. If you know a young women who is exploring her world and herself (probably all young women) get her this book. Or if you're one of those people whose knowledge of feminism is main stream news only, get this book fast--you need it.
May 9, 2021
I started reading this book just a few days ago and got more and more interested as I read further. The author has clearly defined the different issues related to feminism by diving topics by chapters. The book is an easy read for an audience that like anecdotes as she gives us plenty. The book is good for a visual reader as there are interesting pictures throughout the book. Recommend to anyone interested in exploring feminism - both men and women!
March 25, 2019
A thorough but accessable look at feminism throughout recent history in North America.
Polak doesn't shy away from covering often overlooked, disregarded or hidden angles from which women have been discriminated against or abused.
This should be taught to all young adults!
Polak doesn't shy away from covering often overlooked, disregarded or hidden angles from which women have been discriminated against or abused.
This should be taught to all young adults!
May 27, 2019
This was an interesting read about what it is like to be a feminist in our current political climate. So many women and teen girls claim to be feminists because they think it is trendy. This book encompasses what it really means to be a feminist. It was a really interesting read.
December 2, 2019
If this book's goal is to give teen readers an overview of feminism (it's history and multiple facets) and attempt to debunk the myth that feminism = man-hating, then I suppose it achieves that. Lots of stats and good general info, but didn't blow me away.
December 14, 2020
This is a good introduction to contemporary feminism. It offers a look at the historical background that most mainstream feminism has emerged from, and also covers the current trends and concerns. It is written in a very open and engaging way which should appeal to a variety of readers.
June 28, 2019
This is a great introduction to and refresher on feminism, told in a clear manner with great images. I would love to use sections of the book when teaching.
July 5, 2019
I loved this book. It had a lot of good information. A must read for anyone who wants to learn more about feminism.
September 28, 2020
Meh, I didn’t feel like I learned anything new. I think this would be a good book for middle school/high school. I don’t know who the target market is. (Found at a Little Free Library)
October 1, 2023
This book is clear and easy to follow and very accurate in its information. And it’s message that Feminism is about equality in all walks and not about hating and bashing is a great one.
June 8, 2025
Very accessible. Decently thorough. It was a nice read. 3.5/5 stars
Read
July 22, 2019What is feminism? Why does it still matter? What exactly does intersectionality mean? In order to answer these (and many other) questions, I Am a Feminist first examines the history of feminism and then addresses the issues girls and women continue to face today. The book also looks at the ways in which people, especially young people, are working together to create a world where gender equality is a reality, not a dream. The author shares stories about the courageous individuals who have made a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. From suffragists to the #MeToo movement, I Am a Feminist encourages readers to stand up and speak out for equality and justice.
This was a short, quick read that was very informational, particularly for those that have little experience with feminism or want to learn more about the movement's history.
*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was a short, quick read that was very informational, particularly for those that have little experience with feminism or want to learn more about the movement's history.
*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 24, 2023
This book was a great starting primer on early waves of feminism. Ideal for youth and adolescents seeking to get started on their knowledge base. There is much more depth to be gleaned from further reading on the subject than can fit in this book.
October 24, 2019
the graphics in this book are so cool! the book itself is essentially basic knowledge on intersectional feminism. mostly facts.
May 24, 2019
Ehh... I don't know how I feel about this one. It is kind of more an opinion piece than anything, because you have to read through their opinion to figure out how you feel about this.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews