Task 19: Read a Nonfiction Book About Feminism or Dealing With Feminist Themes

[S]

Bea wrote: "Saiesha wrote: "Can i read Virginia Woolf's A Room Of One's Room for this theme?
I'm not sure if its non-fiction. thank you."

The description says it is an extended essay based on a series of lect..."
thank you so much!

[Doc.]

Can anyone recommend books by feminists of colour, specifically dealing with women's problems in Asia?

[Bonnie G.]

S. wrote: "Can anyone recommend books by feminists of colour, specifically dealing with women's problems in Asia?"

Dragon Ladies: Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire is great

[Teresa]

Website with a list of feminist books for children age birth to 18
http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/award...

[Bonnie G.]

Teresa wrote: "Website with a list of feminist books for children age birth to 18
http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/award..."

Thanks for this!

[Teresa]

I read Tillie the Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History.
In the 1890's, Tillie scandalized the nation by sewing herself a pair of pants and wearing them in public while she competed in bicycle races. Oh horror! The 'acceptable' behavior for women was wearing a dress and slowly bicycling in a circle around a pole, like a pony at a petting zoo. I was so interested, I looked for an adult bio of her, but no such luck.

[Theresa]

Teresa wrote: "I read Tillie the Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History.
In the 1890's, Tillie scandalized the nation by sewing herself a pair of pants and w..."

That sounds awesome! Added to my TBR pile. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Megan]

I read My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem, which I loved. I also read both of Jen Kirkman's books (I Know What I'm Doing -- and Other Lies I Tell Myself: Dispatches from a Life Under Construction and I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids), which both fit this category. And I'll be picking up All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation by Rebecca Traister later today from my library!

[Mary Sue]

I read How to Be a Woman for this task. It was an easy read which had a few laugh out loud moments, while at the same time, gave me lots to think about.

[Teresa]

Megan,
I'm excited to read All The Single Ladies. I listened to an interview with the author on NPR. There's a waiting list for it at my library, though.

[Melissa]

S. wrote: "Can anyone recommend books by feminists of colour, specifically dealing with women's problems in Asia?"

I crowdsourced this list a while back. It's broader (women of color), but there are a few books by/about Asian women on there.

[Megan]

Teresa wrote: "Megan,
I'm excited to read All The Single Ladies. I listened to an interview with the author on NPR. There's a waiting list for it at my library, though."

Hi Teresa -- I listened to that interview too and also heard a podcast from a reading/signing she did at a local indie bookstore, which prompted me to add the book to my "to read list." I finished the book today but was a little disappointed. Lots of great material/interesting points and potential, but I got distracted by the author's personal anecdotes that were woven in to just about every chapter. I felt like the book lost some objectivity at those spots and wish I could've gotten past it since there was enough that held my interest overall.

[Mindy]

I read "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" for this task. It's not an outright book about feminism, but it spoke to me about how women and young girls are supposed to act v. how they actually are inside, and how they are expected to act a certain way according to what "class" they are in. I did enjoy it, except for the ending. There was a bit more philosophizing than I expected, but overall enjoyed getting to know the characters.

[quietprofanity]

I read The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf. It was an OK primer to sexist beauty standards in the Western World but I definitely think it suffers from not being intersectional and, since it was written in the late 1980s/early 1990s, it's pretty out-of date. (I reviewed it here.)