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Toby posted an update in the group
Straddle your Feminism 12 years, 4 months ago
What’s a good book to start with? I’m seriously underexposed to feminism; the small glimpses I’ve had so far have served to make me furious at the world and the small town in which I live. I feel like I need to learn more. MUCH more. I need some sort of a crash course to take care of all this ignorance; it makes me sheepish.
This list one went round the tumblr-sphere and was well-recieved:
My current favorite 101 title, embarassingly enough, is Kiss My Tiara by Susan Jane Gilman. It’s titled and packaged like many of those anonymous pink 20somethings guide to life books (Who buys those?), but it’s actually a rather irreverent look at why the kyriarchy sucks and what people can do about it in a practical, day-to-day way.
I’d suggest something like She’s a Slut, he’s a stud by Jessica Valenti. It’s aimed at teens I think, so it’s a feminism 101. http://jessicavalenti.com/books/he%E2%80%99s-a-stud-she%E2%80%99s-a-slut/
Reading blogs would also help, I think http://www.thefbomb.org is great because it does short and sweet posts.
When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to Present by Gail Collins… Assuming you’re American. Even if you’re not, it’s still super interesting, maybe just not as relevant to you. And Claire is right, thefbomb is AWESOME. I would also try out Feministing.
These are going on my book list for this summer, when I will have time to educate myself. Thank you all sincerely!
Feminism Is For Everybody by bell hooks is a really good primer for beginners on some of the different forms feminism takes and on the intersections with sexism and other forms of oppression (racism, homophobia, classism, etc.)
Jessica Valenti’s books (Full Frontal Feminism as well as the one Claire recommended, He’s A Stud She’s A Slut) are also good for beginners, but they’ve received a lot of criticism for being focused mostly on the concerns of White, middle-class straight women. I personally think, though, that most young women can find *something* to relate to in Full Frontal Feminism, if not all of it.
Full Frontal Feminism is also better if you’re more interested in specific issues – bell hooks is more philosophical.
If you want a more humorous take, I’d also recommend Amanda Marcotte’s It’s a Jungle Out There: The Feminist Survival Guide to Politically Inhospitable Environments.