Fugitive Information: Essays from a Feminist Hothead

by Kay Leigh Hagan

Both witty and insightful, these essays by a leading feminist writer whose work draws passionate responses from women all over the world, contain Hagan's cutting-edge brand of feminism and offer wise relections on the state of gender politics today.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Essays, Gender

151 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

Reviews

[Lori Koppelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was referred to in the bell hooks Communion book I recently finished. It feels so good to read feminist works, belated though it may be.

I found her insights valuable and still very relevant, sadly. Her sentiment written 30 years ago that "we're apparently in a rather long and awkward transition period between patriarchal hell and that feminist utopia," is still true today.

Gaining a better understanding of the oppressor/oppressed dynamic is critical to finding space and energy to change it.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

short op ed pieces or essays from various feminist women. My favorite one has to be Orchids in the Arctic: The predicament of Heterosexual Feminism, where the writer compares patriarchy and or society to that of the cold climatic tundra that is the Arctic when it comes to women and women's rights.
How when in environments such as this, there needs to be then adaptations or spaces built for the survival of what may not be able to withstand the freezing temperatures or harsh laws that can constrict one's livelihood.

[Emily Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been nearly 30 years since this book has been released, so some parts feel outdated or more a product of its time. This book definitely feels like 3rd wave feminism. Overall I liked these essays but didn't feel particularly moved by many of them. My favorite essay was Heart Sisters for how it looked at women supporting women over decades of time.

[Sarah Rigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a whole bunch of feminist theory & history in college. I enjoyed this collection of essays.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a much needed revelation for society.... patriarchal oppression is built into almost every institution and social more in our society, so it is accepted without question. This book presents questions, and some solutions. Some reviews I have read think that Hagan is too extreme; I think her perspective is on point, just difficult to swallow because it states simply the hard truths that are right in front of us.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago. Just discovered it on my bookcase again and looking forward to reading the essays again to see if my opinion on the book has changed.