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The Little Book of Feminism: An Accessible Guide to Feminist History, Theory and Thought to Empower and Inspire
Do you want to know more about the fight for women’s rights, what we’ve achieved and how we got there? This helpful little guide will teach you the history, theory, big issues and everything you need to know to become a CARD-CARRYING FEMINIST.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
27 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
April 8, 2019
Finished this book in one sitting! This is a perfect light read to get me out of my giant reading slump.
The book is a neat summary of the history, along with the goals of the feminism waves. Many up-to-date examples and books on the subject of gender issues are included in this book. Therefore, it is suitable for technically everyone who is interested in the topic.
I mean, it is 2019, when will it be a better time for women to fully gain equality?
The book is a neat summary of the history, along with the goals of the feminism waves. Many up-to-date examples and books on the subject of gender issues are included in this book. Therefore, it is suitable for technically everyone who is interested in the topic.
I mean, it is 2019, when will it be a better time for women to fully gain equality?
March 30, 2017
An excellent summary of feminism you can hoover up in one sitting. This book covers first, second, third and fourth-wave feminism, as well as touching on feminist movements around the world. Each section is broken down to explain the key events, goals, laws and figures of each wave and it also provides a reading list.
I also appreciated that Dyer was up front with the book's limitations - that it couldn't possibly cover everything in 96 pages and largely referred to feminism in the UK (with some references to Europe and the US). She also acknowledged where race, class, sexuality and gender identity came into play (or was ignored, as was often the case) even though she wasn't able to go into detail.
The only thing that stopped this from being five stars was the total absence of disabled women - even when the author was acknowledging what (for word count reasons) was not in the book, disability was not mentioned. Even in the glossary, she talks about the Axis of Oppression being the four ways in which a person can be oppressed: race, class, gender and sexual orientation. Granted this may be an 'accepted' concept that she was just listing (I hadn't heard of it) buuut not good enough!
I'd absolutely still recommend this book as a clear, readable introduction to feminism, where it came from and how we've got to where we are today; but don't forget disabled women!
I also appreciated that Dyer was up front with the book's limitations - that it couldn't possibly cover everything in 96 pages and largely referred to feminism in the UK (with some references to Europe and the US). She also acknowledged where race, class, sexuality and gender identity came into play (or was ignored, as was often the case) even though she wasn't able to go into detail.
The only thing that stopped this from being five stars was the total absence of disabled women - even when the author was acknowledging what (for word count reasons) was not in the book, disability was not mentioned. Even in the glossary, she talks about the Axis of Oppression being the four ways in which a person can be oppressed: race, class, gender and sexual orientation. Granted this may be an 'accepted' concept that she was just listing (I hadn't heard of it) buuut not good enough!
I'd absolutely still recommend this book as a clear, readable introduction to feminism, where it came from and how we've got to where we are today; but don't forget disabled women!
December 21, 2017
Un libro muy concreto para quienes saben nada de feminismo. Muy global, muy EUA y UK pero básico.
May 20, 2024
A small interlude book. Very intresting and a perfect summary of the history of feminism. Made me think about how I can incorporate those views of acceptance and kindness into my day to day a bit more as part of the new wave of feminism.
August 13, 2017
this book acknowledges that it is only a superficial survey of feminism in the US and UK, so it would be unfair to fault it for being just that. it's a good starting point for people who want an overview, and it includes a great reading list in the back. however, it fails to highlight that this is a history of white feminism, and does not identify "other" feminism histories.
May 13, 2025
¿Quieres saber más acerca de la lucha de los derechos de la mujer, de lo que hemos conseguido y de como llegamos hasta aquí? Pues evita leer esto por favor, es un absoluto despropósito. Empieza contando hechos históricos pero luego califica a las sufragistas de agresivas, se expresa en "masculino genérico", defiende el nopor, el BeDeSeMe, los insultos sexistas, la doctrina TQ+, no sabe quienes son las mujeres, ataca al feminismo radical por considerarlo extremo, confunde abolir con prohibir. Recomienda tanto a S. Beauvoir como a J. Butler, un sinsentido absoluto. En el "diccionario" al final incluye: cis, Trf, misandria, (inventos misóginos) etc. "Las vidas de las mujeres estaban cambiando y había llegado la hora de que las leyes se pusieran al día" "Las mujeres llevan miles de años refutando los mitos relativos a la inferioridad de su cuerpo"
April 4, 2021
A brilliant quick read! Great for anyone wanting to educate themselves on feminism!
January 10, 2022
Un muy buen breviarios del feminismo, con una estructura tremendamente útil que explica los conceptos históricos fundamentales para empezar a entender un movimiento que, por sistema, la sociedad se empeña a non querer definir correctamente.
Sigo pensando que este tipo de lecturas, bastante ilustrativas y objetivas en la narrativa, deberían ser materia de lectura obligatoria tanto en la esfera privada de cada uno como en la pública que nos engloba a todos.
Sigo pensando que este tipo de lecturas, bastante ilustrativas y objetivas en la narrativa, deberían ser materia de lectura obligatoria tanto en la esfera privada de cada uno como en la pública que nos engloba a todos.
February 10, 2018
Good info and reference points for first-third wave feminism; not so much for today’s fourth-wave though. No mention of the movement’s focus on intersectionality and hails the ever-problematic Lena Dunham as a “feminist heroine”.
Odd that it was written by a UK author in 2016 too, who doesn’t mention Ireland’s current fight for abortion rights in the ‘feminism around the world’ section - despite it occurring across the sea.
Odd that it was written by a UK author in 2016 too, who doesn’t mention Ireland’s current fight for abortion rights in the ‘feminism around the world’ section - despite it occurring across the sea.
December 24, 2018
Aunque muy centrado en USA y UK, es una buena forma de comenzar a conocer la historia del feminismo.
December 13, 2022
Este libro a pesar de ser pequeño es tan completo <3
July 15, 2025
Muy buen resumen de la historia del feminismo OCCIDENTAL, dejando claro sus críticas y debates y la interseccionalidad de las discriminaciones. Además recomienda otras lecturas feministas para una mayor profundidad. También deja claro que el feminismo occidental no es extrapolable a todas las culturas y que la colonización ha traído consigo la implantación del sistema patriarcal en sociedades que eran anteriormente igualitarias. Buena perspectiva, breve y sencilla de entender para tener una visión panorámica del feminismo desde la visión occidental.
October 3, 2022
Marginally better than the Wikipedia on feminism
January 4, 2023
Decent summary of the different feminism waves.
January 14, 2023
Read for my bachelor thesis. It is a short book, but explains pretty much everything there is about the history of feminism and its basic concepts. Very useful.
December 26, 2023
I generally enjoyed this book and thought it covered a lot of the main points about feminism with a good scale given the size of the book. My biggest issue was that I felt like the sections on third and fourth wave feminism were a bit underdeveloped (perhaps because now the book is a bit dated) and I think several key features such as intersectionality was missing.
However overall, this book would be a great introduction into the different feminist waves and key figures in the movements.
However overall, this book would be a great introduction into the different feminist waves and key figures in the movements.
March 3, 2020
Little but thought-provoking. The book contains key historical moments and names European and UK researchers and activists so that a reader could continue an autonomous research on feminism. I’ll definitely come back to Reading List to get more titles for further reading.
December 22, 2021
Este mini libro está muy bueno, te informa mucho si no sabes nada del feminismo, pero para mi le falta más información.
February 19, 2017
Perfecto para leérselo en un ratín libre y ubicarse, de manera casi esquemática, en el mundo del feminismo.
May 14, 2016
I read the book in one sitting at only 96 pages it is a really easy read. Although, just because it is short it doesn't mean that it misses any of the key information out. The writing style is perfectly concise.
What I really liked is that this book gave statistics, historical details, timelines, quotes, important names and details of first, second and third wave feminism. All in 96 pages!
I would definitely recommend this book. It is such a fantastic starting point for anyone that wants to what feminism is all about, where it came from and how it affects us right up to today.
What I really liked is that this book gave statistics, historical details, timelines, quotes, important names and details of first, second and third wave feminism. All in 96 pages!
I would definitely recommend this book. It is such a fantastic starting point for anyone that wants to what feminism is all about, where it came from and how it affects us right up to today.
December 18, 2016
Nice but like the title suggests very short. There were some interesting bits about the history of feminism that I didn't know yet. Also while I get why the author only focused mainly on feminism in the US and Europe I was a bit disappointed about this as I would have loved to learn more about feminism elsewhere.
May 11, 2018
♀ A little book tackling a big subject ♀
“The little book of feminism” is an excellent little summary of feminism covered in just 96 pages. It covers first, second, third and fourth wave feminism, teaching you the history, theory and big issues surrounding feminism. What I like most about this handbook is the layout- each section is broken into key events, goals, laws, and key figures making it especially easy to read in a short amount of time. It also touches on feminist movements around the world, highlighting feminist actions outside of the Western culture.
Being only 96 pages this book just touches on to the fringes of feminism; Dyer is upfront about the book’s limitations of covering everything and so largely focuses on feminism in the UK with some references to the US. Because of this, she wasn’t able to go into much detail of feminism in play with race, class, sexuality, age, disability etc. but did acknowledge that it was often ignored (working class women in first wave, ethnic minorities in second wave). On that note, I find it exceptionally odd that ‘intersectionality’ was not mentioned, especially since this was coined as the focus of third wave feminism.
It is unfortunate that Ireland’s current fight for abortion rights was not mentioned. This book was only published in 2016 but already, the ‘modern feminism’ section is already outdated. Also, why is Lena Dunham, notably problematic, listed as a ‘feminist heroine’? In my opinion, that makes the whole section flawed, but then again I have an ingrained hatred for her.
Overall, a great little book informing you of the main movements of feminism over the years, and an excellent reading list at the back to help you read further into world of feminism. It is here where we can gain a perspective of intersectional feminism and the plights of fighting for equality on all fronts.
“The little book of feminism” is an excellent little summary of feminism covered in just 96 pages. It covers first, second, third and fourth wave feminism, teaching you the history, theory and big issues surrounding feminism. What I like most about this handbook is the layout- each section is broken into key events, goals, laws, and key figures making it especially easy to read in a short amount of time. It also touches on feminist movements around the world, highlighting feminist actions outside of the Western culture.
Being only 96 pages this book just touches on to the fringes of feminism; Dyer is upfront about the book’s limitations of covering everything and so largely focuses on feminism in the UK with some references to the US. Because of this, she wasn’t able to go into much detail of feminism in play with race, class, sexuality, age, disability etc. but did acknowledge that it was often ignored (working class women in first wave, ethnic minorities in second wave). On that note, I find it exceptionally odd that ‘intersectionality’ was not mentioned, especially since this was coined as the focus of third wave feminism.
It is unfortunate that Ireland’s current fight for abortion rights was not mentioned. This book was only published in 2016 but already, the ‘modern feminism’ section is already outdated. Also, why is Lena Dunham, notably problematic, listed as a ‘feminist heroine’? In my opinion, that makes the whole section flawed, but then again I have an ingrained hatred for her.
Overall, a great little book informing you of the main movements of feminism over the years, and an excellent reading list at the back to help you read further into world of feminism. It is here where we can gain a perspective of intersectional feminism and the plights of fighting for equality on all fronts.
November 14, 2022
This was a great introduction to feminism.
As a summary for myself mostly:
- first wave feminism - mostly middle class, white women, protesting for the vote. Interestingly, suffragette was used in a demeaning way by the Daily Mail, but those of the likes of Pankhurst took it up with pride.
- second wave feminism - similar to first wave. Questioned whether the changes made during second-wave feminism were due to SWF, or due to the war highlighting the need for women in society (as women took on men's jobs when they were conscripted). Also allies of lesbian and gay causes, but not as open to trans-women.
- third wave feminism - more inclusive, but criticised as questioned whether it has any united purpose.
- modern feminism - changes with the times - eg focussing on Cybercrime and Rape culture.
Very relevant to the modern day still, especially considering the recent reinstatement of abortion bans across America.
As a summary for myself mostly:
- first wave feminism - mostly middle class, white women, protesting for the vote. Interestingly, suffragette was used in a demeaning way by the Daily Mail, but those of the likes of Pankhurst took it up with pride.
- second wave feminism - similar to first wave. Questioned whether the changes made during second-wave feminism were due to SWF, or due to the war highlighting the need for women in society (as women took on men's jobs when they were conscripted). Also allies of lesbian and gay causes, but not as open to trans-women.
- third wave feminism - more inclusive, but criticised as questioned whether it has any united purpose.
- modern feminism - changes with the times - eg focussing on Cybercrime and Rape culture.
Very relevant to the modern day still, especially considering the recent reinstatement of abortion bans across America.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2020
"When is a feminist not a feminist?"
Itulah kalimat pertama dalam pengantar buku ini. Sama seperti buku yang pernah kubaca, Feminis untuk Semua Orang (Bell Hooks) juga mengungkapkan di awal tahun 1900-an perempuan belum memiliki hak untuk ambil suara (voting). Hukum negara masih bekerja sedemikian rupa untuk mengatur ketergantungan perempuan pada laki-laki. Istilah suffragettes sering dimunculkan dalam buku ini, yakni perempuan yang berjuang untuk mendapatkan hak suaranya.
Saya merekomendasikan buku ini untukmu yang ingin belajar lebih jauh tentang sejarah feminisme khususnya di Eropa. Kejadian-kejadian apa yang terjadi selama feminisme gelombang pertama, kedua, dan seterusnya, serta literatur dan regulasi apa saja yang lahir di dalam era tersebut.
Itulah kalimat pertama dalam pengantar buku ini. Sama seperti buku yang pernah kubaca, Feminis untuk Semua Orang (Bell Hooks) juga mengungkapkan di awal tahun 1900-an perempuan belum memiliki hak untuk ambil suara (voting). Hukum negara masih bekerja sedemikian rupa untuk mengatur ketergantungan perempuan pada laki-laki. Istilah suffragettes sering dimunculkan dalam buku ini, yakni perempuan yang berjuang untuk mendapatkan hak suaranya.
Saya merekomendasikan buku ini untukmu yang ingin belajar lebih jauh tentang sejarah feminisme khususnya di Eropa. Kejadian-kejadian apa yang terjadi selama feminisme gelombang pertama, kedua, dan seterusnya, serta literatur dan regulasi apa saja yang lahir di dalam era tersebut.
May 18, 2020
A very straight-forward concise introduction to the basics of Western Feminism. Sometimes as a Feminist, I like returning to texts like these just to remind myself of the overall message. Harriet Dyer has a very neutral voice, so this is a great wee book to give to your boyfriends or dads etc. just to help them understand what you're always going on about. Doesn't delve too much into intersectional feminism, (and does mention Lena Dunham) so not perfect, but a good jumping off point. I should mention it doesn't mention any POC "Feminist Heroines" - not Shirley Chisholm, bell hooks, or Angela Davis?
January 8, 2022
It gave me an overview of the history of the feminist cause. I enjoyed learning about the different waves of feminism and the various legal acts that arose due to this movement. I would've liked more detail about women's rights issues across the world as this is a more pressing issue that the one presented in the book as a whole, despite the book briefly touching upon it in all fairness. However, maybe understandable due to the title of the book itself. It has made me interested in women's rights as a whole and will try to delve deeper for the future.
July 5, 2019
Muy básico y una introducción buena al feminismo, pero el alcance del análisis es muy muy limitado. Aunque menciona interseccionalidad en la sección del diccionario, no aborda muchos temas importantes feministas como discriminación por edad, abilidad, idioma, religión, etc. La falta de incluir otros ejes de discriminación en el texto o el diccionario hace que muchas comunidades excluidas en la sociedad van tambien excluidas en este libro.
May 7, 2021
Un buen libro para comenzar tu camino e investigación hacia el feminismo. Sin embargo no necesariamente lo recomendaría para ser la única fuente o la mayor, pues se le considera no muy interseccionalista y algo exclusivo en el contenido de su historia mas eso te establece y advierte en el inicio. Igual por su pequeñez se puede predecir eso.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews