What do you think?
Rate this book
Feisty & Feminine: A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women
CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, Penny Young Nance is the new face of an emerging brand of conservative women who are tired of the political prattle, and she is ready to change the way women are portrayed. In her debut title Relevant, she takes an honest look at what it means to be a conservative woman with thoughtful beliefs that are increasingly relevant in today’s valueless world.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2016
25 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Penny Young Nance
2 books5 followersPenny Young Nance is CEO and President of Concerned Women for America (CWA), and is a recognized national authority on cultural, children’s, and women’s issues. As the CEO and president of the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, Penny oversees more than 500,000 participating CWA members across the country, over 400 CWA chapters, 26 Young Women for America College Chapters, and 400 trained leaders. She is also the president of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee and Concerned Women for America Political Action Committee and serves as the principal spokesperson for all three entities.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 15, 2016
About the Book
CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, Penny Young Nance is the new face of an emerging brand of conservative women who are tired of the political prattle, and she is ready to change the way women are portrayed. In her debut title Relevant, she takes an honest look at what it means to be a conservative woman with thoughtful beliefs that are increasingly relevant in today’s valueless world.
My Review
Feisty and Feminine by Penny Young Nance is a book written for Conservative women about many issues that plague our world today and how to respond to all of these issues. Penny Young Nance does a great job at describing these issues and giving sound, wise advice on how to respond to it all. Feisty and Feminine is also a book calling all Conservative women to stop sitting on our hands and finally standing up for exactly what we believe. I believe this to be a very important book and should be read by every Conservative woman.
CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, Penny Young Nance is the new face of an emerging brand of conservative women who are tired of the political prattle, and she is ready to change the way women are portrayed. In her debut title Relevant, she takes an honest look at what it means to be a conservative woman with thoughtful beliefs that are increasingly relevant in today’s valueless world.
My Review
Feisty and Feminine by Penny Young Nance is a book written for Conservative women about many issues that plague our world today and how to respond to all of these issues. Penny Young Nance does a great job at describing these issues and giving sound, wise advice on how to respond to it all. Feisty and Feminine is also a book calling all Conservative women to stop sitting on our hands and finally standing up for exactly what we believe. I believe this to be a very important book and should be read by every Conservative woman.
September 18, 2017
In my opinion, no one can criticize feminists and feminism better than women themselves, and this book is one of the criticisms. As the author is one of the leading figures of Concerned Women of America (CWA), one of the conservative political policy groups, her message are unavoidably laden with references to Bible. He called for women around America to stand up to be Esther Women, that is, women who fought against the encroachment of feminism and liberal government upon their live by upholding what is said on the Bible. Although I'm not a Christian woman, in fact, I am a practising Muslim and a man to boot, I found her arguments reasonable and I enjoyed reading through most of the book, except the part about Israel, which is distasteful enough for me to skip.
August 12, 2024
As a member of my local Concerned Women for America chapter, I was assigned to read this book along with the rest of the group. The book is pretty much what it says on the tin: Penny Nance, the CEO of CWA, presents her readers with information on various issues that she considers important for conservative, Christian women to take action on. Such issues include abortion, pornography, rape and sexual exploitation, and Israel, among others.
Overall, it's a well-researched book, backed up by meticulous references to media and other sources, which can all be traced to their origins in the "Notes" section at the end. Nance explains issues in a straightforward, beginner-level way so that they're accessible to readers with all levels of familiarity with the topics. Some things I knew already, but others were new to me. (I was particularly infuriated to learn that even after extensive campaigning to finally pass an act to resolve the rape kit backlog, the government simply didn't enforce it. Then after much more campaigning, another act was passed to force them to comply, and they STILL simply ignored it. It's demoralizing how much time and effort can go into passing a law only for the government to somehow be able to decide they simply won't follow it, and it underscores the point that women need to vigorously speak up and advocate for justice.)
I appreciate Nance's boldness in speaking unpopular truths in analyzing the issues. For example, despite all the evidence that pornography is harmful, it is deeply unpopular to say so. It's also unpopular - even without victim blaming - to point out that if women want to protect themselves from sexual assault, it's common sense to avoid getting drunk, especially with men around. And pointing out that the wage gap is due in part to women having a tendency to choose lower-paying occupations is met with scorn by most of society, who won't even consider any other cause but sexism. But Nance is not afraid to confidently lay out her arguments on these issues.
If it's not clear, the audience of this book is Christian women. While some of Nance's positions may persuade non-Christians, others - such as her views on Israel and same-sex marriage - are unlikely to mean anything to nonbelievers, because those views are rooted most strongly in her Biblical worldview. If you're not in the target audience of this book, you likely won't find it compelling, and will likely even find some parts offensive.
Even as a conservative Christian, there were parts that left a bad taste in my mouth. For example, Nance describes organizing a prayer event for people at risk of harm from ISIS, and then learning that as they prayed, twenty-one Coptic Christians were beheaded: "I was appalled to learn about what had been happening at the moment we were on our knees in prayer, but I know that our prayers interceded for those Egyptians, and perhaps for others also in danger that day. I know that as those men were martyred, the prayers of faithful women half a world away surrounded them throughout the entire experience." In my opinion, it is jaw-droppingly offensive and arrogant to use those violent murders in this way. Nance can't know that her prayers did anything. Sometimes God's answer is "no," and the fact that those people were executed suggests that that was the case here. Frankly I'm astounded at the gall of someone so far removed from such a grisly situation claiming to "know" that her actions had any impact on it and to then write about it in a book as if she did something heroic.
I also felt like the abortion chapter could have steel-manned the other side's position a bit better. It's still a well-written chapter; it's jam-packed with facts on fetal development and abortion procedures that are compelling pro-life points. But I feel like any pro-life argument that doesn't REALLY grapple with the life-changing reality of having a baby is going to fall flat to pro-abortion activists.
Unfortunately, being published in 2016, the book will naturally feel out of date the later a reader picks it up. I read it between 2023 and 2024, and it seems a glaring omission, for example, that there is no mention of how transgender ideology is harming women. If this book were written today, it would surely include a whole chapter on that topic. The abortion chapter has lots of information that's still relevant today, but it would surely be written differently in an era where Roe v. Wade has been overturned. And the Israel chapter, while prescient in light of a post-October 7 world, feels incomplete for not including that incident and the resulting war. None of this, of course, is the fault of the author; it's inevitable. But it's something that anyone thinking about picking up the book now just might want to be aware of. Maybe in another couple of years, CWA will release a new/updated book that reflects the current landscape.
Overall, it's a well-researched book, backed up by meticulous references to media and other sources, which can all be traced to their origins in the "Notes" section at the end. Nance explains issues in a straightforward, beginner-level way so that they're accessible to readers with all levels of familiarity with the topics. Some things I knew already, but others were new to me. (I was particularly infuriated to learn that even after extensive campaigning to finally pass an act to resolve the rape kit backlog, the government simply didn't enforce it. Then after much more campaigning, another act was passed to force them to comply, and they STILL simply ignored it. It's demoralizing how much time and effort can go into passing a law only for the government to somehow be able to decide they simply won't follow it, and it underscores the point that women need to vigorously speak up and advocate for justice.)
I appreciate Nance's boldness in speaking unpopular truths in analyzing the issues. For example, despite all the evidence that pornography is harmful, it is deeply unpopular to say so. It's also unpopular - even without victim blaming - to point out that if women want to protect themselves from sexual assault, it's common sense to avoid getting drunk, especially with men around. And pointing out that the wage gap is due in part to women having a tendency to choose lower-paying occupations is met with scorn by most of society, who won't even consider any other cause but sexism. But Nance is not afraid to confidently lay out her arguments on these issues.
If it's not clear, the audience of this book is Christian women. While some of Nance's positions may persuade non-Christians, others - such as her views on Israel and same-sex marriage - are unlikely to mean anything to nonbelievers, because those views are rooted most strongly in her Biblical worldview. If you're not in the target audience of this book, you likely won't find it compelling, and will likely even find some parts offensive.
Even as a conservative Christian, there were parts that left a bad taste in my mouth. For example, Nance describes organizing a prayer event for people at risk of harm from ISIS, and then learning that as they prayed, twenty-one Coptic Christians were beheaded: "I was appalled to learn about what had been happening at the moment we were on our knees in prayer, but I know that our prayers interceded for those Egyptians, and perhaps for others also in danger that day. I know that as those men were martyred, the prayers of faithful women half a world away surrounded them throughout the entire experience." In my opinion, it is jaw-droppingly offensive and arrogant to use those violent murders in this way. Nance can't know that her prayers did anything. Sometimes God's answer is "no," and the fact that those people were executed suggests that that was the case here. Frankly I'm astounded at the gall of someone so far removed from such a grisly situation claiming to "know" that her actions had any impact on it and to then write about it in a book as if she did something heroic.
I also felt like the abortion chapter could have steel-manned the other side's position a bit better. It's still a well-written chapter; it's jam-packed with facts on fetal development and abortion procedures that are compelling pro-life points. But I feel like any pro-life argument that doesn't REALLY grapple with the life-changing reality of having a baby is going to fall flat to pro-abortion activists.
Unfortunately, being published in 2016, the book will naturally feel out of date the later a reader picks it up. I read it between 2023 and 2024, and it seems a glaring omission, for example, that there is no mention of how transgender ideology is harming women. If this book were written today, it would surely include a whole chapter on that topic. The abortion chapter has lots of information that's still relevant today, but it would surely be written differently in an era where Roe v. Wade has been overturned. And the Israel chapter, while prescient in light of a post-October 7 world, feels incomplete for not including that incident and the resulting war. None of this, of course, is the fault of the author; it's inevitable. But it's something that anyone thinking about picking up the book now just might want to be aware of. Maybe in another couple of years, CWA will release a new/updated book that reflects the current landscape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2019
First of all, I should say that I ended up liking this book more than I wanted to.
Second, this book is written for a very specific audience: Christian women who identify as politically conservative. And if you don't identify as a politically conservative Christian woman, you're not going to like or understand this book.
I am a Christian woman who leans conservative (ish)... but I have some quarrels with the mainstream Republican party, specifically in regard to women's issues. I expected this book to lean more solidly Republican, and it doesn't. Ms. Nance has a firm grasp on the realities of the world, the United States, and women both here and across the globe.
I am annoyed by the idea of taking a verse from the biblical book of Esther (a historical account) and using it to extrapolate meaning. Certainly a Christian woman with political interests can be LIKE Esther, but to take a verse from the book of Esther and try to turn it into a conservative women's rallying cry is irritating. And calling women with such interests "Esther Women" throughout the book makes me roll my eyes.
This book is also hard to get through--it is statistic heavy, although there are plenty of anecdotes as well. The print is small, the spacing between lines is small, and there are just a lot of words crammed into a few pages. The chapters are long. Moreover, the topics are heavy, so this is hardly light reading. I hardly got through a chapter at a time.
My other reasons for deducting stars have to do with my own political and religious philosophies, which are at times quite different from Ms. Nance's. GoodReads is not a proper forum for discussing those philosophies, and to do so would stray from the purposes of a book review.
Other than the verse from Esther, it's clear that Ms. Nance does know her Bible and generally has sound hermeneutics.
Ms. Nance also knows her stuff on every single political and social issue discussed. She has the studies, stats, anecdotes, and footnotes. Moreover, she has a grasp on the idea that flexible work options for women could be key to so many of the social, economic, and political issues facing this country. So in her final chapter, on balance, when she upheld flexible work for women and tied it to almost every other issue she had previously covered, my jaw dropped. Up until that point, it was a decidedly meh book. But that last chapter... ok sister, I see you.
And so like I said, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would.
Second, this book is written for a very specific audience: Christian women who identify as politically conservative. And if you don't identify as a politically conservative Christian woman, you're not going to like or understand this book.
I am a Christian woman who leans conservative (ish)... but I have some quarrels with the mainstream Republican party, specifically in regard to women's issues. I expected this book to lean more solidly Republican, and it doesn't. Ms. Nance has a firm grasp on the realities of the world, the United States, and women both here and across the globe.
I am annoyed by the idea of taking a verse from the biblical book of Esther (a historical account) and using it to extrapolate meaning. Certainly a Christian woman with political interests can be LIKE Esther, but to take a verse from the book of Esther and try to turn it into a conservative women's rallying cry is irritating. And calling women with such interests "Esther Women" throughout the book makes me roll my eyes.
This book is also hard to get through--it is statistic heavy, although there are plenty of anecdotes as well. The print is small, the spacing between lines is small, and there are just a lot of words crammed into a few pages. The chapters are long. Moreover, the topics are heavy, so this is hardly light reading. I hardly got through a chapter at a time.
My other reasons for deducting stars have to do with my own political and religious philosophies, which are at times quite different from Ms. Nance's. GoodReads is not a proper forum for discussing those philosophies, and to do so would stray from the purposes of a book review.
Other than the verse from Esther, it's clear that Ms. Nance does know her Bible and generally has sound hermeneutics.
Ms. Nance also knows her stuff on every single political and social issue discussed. She has the studies, stats, anecdotes, and footnotes. Moreover, she has a grasp on the idea that flexible work options for women could be key to so many of the social, economic, and political issues facing this country. So in her final chapter, on balance, when she upheld flexible work for women and tied it to almost every other issue she had previously covered, my jaw dropped. Up until that point, it was a decidedly meh book. But that last chapter... ok sister, I see you.
And so like I said, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would.
November 18, 2022
DNF at 60%
I’d heard about Concerned Women for America recently so I thought I’d read this book to learn more about them. I wouldn’t say I’m the exactly the audience she was writing for but I got to admit I was impressed. Nance came across as passionate for her causes and the ability for women to produce change in the country. Naturally, I don’t agree with a lot of her stances, or at least the ways she goes about them, but mass respect for what she has accomplished.
I think this book could have been a whole lot stronger, and more convincing to outsiders like me, if she would have stopped blaming everything on Dems, liberals, and feminists. I could have even gotten behind that if she would have seemed more self-aware of her own parties faults and short-comings on the issues she covered. Sure she briefly mentioned a couple Republicans who “betrayed” the party but I prefer books that are as much self-critical of their own party as they seem to be of the “other”.
The fact that this book was published in 2016 makes me give the author a lot of leeway on some things but I wonder how some of her chapters would have read after things like the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, the SBC sex abuse scandal, the problems at Liberty University, etc. These are things that must be reckoned with and not ignored. I also had a bit of an issue with her chapter “The Real War on Women”. Not that I disagree that what she addressed was a real issue, I believe it is, but there are many plights women in America are facing and she didn’t address any of them as real issues. I read a history book one time that suggested that in the USA, while women were fighting for their sisters in other countries, they ignored the problem that women where facing here because “it didn’t seem as bad”. Well, in some cases that is true but it is not a cakewalk for many women in this country and we can’t pretend we’ve got it made.
I will repeat that I did like parts of this book and can even admire the author at times but the partisan bias really turned me off. I guess I’m just used to reading books that are a little more self-critical.
Some great biographies about early Christian women activists are “A New Gospel for Women: Katharine Bushnell and the Challenge of Christian Feminism” by Kristin Kobes du Mez and “Patron Saint of Prostitutes: Josephine Butler and a Victorian Scandal” by Helen Mathers.
I’d heard about Concerned Women for America recently so I thought I’d read this book to learn more about them. I wouldn’t say I’m the exactly the audience she was writing for but I got to admit I was impressed. Nance came across as passionate for her causes and the ability for women to produce change in the country. Naturally, I don’t agree with a lot of her stances, or at least the ways she goes about them, but mass respect for what she has accomplished.
I think this book could have been a whole lot stronger, and more convincing to outsiders like me, if she would have stopped blaming everything on Dems, liberals, and feminists. I could have even gotten behind that if she would have seemed more self-aware of her own parties faults and short-comings on the issues she covered. Sure she briefly mentioned a couple Republicans who “betrayed” the party but I prefer books that are as much self-critical of their own party as they seem to be of the “other”.
The fact that this book was published in 2016 makes me give the author a lot of leeway on some things but I wonder how some of her chapters would have read after things like the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, the SBC sex abuse scandal, the problems at Liberty University, etc. These are things that must be reckoned with and not ignored. I also had a bit of an issue with her chapter “The Real War on Women”. Not that I disagree that what she addressed was a real issue, I believe it is, but there are many plights women in America are facing and she didn’t address any of them as real issues. I read a history book one time that suggested that in the USA, while women were fighting for their sisters in other countries, they ignored the problem that women where facing here because “it didn’t seem as bad”. Well, in some cases that is true but it is not a cakewalk for many women in this country and we can’t pretend we’ve got it made.
I will repeat that I did like parts of this book and can even admire the author at times but the partisan bias really turned me off. I guess I’m just used to reading books that are a little more self-critical.
Some great biographies about early Christian women activists are “A New Gospel for Women: Katharine Bushnell and the Challenge of Christian Feminism” by Kristin Kobes du Mez and “Patron Saint of Prostitutes: Josephine Butler and a Victorian Scandal” by Helen Mathers.
July 18, 2016
Endorsed by Jim Daly, Beverly LaHaye, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, and other well-known conservative leaders, I was compelled to read Penny Young Nance's Feisty and Feminine in order to understand more deeply many of the current political issues affecting conservative, Christian women. I identify that way, but my main mode is to avoid politics. Why? Because the political environment in the U.S. today is rife with strife, and based on the hostile looks and Facebook responses I get for voicing opinions, I'd rather keep my friends and share compassion rather than divisive statements.
No one is more surprised than me that I picked up this book. My natural inclination is to be rendered uncomfortable by politics (I typically read fiction and stay away from these challenging reads, knowing the contentious spirit they often espouse), but in a time of uncertainty like this I was curious to know the perspective of another female leader who identifies as a Christian conservative like I do.
Nance fearlessly shares her thoughts and encourages women everywhere (not just conservatives) to think for themselves and be brave. She begins the book by addressing issues which affect women (and men) everywhere: sexual assault, marriage, the objectification of women, and abortion. Gradually Nance transitions into the more politically-fraught issues of radical Islamic terrorists and the U.S.'s relationship with Israel, and then returns to the more universal issue of a work-family balance for modern women. Throughout the book, she shares relevant Bible verses, news stories, and research studies.
Nance speaks with a clear, firm voice, and she supplements her points with personal anecdotes and a hearty supply of quotes. I did check on a few of the sources as I read, which were well-organized in the Notes section at the end of the book, and I was not surprised to find multiple sources relying on Fox News and National Review, but plenty of others as well such as the American Psychological Association, Pew Research Center, New York Magazine, Gallup, and NPR. She opens the book with a story revealing a moment of deep vulnerability, and she gives a beautiful background on the unlikely journey of how she came to be where she is.
I couldn't help but like Nance. I admire her and her courageous spirit, and most of all I admire her commitment to her love of the Lord and other people. She genuinely works hard to ensure women are valued and esteemed, or as she puts it, "to end suffering and establish liberty for women everywhere" (117). She loves her family and loves our beautiful country. I especially loved when she reminded readers that we are called to speak up for women living in oppression; she cited the Bible, saying " 'Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed' " (Psalm 82:3).
The beginning and end of the book resonated most with me, as Nance incites us (who she calls "Esther Women," as a reference to the brave Biblical woman Esther who risked her life to save her people, the Jews) to courageous action with statements such as "raising awareness is good, but it must lead to concrete action," quoting Jesus to pray boldly to God, and encouraging us to even pray for our enemies as the Bible says (138). In a time where people condemn Christians for prayer without action (by the way, prayer IS a powerful action, one of the most powerful!), Nance encourages people to take up offerings to "raise money for refugees and victims of violence in the Middle East" (139). She encourages readers to reject anti-semitism and anti-Islam prejudice and instead be loving and wise. She encourages civil, informed, and purposeful political discourse, rather than the ranting, interruptive arguments we hear on TV. She asks all women to "vote your values" (100).
Whether or not you agree with all of Nance's points, she gives a terrific treatise and powerful call to action for Christian women in the U.S. today. She encourages all women to become vocal and active to express themselves in politics. I finished the last page still feeling shaky about being honest about my views in a time when conservatism is so denigrated but newly encouraged and informed. Maybe reading about the pain and suffering in the world through the lens of politics will always be a challenge for me, and maybe it's meant to be, since it's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, I acknowledge that it is not only a duty but a privilege to express our political opinions, even if they differ, and to show others that faith and politics deeply intertwine. As Nance states, we've been given many blessings, especially in our nation, and we should use them to help others.
I believe the Lord will give us the strength and honesty we need to not only voice our opinions but act with love if we trust in Him and try to prepare with prayer, knowledge, and wisdom as Nance has done.
Who is this book best for?
If you are curious about a Christian conservative woman's perspective on many key issues today, pick up this book.
If you are like me, hesitant to share your views and uncertain of exactly where you stand, pick up this book.
If you are looking for a read that will allow you to engage in politics without feeling overwhelmed and helpless, pick up this book.
I received this book for free from BookLookBloggers.com. I didn't have to give a positive review; I gave you my honest review.
No one is more surprised than me that I picked up this book. My natural inclination is to be rendered uncomfortable by politics (I typically read fiction and stay away from these challenging reads, knowing the contentious spirit they often espouse), but in a time of uncertainty like this I was curious to know the perspective of another female leader who identifies as a Christian conservative like I do.
Nance fearlessly shares her thoughts and encourages women everywhere (not just conservatives) to think for themselves and be brave. She begins the book by addressing issues which affect women (and men) everywhere: sexual assault, marriage, the objectification of women, and abortion. Gradually Nance transitions into the more politically-fraught issues of radical Islamic terrorists and the U.S.'s relationship with Israel, and then returns to the more universal issue of a work-family balance for modern women. Throughout the book, she shares relevant Bible verses, news stories, and research studies.
Nance speaks with a clear, firm voice, and she supplements her points with personal anecdotes and a hearty supply of quotes. I did check on a few of the sources as I read, which were well-organized in the Notes section at the end of the book, and I was not surprised to find multiple sources relying on Fox News and National Review, but plenty of others as well such as the American Psychological Association, Pew Research Center, New York Magazine, Gallup, and NPR. She opens the book with a story revealing a moment of deep vulnerability, and she gives a beautiful background on the unlikely journey of how she came to be where she is.
I couldn't help but like Nance. I admire her and her courageous spirit, and most of all I admire her commitment to her love of the Lord and other people. She genuinely works hard to ensure women are valued and esteemed, or as she puts it, "to end suffering and establish liberty for women everywhere" (117). She loves her family and loves our beautiful country. I especially loved when she reminded readers that we are called to speak up for women living in oppression; she cited the Bible, saying " 'Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed' " (Psalm 82:3).
The beginning and end of the book resonated most with me, as Nance incites us (who she calls "Esther Women," as a reference to the brave Biblical woman Esther who risked her life to save her people, the Jews) to courageous action with statements such as "raising awareness is good, but it must lead to concrete action," quoting Jesus to pray boldly to God, and encouraging us to even pray for our enemies as the Bible says (138). In a time where people condemn Christians for prayer without action (by the way, prayer IS a powerful action, one of the most powerful!), Nance encourages people to take up offerings to "raise money for refugees and victims of violence in the Middle East" (139). She encourages readers to reject anti-semitism and anti-Islam prejudice and instead be loving and wise. She encourages civil, informed, and purposeful political discourse, rather than the ranting, interruptive arguments we hear on TV. She asks all women to "vote your values" (100).
Whether or not you agree with all of Nance's points, she gives a terrific treatise and powerful call to action for Christian women in the U.S. today. She encourages all women to become vocal and active to express themselves in politics. I finished the last page still feeling shaky about being honest about my views in a time when conservatism is so denigrated but newly encouraged and informed. Maybe reading about the pain and suffering in the world through the lens of politics will always be a challenge for me, and maybe it's meant to be, since it's easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, I acknowledge that it is not only a duty but a privilege to express our political opinions, even if they differ, and to show others that faith and politics deeply intertwine. As Nance states, we've been given many blessings, especially in our nation, and we should use them to help others.
I believe the Lord will give us the strength and honesty we need to not only voice our opinions but act with love if we trust in Him and try to prepare with prayer, knowledge, and wisdom as Nance has done.
Who is this book best for?
If you are curious about a Christian conservative woman's perspective on many key issues today, pick up this book.
If you are like me, hesitant to share your views and uncertain of exactly where you stand, pick up this book.
If you are looking for a read that will allow you to engage in politics without feeling overwhelmed and helpless, pick up this book.
I received this book for free from BookLookBloggers.com. I didn't have to give a positive review; I gave you my honest review.
July 22, 2023
All the chapters with the exception of one or two reinforced the same opinions or viewpoints. The book needed more. I don’t believe the author expressed everything she wanted to cohesively.
May 22, 2024
Do not remember much about this one. Just a new genre for me.
February 3, 2019
I definitely appreciated the conservative side of modern feminism because, as a conservative myself, I feel our views are often rejected as anti-feminism and this simply is not true. A feminist does not have to be a liberal to be passionate about women’s rights and equality for all.
March 28, 2018
Every conservative, Christian woman or interested person should read this incredibly impactful book!!! It’s so very timely, too!!!
“The challenges facing our nation today are immense. From a culture thrown into disarray by pornography, abortion on demand, and the loss of the sanctity of marriage, to the international perils of global terrorism, radical extremism, and the violations of women’s human rights, we are surrounded by issues that demand action. As educated, faithful conservative women, we can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. We’ve got to stand up, find our voices, and speak truth about the things that matter most. We won’t be marginalized because of our beliefs or values any longer; we must use them to become empowered. As my childhood anthem states, “We know too much to go back and pretend.” Hear us roar!” (Peggy Young Nance of Concerned Women for America).
“The challenges facing our nation today are immense. From a culture thrown into disarray by pornography, abortion on demand, and the loss of the sanctity of marriage, to the international perils of global terrorism, radical extremism, and the violations of women’s human rights, we are surrounded by issues that demand action. As educated, faithful conservative women, we can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. We’ve got to stand up, find our voices, and speak truth about the things that matter most. We won’t be marginalized because of our beliefs or values any longer; we must use them to become empowered. As my childhood anthem states, “We know too much to go back and pretend.” Hear us roar!” (Peggy Young Nance of Concerned Women for America).
Read
September 12, 2016I won't rate the book because I'm not part of the intended audience, so I don't believe my rating would help most potential readers to make a decision. But I do want to share my opinion for the sake of people considering reading this book who, like me, aren't conservative but would like insight into another perspective.
I think that on polarizing issues, it's important to give people you agree with room to disappoint you and people you don't agree with room to surprise you. Above all, I think it's crucial to humanize people you don't agree with. It's too easy to turn into someone not worth getting to know if you can't do that. Nance gets candid at times in a way that does allow readers to see her as a human more than a talking head. She talks about being sexually assaulted during her first pregnancy and shares insults she's received online. Sometimes women can be hesitant to discuss these kinds of experiences because they don't realize how common they are, and that silence can make it harder to address ways in which the world is unsafe or hostile to women. I appreciated her openness on these topics.
However, I found the rest of the book disappointing for a few reasons. First, I don't think it broke new ground in terms of the information Nance provided (or her spin on it). These are just the same conservative talking points citing the same conservative sources on topics such as abortion, Israel, gay marriage rights, etc. (I did, however, find it charming that she called BDSM a "trend." Perhaps she should look into the etymology of the word "sadomasochism.") Second, Nance perpetuates an echo chamber of perceived persecution among conservatives (that admittedly is not unique to conservatives). She makes quite a few complaints about how much the left hates conservative women. And for all her complaints about mean ol' liberals being dismissive of conservative women, she sure paints feminists with a pretty broad stroke. It also seemed weird to me that she cited Nick Kristoff and Shelley WuDunn when she gave statistics about violence against women worldwide, then wrote later in the chapter that "our society, and particularly Western liberals, ignore the reality of what's happening to women abroad."
Most disappointing to me about the book was how dismissive she was of other women's choices, at times to the point of being condescending. She talks about how sad Gloria Steinem must be to know she'll never have children and talks about seeing women in burqas at an airport and how she "desperately wanted to welcome them and also let them know that it's different in the United States. 'You don't have to cover your face and hide here; you're safe,' I wanted to say." I used to be a Free Will Baptist just like Nance, and I can remember how frustrating it felt when people seemed to assume that you only dressed and acted differently because you didn't know better or someone was forcing you do. The bridges that Nance is encouraging her readers to build into other cultures can't take shape if one party is so dismissive of the decisions of the people he or she is trying to reach. Nance humanizes herself here, but her inability to humanize people with motivations different from hers is what keeps this book from going beyond preaching to the converted.
I think that on polarizing issues, it's important to give people you agree with room to disappoint you and people you don't agree with room to surprise you. Above all, I think it's crucial to humanize people you don't agree with. It's too easy to turn into someone not worth getting to know if you can't do that. Nance gets candid at times in a way that does allow readers to see her as a human more than a talking head. She talks about being sexually assaulted during her first pregnancy and shares insults she's received online. Sometimes women can be hesitant to discuss these kinds of experiences because they don't realize how common they are, and that silence can make it harder to address ways in which the world is unsafe or hostile to women. I appreciated her openness on these topics.
However, I found the rest of the book disappointing for a few reasons. First, I don't think it broke new ground in terms of the information Nance provided (or her spin on it). These are just the same conservative talking points citing the same conservative sources on topics such as abortion, Israel, gay marriage rights, etc. (I did, however, find it charming that she called BDSM a "trend." Perhaps she should look into the etymology of the word "sadomasochism.") Second, Nance perpetuates an echo chamber of perceived persecution among conservatives (that admittedly is not unique to conservatives). She makes quite a few complaints about how much the left hates conservative women. And for all her complaints about mean ol' liberals being dismissive of conservative women, she sure paints feminists with a pretty broad stroke. It also seemed weird to me that she cited Nick Kristoff and Shelley WuDunn when she gave statistics about violence against women worldwide, then wrote later in the chapter that "our society, and particularly Western liberals, ignore the reality of what's happening to women abroad."
Most disappointing to me about the book was how dismissive she was of other women's choices, at times to the point of being condescending. She talks about how sad Gloria Steinem must be to know she'll never have children and talks about seeing women in burqas at an airport and how she "desperately wanted to welcome them and also let them know that it's different in the United States. 'You don't have to cover your face and hide here; you're safe,' I wanted to say." I used to be a Free Will Baptist just like Nance, and I can remember how frustrating it felt when people seemed to assume that you only dressed and acted differently because you didn't know better or someone was forcing you do. The bridges that Nance is encouraging her readers to build into other cultures can't take shape if one party is so dismissive of the decisions of the people he or she is trying to reach. Nance humanizes herself here, but her inability to humanize people with motivations different from hers is what keeps this book from going beyond preaching to the converted.
July 5, 2016
If you're a conservative woman, or a Christian woman, or (heaven forbid!) both, you've been there: you're participating in a group conversation at a party, or even perhaps on Facebook. A statement is made that goes against your values. Probably, several such statements. You listen politely, nod your head, smile. But at a certain point, you speak up with a sentence or two that betray your beliefs. Then, you're denounced, told why your thoughts are incorrect, or perhaps just given "the look."
I've been there many times, and Penny Young Nance begins her book, "Feisty and Feminine," with such a situation.
Nance, the President of Concerned Women for America, has written this book to encourage women to stand up for their beliefs and to refuse to be silent -- as Christians and conservatives have been for too long. I'm not sure why, but I've noticed in my own life that those who are of a liberal persuasion never seem reluctant to spout their beliefs in public. Maybe it's because their ideals usually align with the predominant, pc culture of the day. Regardless of the reason, conservative young women are usually cowed into silence because they're afraid they'll be accused of bigotry, racism, a lack of compassion, or even hate.
Nance encourages us to be "Esther women": the Biblical Esther stood up for her people (the Jews) boldly. Esther was told that she was placed in the time and place she was "for such a time as this," and we women of today are in the same position.
The book features a theme for each chapter, something around which Christian women can rally: pro-life issues, Islamic extremism, the sanctity of marriage, and more.
To me, the book was like reading a whole series of editorials by a conservative who I agree with. It didn't contain a lot that was new to me (hence the 3 stars), but it was good as a reminder to let my light shine in this world as best I can, with God's help. I think the book would make an excellent high school or college graduation gift for a conservative young lady, who may not have yet developed the backbone she'll need to face the onslaught of the pc culture in which we live.
I've been there many times, and Penny Young Nance begins her book, "Feisty and Feminine," with such a situation.
Nance, the President of Concerned Women for America, has written this book to encourage women to stand up for their beliefs and to refuse to be silent -- as Christians and conservatives have been for too long. I'm not sure why, but I've noticed in my own life that those who are of a liberal persuasion never seem reluctant to spout their beliefs in public. Maybe it's because their ideals usually align with the predominant, pc culture of the day. Regardless of the reason, conservative young women are usually cowed into silence because they're afraid they'll be accused of bigotry, racism, a lack of compassion, or even hate.
Nance encourages us to be "Esther women": the Biblical Esther stood up for her people (the Jews) boldly. Esther was told that she was placed in the time and place she was "for such a time as this," and we women of today are in the same position.
The book features a theme for each chapter, something around which Christian women can rally: pro-life issues, Islamic extremism, the sanctity of marriage, and more.
To me, the book was like reading a whole series of editorials by a conservative who I agree with. It didn't contain a lot that was new to me (hence the 3 stars), but it was good as a reminder to let my light shine in this world as best I can, with God's help. I think the book would make an excellent high school or college graduation gift for a conservative young lady, who may not have yet developed the backbone she'll need to face the onslaught of the pc culture in which we live.
May 20, 2016
The book for review is “ Feisty and Feminine: A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women” by Penny Young Nance. This book falls into the genre of religion, Christian life and women’s issues.
CEO and president of Concerned Women for America Penny Young Nance is a conservative Christian woman. In this book she talks about issues that are all around us as women in the US. What it means to be a woman in this day and age.
The book dives into issues such as the devaluing of women, politics, sexual assault to abortion, marriage and tolerance. The list of topics that we women face daily is a very long one. Here in one book a good portion are talked about and laid out for us to read in an easy format
Each section is broken down within the chapters but what makes it flow nicely is the humor that is interjected throughout the book. Without that this book would be hard to read just due to the topics that are discussed. Bible quotes are placed appropriately through the book in the right amounts, not too much to get bogged down but enough to make one appreciate the passage.
Penny encourages us to find our voice as women and to take a stand, be vocal on what is going around us for ourselves and for all women.
After each chapter is listed a woman in society and what she has done to show her voice. Also there are sections labeled “What Can Ester Women Do?” which is in reference to Ester from the Bible who helped saved her people.
It was nice to see a woman take a stand and be encouraging and also understanding of what we go through. Don’t let the title or topic prevent you from reading this book.
CEO and president of Concerned Women for America Penny Young Nance is a conservative Christian woman. In this book she talks about issues that are all around us as women in the US. What it means to be a woman in this day and age.
The book dives into issues such as the devaluing of women, politics, sexual assault to abortion, marriage and tolerance. The list of topics that we women face daily is a very long one. Here in one book a good portion are talked about and laid out for us to read in an easy format
Each section is broken down within the chapters but what makes it flow nicely is the humor that is interjected throughout the book. Without that this book would be hard to read just due to the topics that are discussed. Bible quotes are placed appropriately through the book in the right amounts, not too much to get bogged down but enough to make one appreciate the passage.
Penny encourages us to find our voice as women and to take a stand, be vocal on what is going around us for ourselves and for all women.
After each chapter is listed a woman in society and what she has done to show her voice. Also there are sections labeled “What Can Ester Women Do?” which is in reference to Ester from the Bible who helped saved her people.
It was nice to see a woman take a stand and be encouraging and also understanding of what we go through. Don’t let the title or topic prevent you from reading this book.
June 21, 2016
I didn't really have any desire to read this book until a fellow blogger gave it a good review. I am not a huge political person and more often than not I just get frustrated with everything. But this book was really really good. It was written well and in a way for those of us who don't know everything about what's going on. I love how she writes the truth, the facts, and then asks what we can do as Christian women in each area. She writes about topics from sexual assault to ISIS. I really enjoyed the chapters on abortion and marriage, she really hits home on these issues and does it without being hateful.
If you are a conservative Christian who wants to read about politics and issues in our world, this is the book for you!! I highly recommend!
"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free in exchange for an honest review."
If you are a conservative Christian who wants to read about politics and issues in our world, this is the book for you!! I highly recommend!
"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free in exchange for an honest review."
April 22, 2016
I really enjoyed the message of this book. It was exactly what I needed to hear. This is a great book for every woman. Penny is honest, upholding values that I believe to be Godly, while being relevant to our culture. She talks about faith, the things that bother her about our culture, the things that bug her. I love that she is honest, real, but addresses marriage, seasons of life, abortion, other religions and isn't afraid to go there with the reader. This book is one of those books that is so refreshing as a woman in this world who is in the REAL world dealing with REAL issues. If you are in the world, but not of the world, you will like this book! Thank you Zondervan for giving me an opportunity to review this book. I give it 5/5 stars.
July 21, 2016
I think I'm going to have to shelve this one. The first few chapters were intriguing, but then it turned from a book about women standing together and not being afraid to use their voices into an anti- same sex marriage piece. Of course, I disagree with everything she said in that chapter, but that doesn't mean I oppose her right to say it. Even though Nance did bring up some interesting statistics about adoption, she also did mention that the information used was fairly new and there was not a lot of research on the topic yet, so not much could really be said about that. Either way, I don't think I'll be picking this one up again.
May 19, 2024
Pretty good. Had some great points.
September 27, 2017
Conservative Christian commentary from a fierce woman in today's America. I don't agree with everything, but she's a breath off fresh air
Read
January 24, 2018I'm interested in exploring the views of conservative women and discovered this lady via an article on Fox News. (!). Did a quick google search and found this book. I made it 2 hours into the 8-hour read. This is like stepping into a wild wild world. Nance and I disagree about most everything, but the real reason I quit reading was because I popped over to her Twitter page to see whether she's trained her sharp opinions on morality at our current president (who wasn't mentioned in the parts of the book I read) and one of her most recent tweets is a dig at something Hillary Clinton wore. I guess punching down other women is part of the rallying cry?
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews