How to Win at Feminism: The Definitive Guide to Having It All... And Then Some!

by Beth Newell

’People say women can't be funny. WRONG… I love Reductress.’
-Sam Bain, co-creator of Peep Show

The definitive manual on how to be the best feminist you can be—as told by a hilariously misguided yet well-meaning women’s magazine. From the creators of the wildly popular satirical website, Reductress.

From hot feminist sex to a trendy feminist up-do, the bold and brilliant minds behind Reductress reveal the secrets to being super progressive—and cool, hip, and pretty. Feminism today means demanding gender equality—and a fabulous manicure. After all, we’re not wearing girdles and cleaning the house anymore. We’re wearing Spanx and hiring a cleaning lady. That’s feminism!

How to Win at Feminism defines what’s feminist and what isn’t, shows you how to take up space (but not too much space), identifies which clothes and products to be offended by, and offers funny insight, knowledge, tips, and advice every fourth-wave feminist needs, including:

• How to Love Your Body Even Though Hers is Better
• The 9 Circles of Hell for Women Who Don’t Help Other Women
• Designer Handbags to Hold All Your Feminism
• How to Apologize for Having it All
• Finding Your Spirit Feminist
• Rebranding Your Relationship Issues as Feminist Issues

With this ultimate guide—complete with four-color illustrations—you can femsplain feminism to basic friends, and learn how to battle the patriarchy while maintaining a dependable moisturizing routine. We may have come a long way, baby, but we have a long way to go. How to Win at Feminism is the road map to get there!

’Reductress has discovered a rich, deep seam of comedy.’
-Graham Linehan, creator of Father Ted, Black Books and The IT Crowd

Genres: Feminism, Humor, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Womens, Comedy, Satire

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

Reviews

[Kathryn Hemmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

It makes me feel like a crotchety old lady feminist to write this, but this book's satire didn't land with me. Perhaps this is because ironic statements like "women need to smash the patriarchy but look cute doing it or else they're not real feminists" hit a little too close to home. When gender equality is under attack in the real world, it doesn't feel like punching up to create a meanspirited parody of mainstream feminism, especially when the targets of the humor are primarily women. I understand that the authors intend to mock the appropriation of feminist ideology into capitalistic neoliberalism, but some of the sections of this book veer dangerously close to outright misogyny.

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't even with this book. I HATE it. I got to page 81 before I started skimming, and even when I started skimming I couldn't miss stupid headlines like "How to Take Up More Space, but Not Too Much Space." Shut up. I get that this is supposed to be satire, but I did not even so much as crack a smile in EIGHTY ONE PAGES. This book is OBNOXIOUS.

Plus, even after I decided I was going to make it more fun by counting Beyonce references, it proceeded to — over the next 60 pages — only give me four. FOUR! Two thousand(ish) references to Beyonce in the first 20 pages, and then only four?! A failure on every level.

I can't even throw this into my Goodwill donation bag in good conscience. That would mean someone else might pick it up and read it later on down the line, and that seems too terrible a fate for some innocent person. This one's going straight into the recycling bin. Good riddance!

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I was supposed to find this funny, but I found it insulting. It isn't respectful of anyone other than perhaps Beyonce, and definitely isn't something I'd recommend to a young woman trying to figure out what feminism is all about. If anything it insults the entire movement, no matter what wave, era, or whatever you classify yourself as.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that I've finished this book, I'm a better feminist than you. Even if you read it, I'll still be a better feminist because i read it first. But don't feel bad. This book made me such a good feminist, i don't even judge people for being subpar feminists any more!

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could have been two stars but there is a mention of moesha that I really appreciated.

You know how the best part of the reductress is the headlines? Same applies to the book. And sometimes when you read the fine print you start wondering if it is a bit anti women in its satire and that leaves me uneasy.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll be the first to admit satire isn't really my thing. I find most of it to be silly & fail to find the "humor" humorous. That being said, I was still looking forward to this book as I am always looking to add more feminism books to my shelf. This one didn't make it.
I had actually never heard of reductress.com; had I been familiar with their work going in I most likely would have had a different outcome with this book (ie had lower expectations). As one review already stated, they found the book to be offensive (which I concur with). Some examples that I found to be ridiculous: wearing a blazer isn't feminist; all lesbians have "phases"/it's feminist to have a lesbian "phase"/say a chick is hot so your lesbian friends are more comfortable around you; "real" women have curves (PLEASE CAN WE STOP THE BODY SHAMING BY NOW?!) I am aware that this book is supposed to be funny & these statements aren't supposed to be taken that seriously but I just don't find it funny. I didn't laugh once throughout the entirety of it. Didn't have the firm voice on the important issues of feminism that I was looking for. In all actuality I read this to quite honestly be a joke. A book to laugh AT, not with. Not for me.
If you appreciate the craft of satire, are already a fan of the author's works or just looking for a light-hearted basic intro to feminism, this is the book for you. Otherwise, skip.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, and at times hilarious, satire of white straight feminism and non-feminism alike. Great for those of us who grew up with ridiculous media like Cosmopolitan magazine articles. From the team at Reductress, "the feminist Onion."

[Gv · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get through it. Tasteless humour and repetitive jokes. It was fun for ... let's say one page (maybe because the authors usually write articles and it works better for them with a shorter length?). Then it became boring with sprinkles of offensive. Tasteless stereotyping. Satire is tricky and requires subtlety. Which was sadly missing in this book. Would not recommend it to anyone.

[Eryn Dickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't remember laughing out loud this many times while reading a book.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reductress conducts an excellent takedown of pop feminism in this so-called guide to doing feminism. In using platforms of white privilege, it pokes fun of women who claim feminism when it's easy and convenient. A thick-skinned woman with an irreverent sense of humor will enjoy the many digs at privileged and well-intentioned Beckys who, bless their hearts, don't understand that there's more to intersectional feminism than quoting lyrics from Lemonade.

[Jemma Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING

[Mark Fajet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny! I liked the other Reductress book more though

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, hummm. Some of the satire/sarcasm worked and some of it didn't work for me. There are some things you can joke and laugh at. Other things not so much. This book has some LOL moments. It also had it's fair share of hell no not funny moments.
I did like the fake ads spread throughout. Pink Goats International was one of my favs.

[Kirsty Chatwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is meant to be satire. Unfortunately, it’s neither satirical nor funny. Even worse, the ‘satirical’ take on women’s magazines in this book are pretty much identical to the nincompoopery published at Everyday Feminism, which is definitely not meant to be satire.

Honestly, this book is just embarrassing.

[Khadijah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book at Barnes and Noble and started skimming through it. I almost took all the copies just so I could toss them in my grandfather’s shredder. (But I didn’t, I promise.) Anyway, feminism isn’t any more of a joke than BLM or pride, and I bet we’d all love to see 224 pages making fun of everything those activists have contributed, right? *sigh* And are those... actually the names of the writers up there? Did three women make this?

I will cry.

And I understand what this book was going for, I understand that it wasn’t exactly pointing a finger at feminism but at how it’s adapted and twisted and sometimes turned into something else, but the way this was done is kind of seriously not okay.

[Wednesday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, satirical

[Heather Reid]

DNF’d. This is almost funny, but these writers are best at the craft they are famous for, writing for Reductress. The humor just didn’t translate to a book.

[Katelynn Dharap · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pure satire

[Dayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cheeky look at modern day performative feminism that actually sparks some good thought on the topic.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Privilege. We aren't sure what this means, but our friend Jen keeps telling us to 'check it.' Sorry Jen - we use venmo!"

I was recently in a waiting room and decided to skim through Cosmo. Among other things I distinctly remember a nearly neurotic article about how to throw an excellent brunch together for your friends which included what to say if specific things started to go wrong (e.g. you burnt something in the kitchen)

With that fresh in my mind I absolutely adored this audiobook. It basically reads like a podcast satire of faux feminism of all varieties. The first disc is laugh out loud funny in multiple spots - including the descriptions of the "9 circles of female hell." Sadly I would be in circle 4 or 5 for bringing store made chips & dip to potlocks :-(

"Are you ready to be the woman who has depressing statistics memorized like how many plastic bottles there are in the ocean? If not, then maybe you aren't ready for equal pay either!"

The jokes do start to wear thin in some portions but I cannot say enough good things about the audio. Three writers for Reductress read it and really nail the characters they are going for. It's also nice as an actual feminist (!) to be able to comfortably laugh at ourselves

[Natasha Cowles · Rating 1 out of 5]

A satirical guide to being a feminist.

What a mess! This book was absolute trash. The whole time I was reading, it felt like the authors just had no idea who they were satirising; men, consumerism, society, women who are feminists or women who aren’t a feminists. There were one or two funny parts, but the majority of the book had me curling my lips with disgust.

[Tiara Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book is half scathing takedown of white straight feminism, half meanspirited unfunny jokes. Like the website and the Mouth Time podcast, when the jokes land they're smart, topical, and have a really satisfying burn. When they don't work, they bury what is actually a super solid message under too much snark. I enjoyed it, which means yay three stars, but I don't know that I'd recommend it. The satire is great in small doses, but this ends up being a LOT. Most feminist reads leave me feeling empowered. This makes me feel like I've just listened to some mean girls' Burn Book and am expected to praise them about it. Feels kinda icky, to be honest.

[Shari Suarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're picking up this book expecting it to be a serious manual on how to be a feminist you'd be wrong. It's by the creators of Reductress, an online satirical women's magazine. This means that the book is an irreverent and funny look at how to be a feminist. It covers all the usual topics like relationships, loving your body and workplace issues but with a humorous slant. Very funny book but it was a bit too long for my taste.

[Yoo-Yoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was going to be satire when I picked it up, so I was confused for the first ten minutes before I went online to learn what exactly "Reductress" is - a satirical women's magazine!

They poke fun at marketing geared towards women, stereotypes, and societal expectations. It's insightful. It's creative. It's hilarious.

Would recommend for both women and men.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feminism never rests, but it definitely makes you look well-rested!
I love the tongue chiseled into the cheek like a boss and will probably buy this book for every lady I know with a sense-of-humor...

[Yarney Cowlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep opening up to new, random pages and sections and start hysterically laughing

[Gunnar Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really love the comedic style and social commentary the reductress provides but maybe they're be better served publishing a riot grrrl style zine instead of a whole book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funnier than The Onion. Go read it now.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny. Just offensive, but in a sad, "trying-too-hard" kind of way.

[Paul Barta · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7/5: breezy, repetitive, sometimes funny

If you remember those books back in the late 2000s/early 2010s from the writers of The Onion, the Daily Show, and the Colbert Report, this is basically one of those. Breezy, fast, a million jokes per page, ostensibly separated into parts but not really, mostly funny, occasionally stupid: that's what this book feels like. But instead of making fun of classic newspapers (the Onion) and conservative talk shows, this one hits more against magazines like Cosmo.

And sometimes it works! I got a couple snorts out of certain spots, like the dating section and the skincare routine parts. Those parts are quick, play up the absurdity of those stupid magazines, and have genuinely funny writing. There's a "Susan B Anthony is watching" joke that got me out of nowhere. Other times, though, it drags. The first and last parts, in particular, don't feel like part of a book, more like a web archive...plenty of internet speak in those. Jokes are either repetitive or seem to last far longer than they should, or both. There are many creative 1 sentence jokes in here which turn into a 2 page sketch that doesn't land and instead just eats itself.

Also, fair warning, I'm biased because this book is definitely not for my demographic, so I probably missed out on a bunch of references or jokes. This seems to be aimed at 30something women in San Francisco or Brooklyn who are on Instagram way too much, which is fair, because I'm positive that's the website's demographic too. The fascinating thing is that the first part of this book seems to take a knife and lunge at its own audience, satirizing the hell out of them. That may explain all the negative reviews, they basically just got ambushed. Risky move by the writers there, but I respect the guts.