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The Future is Feminist: Radical, Funny, and Inspiring Writing by Women
A star-studded roster of iconic women write powerfully about what it means to be a feminist yesterday, today, and tomorrow. These poets, essayists, activists, actors, and professors address topics ranging from workplace harassment to resting bitch face. The results are by turns refreshing, provocative, moving, and hilarious. A diverse chorus of intersectional voices and a forward-looking stance set this book apart, and its vibrant, textured package makes it a beautiful gift. It's the smart, covetable anthology that women of all ages will turn to for support and inspiration in the ongoing fight for gender equality.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published February 19, 2019
16 people are currently reading
1303 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Valenti
14 books2,496 followersAward-winning writer and activist Jessica Valenti is the author of seven books, including the New York Times bestseller Sex Object: A Memoir. Her groundbreaking anthology, Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape, paved the way for legislation of the same name, setting what’s now considered the gold standard for sexual consent.
Jessica has also been credited with sparking feminism’s online wave by founding the trailblazing blog Feministing. She’s been a columnist for The Guardian and The Nation, and her writing has been published everywhere from The New York Times and The Atlantic to Bitch magazine and The Toast.
After the demise of Roe, Jessica founded Abortion, Every Day, an urgent synthesis of anything and everything happening with abortion rights in the United States.
She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
Jessica has also been credited with sparking feminism’s online wave by founding the trailblazing blog Feministing. She’s been a columnist for The Guardian and The Nation, and her writing has been published everywhere from The New York Times and The Atlantic to Bitch magazine and The Toast.
After the demise of Roe, Jessica founded Abortion, Every Day, an urgent synthesis of anything and everything happening with abortion rights in the United States.
She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 25, 2019
The text in this collection of essays is printed in neon pink and orange ink; it actually gave me a headache. This may explain why this book has received zero reviews despite being an excellent introduction to feminist writing. Most of the essays were published in the last five years, but there were a few from writers such as Audre Lorde and Mary Wollstonecraft ("Confined then in cages, like the feathered race, they have nothing to do but to plume themselves, and stalk with mock-majesty from perch to perch.")
My favorite essay was probably "On Pandering: How to Write Like a Man" by Claire Vaye Watkins. It made me think about how infrequently I encounter media that is created for people just like me, and how often I engage with media that is written primarily for white men. I often enjoy the latter, but there is something so deeply satisfying about getting to engage with art through a lens that is 100% my own. Is the solution more writing by women for women? How do we encourage those in power to seek diversity?
The phrase, "I'm not here to make friends" echoes in my mind. What is the value of being unlikable?
My favorite essay was probably "On Pandering: How to Write Like a Man" by Claire Vaye Watkins. It made me think about how infrequently I encounter media that is created for people just like me, and how often I engage with media that is written primarily for white men. I often enjoy the latter, but there is something so deeply satisfying about getting to engage with art through a lens that is 100% my own. Is the solution more writing by women for women? How do we encourage those in power to seek diversity?
The phrase, "I'm not here to make friends" echoes in my mind. What is the value of being unlikable?
April 5, 2019
So I really enjoyed some aspects of this book and hated others. The main thing I hated..... was the damn font color! The neon orange was damn near impossible to read, it literally hurt my eyes. When the text was in pink it was "ok" to read, but it was mainly frustrating. Other than that, I really enjoyed the variety of feminist voices and stories shared in this compilation.Some feminist writers I had heard of but never read, others were brand new to me. This collection is empowering and superbly well written. I liked that it included a variety of formats (speeches, poems, essays, etc.), diversity, and feminist text from not just several decades, but from several centuries. They made sure that feminism included not just the middle class white women, but females from all of the world, in different financial circumstances, ages, and ethnicity. The collection ranged from calls to action, empowerment, humor, and educational. A great read in a horribly formatted book.
July 2, 2020
I will focus on the content of the book, instead of font colors and aesthetic choices.
Thank you for publishing this book and collecting the voices over women across our collective timeline to showcase how we are connected. For me, this anthology underscores the struggle that has the power to bring us together as humanity. I’m excited to share pieces from the book with others and engage in a dynamic dialogues about issues that can take words and transform them into change in our world.
Thank you for publishing this book and collecting the voices over women across our collective timeline to showcase how we are connected. For me, this anthology underscores the struggle that has the power to bring us together as humanity. I’m excited to share pieces from the book with others and engage in a dynamic dialogues about issues that can take words and transform them into change in our world.
July 8, 2019
This is a good read, if you can handle the almost unreadable format. Why print a book on feminism in pink type? It's an interesting gimmick, and the page layouts are whimsical and fun, but every time I open the book, I'm immediately confronted by the light pink type. I have to turn on lights and pull out my glasses. Wouldn't a book on feminism be just as great in black type?
There are some great pieces here: Excerpts from Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women, written in 1792, are profoundly interesting. Everything You Wanted to Know about Feminism but Were Afraid to Ask by Rachel Fudge, 2006, is the short guide to modern feminist movements. There's an enlightening analysis of how societal prejudices affect pregant women by Sofia Jawed-Wessel, and advice on how women can deal with online trolls by Ijeoma Oluo.
It's worth the read if you can handle the weird typography.
There are some great pieces here: Excerpts from Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women, written in 1792, are profoundly interesting. Everything You Wanted to Know about Feminism but Were Afraid to Ask by Rachel Fudge, 2006, is the short guide to modern feminist movements. There's an enlightening analysis of how societal prejudices affect pregant women by Sofia Jawed-Wessel, and advice on how women can deal with online trolls by Ijeoma Oluo.
It's worth the read if you can handle the weird typography.
April 16, 2020
I enjoyed most of the entries in this book. Of the 21, there was only one that I skipped as it just didn't interest me. My favourite entries were The Less We Tell Pregnant Women, I'm Not Mad it's Just my RBF, and a Story of a Fuck Off Fund.
June 18, 2019
Interesting selection of articles, but maybe a little America centric for me.
August 5, 2019
The font color made it impossible to read.
Read
November 5, 2020The font color is horrendous, but the content is good. A nice overview of some Feminist writings.
March 19, 2019
This collection of intelligent, humorous, and insightful women's works empowered me. I laughed out loud, practically whooped, and I'm pretty sure my fist shot up a few times. You'll catch yourself biting your lip, nodding in agreement, shaking your head, and craving more. More women like this. You want them at your table, all shouting their opinions and sharing their anecdotes out loud while passing the pasta. The only gripe I have is the ink color. In the early morning, or as it got later in the evening, the ink made the words tiresome, which is the last thing this reader wanted! Don't let that stop you, though. Brave through the pink. It's worth every line.
April 14, 2021
"And honestly, these are not subjects that should still be up for debate to begin with. Whether or not a woman deserves the same pay as a man should not be up for debate. Whether or not a cop should be able to shoot an unarmed black man in the street without consequence should not be up for debate. Whether or not trans people should be able to use the restrooms that match their gender identity in safety should not be up for debate. Whether or not sick people and many disabled people should be allowed to suffer and die without medical coverage in the richest country in the world should not be up for debate.
And if you, in 2017, think that these issues should be up for debate, it is because you've willfully ignored or dismissed the fact that these debates have been had for decades, if not centuries, and progress and general human decency have already shown the fatal flaws of your arguments."
Ijeoma Oluo - 'When A Woman Deletes A Man's Comment Online' - pg.68
"And talking of endless cycles, in the UK men are about 22 times more likely to be sent to prison than women are. Men are more likely than women to both perpetrate, and be a victim of, violence. I don't happen to think men are "naturally" more criminal or violent. But even if there are some hormonal differences involved, I think we're failing boys and men: failing to teach them that there are answers that don't involve violence, that violence says nothing about how "manly" you are, that aggression isn't the best answer to most situations. We need to change our cultural conversation around that, quickly.
Let's teach boys at school the personally and economically valuable skills of self-expression and emotional intelligence, of mediation and problem-solving. It would introduce the expectation that disputes are to be solved with words, thinking, and kindness, not a half-brick to the head. Men are more often the victims of male violence: sorting this out would benefit more men than women." Naomi Alderman - 'Utopian Thinking: How To Build A Truly Feminist Society' - pg. 138
I found the bright funky colours and layout of this book of essays refreshing and forward-thinking. It offers an interesting mix and diversity of modern Feminist thinkers, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Warsan Shire, and Caitlin Moran combined with OG Feminists, such as Sojourner Truth, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Audre Lorde. This book would benefit those who are newer to Feminist Thought, providing them with a platform from which to deep dive, as well as, Women like myself who have been Feminists for decades to be stimulated, affirmed, and expanded.
And if you, in 2017, think that these issues should be up for debate, it is because you've willfully ignored or dismissed the fact that these debates have been had for decades, if not centuries, and progress and general human decency have already shown the fatal flaws of your arguments."
Ijeoma Oluo - 'When A Woman Deletes A Man's Comment Online' - pg.68
"And talking of endless cycles, in the UK men are about 22 times more likely to be sent to prison than women are. Men are more likely than women to both perpetrate, and be a victim of, violence. I don't happen to think men are "naturally" more criminal or violent. But even if there are some hormonal differences involved, I think we're failing boys and men: failing to teach them that there are answers that don't involve violence, that violence says nothing about how "manly" you are, that aggression isn't the best answer to most situations. We need to change our cultural conversation around that, quickly.
Let's teach boys at school the personally and economically valuable skills of self-expression and emotional intelligence, of mediation and problem-solving. It would introduce the expectation that disputes are to be solved with words, thinking, and kindness, not a half-brick to the head. Men are more often the victims of male violence: sorting this out would benefit more men than women." Naomi Alderman - 'Utopian Thinking: How To Build A Truly Feminist Society' - pg. 138
I found the bright funky colours and layout of this book of essays refreshing and forward-thinking. It offers an interesting mix and diversity of modern Feminist thinkers, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Warsan Shire, and Caitlin Moran combined with OG Feminists, such as Sojourner Truth, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Audre Lorde. This book would benefit those who are newer to Feminist Thought, providing them with a platform from which to deep dive, as well as, Women like myself who have been Feminists for decades to be stimulated, affirmed, and expanded.
November 26, 2022
It's always difficult rating anthologies, and for this one, the parts are stronger than the sum here. Valenti has gathered modern Feminist authors and some OG heroines, all arguing the fundamental truth: Feminism is here to stay. But this one feels a bit haphazardly put together, with minimal context given to the authors or the times these pieces were written. I wish there was some chaptering to mark themes, such as gendering politics and the "traditional" roles (and tolls) of women as wives, as well.
It's all very Western, such as a remarkably honest, candid essay on one journalist deleting a troll's comment online and its ensuing havoc. While I often paused to laugh or ponder, the end result is not a complete picture of feminism. I'd like some essays from Eastern countries. Or how about more LGBTQIA+ perspectives beyond one excellent Audre Lorde who wrote, "it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken" (in 1984!). Intersectional feminism is the way, people!
However, many essays are GOLD. I was fascinated by Russell Hochschild's essay on emotion work: displaying feelings is a female-led, carefully contrived art, offering the potential for status and (mis)conceptions of being versus playing "nice." This is something I've struggled with, and she gave words (and research) to why being "nice" isn't always the goal but rather a means to an end... which might not be nice at all.
If you're looking for an intro to feminism, let this be PART of your collection. Womxn supporting womxn is the first step. As one essayist and comedienne Chelsea Handler writes, "We [women] can... start treating other women and our America with more respect than we have obsequiously shown for our traditional male dominators. We need to rise up and use our votes to help ourselves, and to stop hurting ourselves."
It's all very Western, such as a remarkably honest, candid essay on one journalist deleting a troll's comment online and its ensuing havoc. While I often paused to laugh or ponder, the end result is not a complete picture of feminism. I'd like some essays from Eastern countries. Or how about more LGBTQIA+ perspectives beyond one excellent Audre Lorde who wrote, "it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken" (in 1984!). Intersectional feminism is the way, people!
However, many essays are GOLD. I was fascinated by Russell Hochschild's essay on emotion work: displaying feelings is a female-led, carefully contrived art, offering the potential for status and (mis)conceptions of being versus playing "nice." This is something I've struggled with, and she gave words (and research) to why being "nice" isn't always the goal but rather a means to an end... which might not be nice at all.
If you're looking for an intro to feminism, let this be PART of your collection. Womxn supporting womxn is the first step. As one essayist and comedienne Chelsea Handler writes, "We [women] can... start treating other women and our America with more respect than we have obsequiously shown for our traditional male dominators. We need to rise up and use our votes to help ourselves, and to stop hurting ourselves."
October 8, 2019
This was a mixed bag. Which I guess is good - since Feminism and feminist writing spans across the board.
The problem was -- I think I was focused on the "funny and inspiring" part of the title, so when I hit the radical I was a bit turned off. That's just not usually my thing? I like my feminism a la Lindy West or Roxane Gay - really smart, a good dose of humor, and just enough to rile up my sense of injustice.
I think most of these fell into that category, but a few were just a bit too academic and/or radical for me. I either skipped those entirely or did some very serious skimming. The other issue I had was that none of these pieces were new (I don't think). So, I was already familiar with a few of them because they were by women I follow. Which is fine and all to revisit, but it would have been nice to see something new from them.
So, yeah -- this was all great and fine and stuff, but nothing earth-shattering for me. And since so many other reviews mention the typography -- yes, the writing is pink and orange. I honestly didn't find it too distracting or hard to read most of the time. Most of the writing is in pink, and it's dark enough that even in sub-standard lighting I was okay reading it. The orange was definitely tougher, but also not used very much, so it wasn't too bad.
The problem was -- I think I was focused on the "funny and inspiring" part of the title, so when I hit the radical I was a bit turned off. That's just not usually my thing? I like my feminism a la Lindy West or Roxane Gay - really smart, a good dose of humor, and just enough to rile up my sense of injustice.
I think most of these fell into that category, but a few were just a bit too academic and/or radical for me. I either skipped those entirely or did some very serious skimming. The other issue I had was that none of these pieces were new (I don't think). So, I was already familiar with a few of them because they were by women I follow. Which is fine and all to revisit, but it would have been nice to see something new from them.
So, yeah -- this was all great and fine and stuff, but nothing earth-shattering for me. And since so many other reviews mention the typography -- yes, the writing is pink and orange. I honestly didn't find it too distracting or hard to read most of the time. Most of the writing is in pink, and it's dark enough that even in sub-standard lighting I was okay reading it. The orange was definitely tougher, but also not used very much, so it wasn't too bad.
April 2, 2019
The first essay of this anthology begins with the statement "Although we can all agree on the most basic dictionary definition of feminism (the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes), it is rarely ever that simple or straightforward." Despite this acknowledgement of complexity, the book continually veers to essays that simplify and make feminist issues straightforward. Beginning in the essay with a sex-based definition of feminism.
Other examples:
-"A Story of a Fuck Off Fund" - imagining a utopian future where women live like "broke student[s]" in order to save enough money to leave their abusive partners and bosses, rather than needing to stay with them
-A 12 point list for readers of Esquire with tips like "lady-balls to 'men can't be feminists.' We disbelieve that. In our vaginas," ""our priorities are 1) Kindness 2) Jokes; 3) High tolerance of carbs" and "It was actually us that threw those horrible old trainers of yours away."
That's not to say the anthology doesn't have its shining moments. For example, Roxanne Gay, Audre Lorde, Arlie Russell Hochschild, and Sojourner Truth all have essays featured in the book.
But this whole book could have shone. There are so many incredible pieces of feminist writing.
Disappointing overall.
Other examples:
-"A Story of a Fuck Off Fund" - imagining a utopian future where women live like "broke student[s]" in order to save enough money to leave their abusive partners and bosses, rather than needing to stay with them
-A 12 point list for readers of Esquire with tips like "lady-balls to 'men can't be feminists.' We disbelieve that. In our vaginas," ""our priorities are 1) Kindness 2) Jokes; 3) High tolerance of carbs" and "It was actually us that threw those horrible old trainers of yours away."
That's not to say the anthology doesn't have its shining moments. For example, Roxanne Gay, Audre Lorde, Arlie Russell Hochschild, and Sojourner Truth all have essays featured in the book.
But this whole book could have shone. There are so many incredible pieces of feminist writing.
Disappointing overall.
October 11, 2019
This was a nice little collection of feminist essays. I liked the variety some were funny and others more serious. There were two I just couldn't get through. Audre Lorde's was just too deep for me, i got her point and agree with her but it didn't hold my interest. Overall these essays are great reminders as to why feminism is still relevant today and a good way to feel pissed off once more. I was especially impressed with Chelsea Handler's piece, I didn't realize she could write so well. Recommend if you're looking for a collection of light-ish feminist pieces to keep the pissed off person inside of you strong.
February 1, 2022
3 stars: a bunch of essays, one better than the other.
The information: there were some good insights scattered around this book, but I didn't feel like the book was aimed at me (which was not a bad thing).
The readability: this is probably the best place to mention that some pages were hard to read in sub-optimal lighting, because they had a soft neon background color. The readability of the essays was vastly different, which is logical for such a broad collection.
The structure: not much to say about this, it was a collection of essays from different sources/media and it showed.
Best part: the fuck-off fund.
The information: there were some good insights scattered around this book, but I didn't feel like the book was aimed at me (which was not a bad thing).
The readability: this is probably the best place to mention that some pages were hard to read in sub-optimal lighting, because they had a soft neon background color. The readability of the essays was vastly different, which is logical for such a broad collection.
The structure: not much to say about this, it was a collection of essays from different sources/media and it showed.
Best part: the fuck-off fund.
March 14, 2019
The text itself was VERY challenging with the neon orange and pink text color. The content was much better than the challenge of reading it! Some of the essays and texts were more relatable to me than others. I really liked that it was a collection by a variety of authors, and even though some essays made less of a connection to me, I still enjoyed what they brought to the collection as a whole.
March 25, 2019
The Future is Feminist is a brilliant intro to feminism, spanning much time and differing schools of thought. Each essay is different both in subject and mood (yes, some will make you smile.) Despite the hot pink and orange text (I couldn’t read the quotes in orange), I love it. I want it. This is intersectional, empowering, accepting feminism. I feel empowered creatively and mentally.
January 9, 2020
I agree with others about the font. I LOVE bright colors, but the font really did make it difficult to read. I enjoyed the essays, some of which I'd read before (Not here to make friends, Roxane Gay is also in Bad Feminist), and many by feminists I adore. (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mindy Kaling, Audre Lorde. I'm not sure if the future is feminist, but I hope it is.
January 21, 2024
Some chapters do not resonate with me, but I fall so hard for these:
Caitlin Moran's 12 Things About Being A Woman That Women Won't Tell You;
Sofia Jawed-Wessel's The Lies We Tell Pregnant Women;
Roxane Gay's Not Here to Make Friends;
Judy Brady's I Want A Wife
Overall, I enjoy the texts so much! Would've been better if it weren't for the font colors.
Caitlin Moran's 12 Things About Being A Woman That Women Won't Tell You;
Sofia Jawed-Wessel's The Lies We Tell Pregnant Women;
Roxane Gay's Not Here to Make Friends;
Judy Brady's I Want A Wife
Overall, I enjoy the texts so much! Would've been better if it weren't for the font colors.
May 11, 2019
Overall, I enjoyed most of the essays in this collection. There were a few that were a bit harder to get through, but they were all worth the read. The thing I really didn't like was the pink & orange text of the book. As others have noted, it was rather hard to read.
June 9, 2019
The format of this book made it very difficult to read. Seriously. I have never had such a difficult time reading a book because of font color. Why the bright orange highlighting of tiny gray words? The content was okay, but I preferred Kelly Jensen's anthology Here We Are.
July 1, 2019
Excellent collection of essays, some very recent and current, and also significant older works by authors such as Sojourner Truth and Mary Wollstonecraft. However, the book is virtually unreadable due to the pink-colored / white-on-fluorescent orange text. Truly awful design.
August 22, 2019
This is a book of interesting essays. Most of them have been published elsewhere. The only thing wrong with it is the color scheme. Everything is orange and purple, including the text and the pages that text is printed on.
September 4, 2019
Not a deep-dive into this topic but rather a comprehensive overview of the different themes, areas of concern, and opinions of those writing into this space. A joyful and soothing read, even with the hot pink internal text design!
Read
October 8, 2019The font this book is printed in is next to unreadable, unfortunately - the bright pink and orange is totally headache-inducing. May still try to read this one again at another time, or if it's reprinted.
November 20, 2019
A little bit uneven, but there are some solid essays here. I especially liked the ones by Jia Tolentino, Claire Vaye Watkins, and Salma Hayek. Definitely agree with the other reviews that say the design of this book is atrocious. Neon orange text on a pink background is almost impossible to read.
May 7, 2020
My rating might be a little unfair on this one as I just wasn't in the mood to be reading this book. Also I found that most of the essays I'd already read before.
Works better as a coffee table book to dip in and out of rather than a sit down, cover to cover read.
Works better as a coffee table book to dip in and out of rather than a sit down, cover to cover read.
November 16, 2020
The opening essay gave a great primer on the various sub-categories of feminism. Some of my favourites were "On pandering: how to write like a man", "12 things about being a woman that women won't tell you", and "I want a wife" plus the writings of Wollstonecraft and Sojourner Truth.
February 25, 2019
The content of this book was fine, but the text made my eyes hurt. Neon orange and pink? Good for an eye-catching cover, but terrible for the inside text. Ouch.
May 10, 2019
Truly intersectional blend of the personal and political
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews