Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood

by Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner, Susana Morris

Norton Young Readers has acquired Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood by Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner, and Susana Morris, founding members of the Crunk Feminist Collective. The book is a guide for teen girls who want to be unapologetically feminist and live their feminism out loud. The book will be published in summer 2020, marking Crunk's 10th anniversary.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Womens, Self Help, Audiobook, Teen, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Brittney Cooper is a writer, teacher, and public speaker. She thinks Black feminism can change the world for the better.

Brittney is Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Africana Studies at Rutgers University. She is co-founder of the popular Crunk Feminist Collective blog. And she is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com and a former contributor to Salon.com. Her cultural commentary has been featured on MSNBC’s All In With Chris Hayes, Melissa Harris-Perry, Al Jazeera’s Third Rail, the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, PBS, Ebony.com, Essence.com, TheRoot.com, and TED.com.

Dr. Cooper is co-editor of The Crunk Feminist Collection (The Feminist Press 2017). She is author of Beyond Respectability: The Intellectual Thought of Race Women (University of Illinois Press, May 2017) and Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower (St. Martin’s, February 2018).

Reviews

[Tomes And Textiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO GOOD! I wish I'd had a guide like this when I was a teen to introduce me to feminist concepts and do so in such a relatable and almost conversational way. This was really well-done and I just adored how each of the authors contributed their own personal experiences to what was being taught.

[Hannah Monson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From page 1, this book is radically inclusive and intersectional. The authors make it clear that it’s a book for all girls, feminists, and not-yet-feminists. In the legacy of Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist, the authors assure the (presumably young) reader that this isn’t a book for experts, it’s here to help you be a better feminist.

The authors write in an easy, conversational style that sounds natural (not like they’re trying to be hip or cool to teens) but also adequately expresses the inherent emotions in the issues. The book is so quotable that I have the urge to send every other sentence to my girlfriends group chat with the praise hands emoji.

As a straight, white, cis-gender, able-bodied, middle class woman, I have never faced intersectional -isms the way that so many women do. While I am passionate about amplifying their voices and experiences, I still have a real knowledge gap in what those experiences look like in different women’s lives. I am grateful to the Crunk Feminist Collective for giving me a bit of insight into what I have missed.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book! I did not have anything like this growing up, and am glad it is available for young girls today. I loved how each author shared their personal experiences throughout the book, doing so in a relatable and conversational way. So many topics are covered in here, areas such as feminist concepts, body confidence, friends and family, disabilities, colorism, racism, and each of these topics are covered with both an intersectional lens and an inclusionary tone which was great, and this is a book I will definitely be referring back to this one as well as recommending it to others.

Thank you so much to Coriolis Company and Norton Young Readers for the free copy to review.

[Risa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ARC of this audiobook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

This was so good. Like, really…SO good. The intended audience for the text is definitely Black girls, but I would suggest that pretty much anyone could learn something from the information and ideas shared here. The language is very much aimed at appealing to teens; some older readers might find that a bit unappealing, but most of the time, it actually seems to work.

Anyway.

I’ll think it over and see if I can craft a more eloquent review in the morning, but wow. Yes. Super impressed with this book, and absolutely thrilled that I was able to experience an early copy.

Edits:
Feminist AF is an excellent book. It covers some essential terminology at the beginning and then moves on to address key areas/issues/ideas that young people may experience in life (family, friends, romance, school, work, etc.), all in the context of a delightfully-intersectional framework. Quotes and ideas from noted writers, activists, and feminists such as Audre Lorde, Roxane Gay, Janet Mock, and many others are included throughout the book, as are suggested lists of further resources. The text is sex-positive and inclusive in terms of gender identity/expression, body size, race, sexuality, ability, class, and other intersections of identity. It is conversational in tone and is informative/educational without feeling preachy. It is a must-read; I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to add to my classroom library. Do yourself a favour and check this one out!!

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for teens and covers a wide range of topics. If you recommend it's important that you couple with context.

I think some of the examples were a bit wonky but I understand the connections are for another generation. But was glaring was the rappers or male figures who have a history of sexism or appropriation which felt like a tone deaf choice 😕

[Meghan Stinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let this book replace the American Girl body book (iykyk) once and for all. This book teaches girls, especially girls of color, how to navigate growing up in a world that tries to tear them down. I wish I would've had a book like this when I was younger. Learning about feminism, patriarchy, sexuality, friendship and more in a modern postcolonial viewpoint is a gift.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

This feels like the type of book that could go alongside "The Care and Keeping of You" as an important title every young girl and woman should read. There are sections which would be most applicable and useful for young Black and Brown women, such as how to navigate colorism, but it covers a large variety of feminist topics through an intersectional lens that everyone could benefit from reading. There are sections discussing struggles with family and friends, navigating sexuality and gender, confidence, and more. I appreciated the continued use of inclusive and nonjudgmental language and how it encourages readers to explore and set boundaries for themselves. In my experience, a lot of the feminist topics are things I and my friends first encountered in college but could have benefited from learning sooner. Overall, it is an engaging, entertaining, and informative read that I wish I'd had when I was younger.

[Marissa Mariano · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is NOT it. I was expecting uplifting and empowering and this was the complete opposite. I don’t even think this is appropriate for teenagers (maybe late teens but if you’re a parent I would read this before giving it to your daughter to make sure). All in all it’s a PASS for me.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Review to follow.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for ALL the girls "who want to make the world better and who need the insights feminism has to make it happen."⁣⁣
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I am a white, 37-year-old, self-proclaimed feminist raising my own feminists and allies with my feminist-loving husband. I read this book 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐅 from the perspective of multiple perspectives - as that of a mom, and as someone looking to expand on my own knowledge of what modern-day feminism looks like. The information within this book is invaluable and something I'll share with my own kids, as it explores feminism within matters of love-of-self and -others, intersectionality, family dynamics, friendship, sex, body politics, race, and white supremacy.⁣⁣
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Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner and Susana Morris are part of the Crunk Feminist Collective, a group of feminists of color who use hip-hop culture to support the effort to empower and enrich the girls of today with the tools and knowledge to collectively smash the patriarchy of tomorrow.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐅 is uplifting and positive, and is a great resource for learning how to live feminism out loud. This book is out in the world TODAY! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Thank you Norton Young Readers for this gifted copy of 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐅: 𝐀 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝. ⁣
⁣

[Nelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is what I needed as a young girl. I really encourage young girls, parents or future parents of girls, and any teacher that works in middle/high school to read this book. I would even that parents read it with their daughters for them to have shared language for their dialogue.

The book touches on all of the heavy topics of feminism and womanism while also making it digestible for anyone who is new to this conversation. I also loved how one of the authors expressed her journey to feminism through Black eyes.

[Alex Nonymous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Feminist AF in exchange for an honest review.

This was so well done! The narration is really engaging and approachable for a teenage audience and does a really good job hyping up the reader about feminist issues and embracing all facets of themselves. This is wonderfully intersectional and makes sure all types of girls are represented and included.

[Sam Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I figured, this is best for young feminists seeing as there are different sections with advice that adults don’t typically need. Besides those sections though this is incredible solid for all ages. There’s content warnings before sensitive topics are covered in a chapter. There’s a good mix of facts, personal experiences, and jokes. These women are hilarious. The audiobook is absolutely incredible and I highly recommend this.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did a YA book teach me more about being a feminist in a few days, as an adult, then 30-something years of living as a self proclaimed feminist?!?!

If I knew then what I know now… 🤯

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for feminists young and old- they cover so many important issues and it is so accessible!

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a grown (feminist) woman, so most of the stuff in Feminist AF by Brittney Cooper, Chanel Craft Tanner, and Susana Morris I knew already. That said, I really wish I would have had a book like this when I was in my formative years. There is a wealth of information in here meant to help empower young WOC to get out there and smash the patriarchy. There seems to be almost no end to what this book has to offer. There is information on colorism, intersectionality, body image, role models, sexuality, sex, gender identity, and the list goes on and on. I was lucky to have a mother who taught me a lot about what it means to be a feminist, but she didn't teach me everything. I think that this book would be perfect for young girls and women of color. In addition to what's in the book, there are lists of places to find additional information, I also really liked the playlists they provided. There are also a lot of quotes from awesome women.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Shayna Small, Robin Eller, and Trei Taylor and they were great! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC.

I definitely recommend this book for young WOC who are trying to understand just what it means to be a feminist in today's world.

[Mae L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the narration. Some things resonated with me such as beauty standards. For instance, in Asian culture, fair/ white skin is seen as beautiful. This audiobook highlights things such as code switching, and that sexism and racism differs amongst different minority groups. The tone is relatable, motivating and empowering. This is a good YA audiobook for those new to exploring the topics of racism and feminism. Certain things are mentioned such as being kind versus being nice. There is also an interesting perspective that black males that are killed receive more justice and attention on the media versus black females. It seems often times black females that are attacked and killed are overlooked, while their attackers/ killers get slaps on their wrists. This includes members of the LGBTQ. I love the advice on not being ashamed of your actions and owning what you did. I like the idea of not letting people’s interpretations get in the way of their own values and redefining their own beliefs. I like the recommendations of books, shows and movies.

Some of the celebrity quotes dragged on a little too much for me. This audiobook mainly focuses on the perspective from the Western world.

[Magpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book addressing intersectional feminism for young women and femmes of color. These authors tackle topics from racism to intergenerational trauma to sexuality with humor and honesty. Strongly recommend for people of all gender identities and ethnicities if only for a stronger sense of empathy and a better grasp of the sort of world we need to fight to make.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very beginning of the book, these wonderful feminists (AKA, the Crunk Feminist Collective) welcomes you with open arms and warm inclusive conversation. They tell you in the book that the advise they are giving should sound like something a hip aunt or cool older big sister could be doling out, without any pressure or admonishments that parents may contribute. This book is a safe place for womxn to learn from, to regale in, to nod your head and snap your fingers in agreement with the knowledge and wisdom that a reader could potentially soak up while reading this guidebook to becoming Feminist AF.

The book is geared towards those femmes who want to be feminists, for womxn of all nationalities, ethnicities, and those from all backgrounds to be included in this conversation about how to be a feminist, and what it means to be feminist AF in our society today.

The book is supremely intersectional, and covers a vast amount of information in 200 or so odd pages. I was impressed at how easy going, but also very meaningful the messaging was to young women.

The three authors discuss the pressures girls face from society, peers, parents, and the media, and how intense it can be for young women to navigate and not feel a bit lost. The topics that are discussed are handled in an intimate, thoughtful, and accessible way that haven’t been and cannot be addressed by white feminists texts, as white feminism leaves out womxn of color. The tone of this book allows the reader to feel seen. Allows the reader to drop their defense a bit because the Crunk Feminist Collective is coming from a place of love and understanding. The authors acknowledge the issues that young womxn of color face today, which are complex and overwhelming at times. This book is for everyone. This book is freedom.

#youareenough #youareworthy were big hashtags that I gleaned while reading this book. The authors also warn readers about the dangers of internalizing the lies that white patriarchy and capitalism tells us about ourselves. The authors want to make sure that us womxn value ourselves and believe in ourselves so that we can crush our goals, be successful, and smash the MF patriarchy on a daily basis.

I really appreciated this book, and will save it for my daughters when they come of age. In the meantime though, I will glean some of these lessons and teach myself and my daughters what it means to be Feminist AF as we go about our daily routines in work and school so that we can continue living our best lives, but also making sure there is room for other girls/womxn to do the same. This book is also interactive and engaging. Asking young readers to do some introspective work so that they can understand and know for themselves how to be Feminist AF, and what to do if they aren’t on the right track. The authors also tell personal stories about their rearing and how they came to know and understand the power Feminists have in making space for all to have a voice in our society.

The book comes from a secular intersectional world view that is divorced from religion. So, some of the ideologies that are in the book may not line up to some religious customs or belief systems that one may have. The language in this book definitely stems from the hiphop genre, so there may be some womxn who may not care for the explicit language that shows up in this book. However, the explicit language does present itself in proper context to get the right emphasis on what is being discussed in a manner that gets people’s attention.

The authors really did the damn thang in this book though to be honest. They covered a host of information in such a thoughtful and nonjudgmental way that this book will be talked about for generations.

The book covers YOU (the reader), beauty, family and friends, smashing the patriarchy, America, sex, health, race, class, chronically ill womxn, disabled womxn, and so much more.

Overall though, this book is FYE FYE! (In the words of Tobe) I would rate it a 4/5.

*Parental advisory for language if reader is under 18*

[Tri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a hard time rating this book. I’m not the target audience for this (Teen-ish black girls), but I wanted to find some feminist books for my nieces when they’re a little older.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure if this is one I’d feel comfortable sharing with them, and that fact deeply saddens me.

To start, the opening throws a lot of jargon at the reader that might be unfamiliar to a teen if they hadn’t already been exploring feminist ideas, literature, and/or guides. Some of the lingo is defined by the authors for clarity, but others aren’t.
The book uses the term ‘feminist/feminism’ but doesn’t go into depth of WHY some aspects are considered feminist and some aren’t. The book will say ‘society wants you to [xyz], but feminism says you can actually [xyz]!”, but not explain why feminism ‘says’ that or often not give historical examples to draw a stronger point. Feminism in these cases feels more as a term for counter-culture and not socio-political ideology for how society should change for the better. You could replace ‘feminism’ with ‘punk rock’ half the time and get the same impact.

Not necessarily a feminist term, but the ‘Bechdel Test’ was defined as a term that “Hollywood uses” for films/movies.
Uh. No?
Hollywood does not use that. The Bechdel Test is based on a comic by lesbian artist Alison Bechdal about a measure of the representation of women in film and other fiction. This measure is often employed by audiences to discuss female characters. The authors don’t mention Alison at all when talking about it, which was really odd to me.

Alarmingly, the book talks about sexual/romantic relationships but doesn’t talk about safety on and offline. The advice given to a teen girl who might have had a video of her doing a sex act leaked to others is to flip it by making a joke or to be confident about it. I was genuinely so taken aback, I had to rewind the audiobook to make sure I heard it correctly.
To make things clear: A teen being sexually active isn’t the end of the world, but having your face/body recorded and shared while you’re still underage is a *crime*. Regardless of the age of who’s sharing it or who consented, in most states in the US this is considered CSEM. The fact that the authors don’t warn readers about sharing/recording material and don’t even mention how having that leaked online could effectively make it impossible to erase is baffling to say the least.

In the same vein I’m also shocked at the lack of advice regarding how to navigate the internet. For a book published in 2020, there’s little mention of how teens are more online than ever, and the authors don’t explore that topic. Teenagers use the internet for school, relationships, news, etc and to not talk about it for at least a chapter misses the book’s demographic entirely.

Another thing that bugged me was the Harry Potter references. There’s two long ones, but it feels uncomfortable that by the time of this book’s publishing, Rowling was already showing her hands about her transphobia, and it’s disappointing to see references to her work in a book that talks about LGBT teens.

While I do appreciate the portions that talk about boundaries, self-esteem, building positive relationships, body positivity, inclusivity, and overcoming hardships, you can find similar advice in other teen-centered books. The portions with good advice are outweighed by the portions that range from incorrect to genuinely harmful advice to tell a teenager. If I find a good intersectional feminist book that’s directed to teens, I’ll edit this review and put it here.

[MCLIB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feminist AF is a nonfiction book created for teenager girls, specifically woman of color, on growing up, dealing with society and living a feminist lifestyle. The authors talk about “What is feminism?” and “What effect do feminists have on the world today?”. This book covers topics including body positivity, relationships, sex, reproductive rights, and family boundaries.

This book is a well-rounded guide to teenager girls looking to understand more about themselves, the world, and how they can make a place for themselves in it. The authors state multiple times that although this book appears to be mainly written for black teenagers, it does include information helpful for all teens. Teenagers may find select sections of this book more helpful depending on their life circumstances. The authors play out various life scenarios and explain how to handle them in attempt to help their readers. This book is filled with notes about movies, music, poetry, and more that teenagers may find helpful in their quest to live a feminist lifestyle.

[Rebecca Brenner Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

FEMINIST AF is where feminism is at today. it’s intersectional, antiracist, thoughtful & fierce as ever. I hope as many people as possible — especially young women and girls — read this book.
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key topics — gender is a spectrum. critical race theory. body positivity. sexual liberation. practical advice for friendship and self care amid the world’s challenges. everything explained carefully and precisely.
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thank you Netgalley for this advanced listening copy! I read it in a few days. engaging, well-written, and urgent- highly recommend!

[Melissa Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in November 2021, "Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood," by Chanel Craft Tanner, Susana M. Morris, and Brittney Cooper, is a nonfiction YA book about intersectional feminism specifically tailored for young women of color.

This book is especially aimed at young Black women. I thought it was a good book, but felt like something written for BIPOC who are already on Twitter and Reddit for at least an hour a day.

I thought this book was good, and it's important. Highly recommended for its target audience.

Four stars.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy.

This book is brilliant. It's the book I needed when I was 15, 25, and probably even 35. The target audience is young women of color, but it embraces and encompasses the needs of queer, trans, gender-fluid, nonbinary, white folks, etc. Everyone who identifies as female will get something out of this book. (Those identifying as male need to hear/read it, too.) This book is so empowering and potentially life-changing.

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is ringing all my bells. Loved the writing, the "look, let me tell you how it really is" kind of vibe throughout, and the examples given of the complex topics covered in this book. I ripped through it and then gave it right to a friend. I feel like I've got mental notes I'll be going over for days, and I wish I had this book as a teen, so that just means I'll be giving this to my kid (or the updated version) when the time comes.

[Dirty Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this is hard to rate. I think the ARC may have been the issue and the flow may be corrected with beta reads. I like that the women were all PhD holding women . It felt very look how amazing we are. The writing however was underwhelming because it felt like people talking at the salon and i didnt get the we are women hear us roar vibe i was expecting.

[Kasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so outstanding, I need it on my bookshelf! It is such an inclusive read, is empowering for young readers, and the best part is that it gives the reader the language to advocate for themselves and others. This book should be in every middle and high school classroom.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guide is an outstanding introduction to intersectional feminism for young people. It provides a ton of framework and gives readers room to make their own choices on how they want to apply the concepts. This guide is also careful to be gender-inclusive. I think my biggest criticism is that this pointedly inclusive book is subtitled ‘A Guide to Crushing Girlhood. I’m sure it has something to do with marketing but I feel like this will alienate part of the intended audience.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

From beginning to end this book breathed inclusivity in every way, stretching beyond just word choose to touching on and validating the experiences of every young girl and femme person. This book really embodies the principle of 3rd wave feminism, intersionality! A great resource for anyone looking to learn about modern day feminism!!!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended reading for all girls and their caregivers, but especially Black girls, for whom this book is written. Not sure how well it will hold up over time, as the references and vernacular will date this fast. But make this book available when you can.