What do you think?
Rate this book
Das Buch vom Feminismus: Ein intersektionaler Leitfaden für die nächste Generation
„Das Buch vom Feminismus“ ist eine knallbunte Einführung in den intersektionalen Feminismus für die nächste Generation von Aktivist*innen.
In diesem Handbuch für Kinder und junge Erwachsene ab 10 Jahren kartografiert die Erfolgsautorin Jamia Wilson die Punkte, an denen sich Gender, Ethnie, Klasse, Fähigkeiten, Sexualität und Kultur treffen. Sie erzählt ihre eigene Geschichte, nennt die relevanten Statistiken und Zitate und lädt ihre Leser*innen dazu ein, ihre eigene Antwort auf die Frage zu finden: „Was bedeutet heute eigentlich Feminismus?“
• Ein neues feministisches Standardwerk für junge Erwachsene
• Intersektional und inklusiv: ein Buch für alle!
• Behandelt 15 Themen rund um Feminismus: von Geld und Gesundheit, über Medien und Aktivismus bis hin zu Beziehungen und Bildung
• Herausragend illustriert von der französischen Star-Grafikerin Aurélia Durand
In diesem Handbuch für Kinder und junge Erwachsene ab 10 Jahren kartografiert die Erfolgsautorin Jamia Wilson die Punkte, an denen sich Gender, Ethnie, Klasse, Fähigkeiten, Sexualität und Kultur treffen. Sie erzählt ihre eigene Geschichte, nennt die relevanten Statistiken und Zitate und lädt ihre Leser*innen dazu ein, ihre eigene Antwort auf die Frage zu finden: „Was bedeutet heute eigentlich Feminismus?“
• Ein neues feministisches Standardwerk für junge Erwachsene
• Intersektional und inklusiv: ein Buch für alle!
• Behandelt 15 Themen rund um Feminismus: von Geld und Gesundheit, über Medien und Aktivismus bis hin zu Beziehungen und Bildung
• Herausragend illustriert von der französischen Star-Grafikerin Aurélia Durand
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2021
27 people are currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Jamia Wilson
29 books163 followersJamia is a feminist activist, writer, and speaker. She joined Random House as vice president and executive editor in 2021. As the former director of the Feminist Press at the City University of New York and the former VP of programs at the Women’s Media Center, Jamia has been a leading voice on women’s rights issues for over a decade. Her work has appeared in numerous outlets, including the New York Times, the Today Show, CNN, Elle, BBC, Rookie, Refinery 29, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and The Washington Post. She is the author of Young, Gifted, and Black, the introduction and oral history in Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World, Step Into Your Power: 23 Lessons on How to Live Your Best Life, Big Ideas for Young Thinkers, ABC's of AOC, and the co-author of Roadmap for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Advocacy, and Activism for All.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was extremely informational, while still keeping the reader engaged with the fun and bright colors and illustrations.
I docked one star from my review because I feel like the author fell into the trap of grouping all non-binary individuals together. While I appreciated the inclusion, this falls into the assumption that all non-binary people are afab (assigned female at birth), when this is simply untrue. Terms like Misogyny-Affected, or MA, may have been better. The author clearly had good intentions, but the perpetuation of that stereotype bothered me.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to all feminists, whether they already consider themselves well-read and informed or not!
I docked one star from my review because I feel like the author fell into the trap of grouping all non-binary individuals together. While I appreciated the inclusion, this falls into the assumption that all non-binary people are afab (assigned female at birth), when this is simply untrue. Terms like Misogyny-Affected, or MA, may have been better. The author clearly had good intentions, but the perpetuation of that stereotype bothered me.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to all feminists, whether they already consider themselves well-read and informed or not!
January 29, 2022
This book was interesting and the illustrations were beautiful but it was written in a style that was not very engaging or gripping so it took me a long time to read.
August 8, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of This Book is Feminist in exchange for an honest review.
Whoever wrote This Book is Feminist's description did an excellent job because I don't think I've ever read anything else that lined up as closely with my expectations as this one. You get exactly what it tells you and it does a good job in it's presentation of information. The only reason I'm not giving it a higher rating is because at 160 pages, there's only really so much you get the chance to present but if you know this book's short going in, I'm sure you'll find it useful.
Whoever wrote This Book is Feminist's description did an excellent job because I don't think I've ever read anything else that lined up as closely with my expectations as this one. You get exactly what it tells you and it does a good job in it's presentation of information. The only reason I'm not giving it a higher rating is because at 160 pages, there's only really so much you get the chance to present but if you know this book's short going in, I'm sure you'll find it useful.
March 30, 2022
“No one mind or one voice defines the entirety of what feminism is and can be, and that is why it is so visionary and always on time.”
—
I love the creative and inspired way that this intro to intersectional feminism is delivered. I think it’s really accessible and covers a wide variety of topics while emphasizing the evolving nature of feminism.
—
I love the creative and inspired way that this intro to intersectional feminism is delivered. I think it’s really accessible and covers a wide variety of topics while emphasizing the evolving nature of feminism.
April 19, 2021
I'll be honest, I'm not usually a fan of feminist books because I feel they tend to preach at me, so it was a pleasant surprise that I found this book to be an enjoyable read.
The title calls the book a primer and I think it really is the perfect introduction for a young feminist. It has, what I would consider, more standard chapters about History and Media as well as some interesting new takes on topics like Wellness and Relationships. I like the idea that is is not just about one chapter or subject, but the book looks at feminism as "a path for critical thought and discourse within and outside of itself."
The authors kept the book engaging by asking readers to think about their belief systems and what influenced those beliefs. Each chapter also included interactive calls to action that require readers to pause and think about what they've read. The self-relection combined with interesting stories and statistics make for a great learning experience for the reader.
Toward the end of the book there's a comment about how there is "no one right path" for feminism and I think that's what's really unique about this book. It doesn't try to tell you what to do or what is right, but presents a framework for a thoughtful, informed reflection on what feminism means to you.
The title calls the book a primer and I think it really is the perfect introduction for a young feminist. It has, what I would consider, more standard chapters about History and Media as well as some interesting new takes on topics like Wellness and Relationships. I like the idea that is is not just about one chapter or subject, but the book looks at feminism as "a path for critical thought and discourse within and outside of itself."
The authors kept the book engaging by asking readers to think about their belief systems and what influenced those beliefs. Each chapter also included interactive calls to action that require readers to pause and think about what they've read. The self-relection combined with interesting stories and statistics make for a great learning experience for the reader.
Toward the end of the book there's a comment about how there is "no one right path" for feminism and I think that's what's really unique about this book. It doesn't try to tell you what to do or what is right, but presents a framework for a thoughtful, informed reflection on what feminism means to you.
September 12, 2021
It was impossible to put it down. i love the illustration, the way that the book makes rethink about things that are happening around me. I'd recommend the book to everybody. It's a book to change the world
August 1, 2021
I really enjoyed and learned a lot from This Book is Anti-Racist, so I was excited to request this one. One thing I've thought about a lot as I've learned more about the history of feminism and intersectional feminism is how I can guide my (white, blonde, male-presenting) 7-year-old through their discovery of feminism. They recently discovered the existence of sexism (in a bedtime story of all things) and were horrified. I snapped this book up when I saw it because I knew that in order to guide them, I need to know as much as possible.
I learned a LOT in this book. There's so much history and insight into how different groups experience the world and feminism, and I found my own views challenged as I pondered the many exercises and questions at the end of each chapter.
I loved the myriad of quotes from feminist leaders that began each chapter, and found them to be thought-provoking and challenging. The art and layout of the book were bright and engaging and drew me in to the well-written, thoughtful, and highly informative content.
I would recommend this to anyone curious about feminism, and though it is aimed at young people I find that it is a good intro to people of any age. I came away with a lot of knowledge I didn't have before, as well as a determination to put these ideas into practice in my own life.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing an e-arc for review.
I learned a LOT in this book. There's so much history and insight into how different groups experience the world and feminism, and I found my own views challenged as I pondered the many exercises and questions at the end of each chapter.
I loved the myriad of quotes from feminist leaders that began each chapter, and found them to be thought-provoking and challenging. The art and layout of the book were bright and engaging and drew me in to the well-written, thoughtful, and highly informative content.
I would recommend this to anyone curious about feminism, and though it is aimed at young people I find that it is a good intro to people of any age. I came away with a lot of knowledge I didn't have before, as well as a determination to put these ideas into practice in my own life.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing an e-arc for review.
August 14, 2021
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group's Frances Lincoln Children's Books imprint for sending me an ARC of this book to review! This is the next book in the series that started with This Book is Anti-Racist. I loved the information as well as the care that was taken to provide diverse representation of feminism in this book.
This book is branded for use with children ages 10-14, but the content would certainly be appropriate for high schoolers. The author previously taught a university course on Intro to Feminism, and many of her examples related to some of her own experiences when she was a college student/young adult that might require a bit more explanation for a middle school audience. This didn't seem like a problem to me, just know that many 10-14 year-olds might need help, particularly with the questions at the end of each chapter. Here's an example of some of the "Call to Action" questions in the chapter about Wellness:
"What is one step you can take to care for yourself today, this week, and this month that costs nothing?" (Someone age 10-14 should be able to answer this question independently.)
"The concept of corporate wellness is expensive in our culture. How do you think this relates to colonialism? Racism? Sexism? Caste? Economic status?" (Since the term "corporate wellness" was alluded to in the chapter, but not explicitly explained or defined, this question might require 10-14 year-olds to have a little more support from an adult in order to understand what it is asking.)
Great book for young people of all ages to learn about feminism and how to take action! This book is available now.
This book is branded for use with children ages 10-14, but the content would certainly be appropriate for high schoolers. The author previously taught a university course on Intro to Feminism, and many of her examples related to some of her own experiences when she was a college student/young adult that might require a bit more explanation for a middle school audience. This didn't seem like a problem to me, just know that many 10-14 year-olds might need help, particularly with the questions at the end of each chapter. Here's an example of some of the "Call to Action" questions in the chapter about Wellness:
"What is one step you can take to care for yourself today, this week, and this month that costs nothing?" (Someone age 10-14 should be able to answer this question independently.)
"The concept of corporate wellness is expensive in our culture. How do you think this relates to colonialism? Racism? Sexism? Caste? Economic status?" (Since the term "corporate wellness" was alluded to in the chapter, but not explicitly explained or defined, this question might require 10-14 year-olds to have a little more support from an adult in order to understand what it is asking.)
Great book for young people of all ages to learn about feminism and how to take action! This book is available now.
July 15, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
In this beautifully illustrated book, the author explores the points where gender, race, class, ability, sexuality, and culture meet. Throughout the book, readers are asked to respond to calls to action and form their own views on feminism. Written in a way that all can understand, this book is for everyone, and can be a great tool for discussing feminism with students.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, I couldn't request it fast enough! I purchased a copy of "This Book is Antiracist" almost a year ago, and this book is just as promising. This book will be a great resource for my middle school classroom, and I can't wait to buy a physical copy to share with my students! Pick this up!
In this beautifully illustrated book, the author explores the points where gender, race, class, ability, sexuality, and culture meet. Throughout the book, readers are asked to respond to calls to action and form their own views on feminism. Written in a way that all can understand, this book is for everyone, and can be a great tool for discussing feminism with students.
When I saw this book on NetGalley, I couldn't request it fast enough! I purchased a copy of "This Book is Antiracist" almost a year ago, and this book is just as promising. This book will be a great resource for my middle school classroom, and I can't wait to buy a physical copy to share with my students! Pick this up!
Want to read
April 16, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
June 25, 2021
Thoughtful book with beautiful illustrations. Another hit from the authors!
June 9, 2023
The art in this book is amazing, I could literally just flip through and look at the pages and have a grand time.
I think with this book I wanted more info on feminist theory/issues/etc., and less personal experiences but I understand that’s not what the book was trying to do. I think this is a great primer, just as stated, but that being said, this needs to be just one book in the line of many on feminism. No book could do the entirety of feminism justice, especially one so short.
I think with this book I wanted more info on feminist theory/issues/etc., and less personal experiences but I understand that’s not what the book was trying to do. I think this is a great primer, just as stated, but that being said, this needs to be just one book in the line of many on feminism. No book could do the entirety of feminism justice, especially one so short.
July 20, 2021
ARC copy supplied by NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books
This Book Is Feminist it’s such a beautifully illustrated book that helps you to understand the feminist movement very easily. If you decide to read it you will not only get yourself educated in the matter but also, it will provide you with tools to help future generations.
His reading takes you into exploring different matters such as race, gender, sexuality, class, culture, etc. I don’t think that this reading is a “light reading” because it provides you with a lot of information! But the way that is written makes it pleasant to read.
This Book Is Feminist it’s such a beautifully illustrated book that helps you to understand the feminist movement very easily. If you decide to read it you will not only get yourself educated in the matter but also, it will provide you with tools to help future generations.
His reading takes you into exploring different matters such as race, gender, sexuality, class, culture, etc. I don’t think that this reading is a “light reading” because it provides you with a lot of information! But the way that is written makes it pleasant to read.
August 16, 2021
I chose to read this book as an effort to read different perspectives to make the effort to understand them. This book caused a lot of thoughts and different emotions, which is why I could not think about it in terms of likeability for it just doesn't fit well with me. That is why the 3-star rating should be read as neutral. Yes, I am taking the easy the way out of calling it neutral instead of separating all of my individual emotions to get a true rating. Yet, I think if I did it would be accurate to say it would be 2.5, but Goodreads doesn't have half ratings. This is going to be a long review, because I want to dive into this book. It would be better if I could go line by line, but I do not have time for that and I think I will run out of characters if I did that. Also my review style is going to sound like I am just naysaying everything, but that is because I am not in real time talking to someone to expand or clarify the points that I bring up. My style is to continue to poke holes at something until it either holds or it falls apart, especially when I feel I have the stronger argument. So here we go.
Chapter One: What Does Feminism Mean?
Did we actually get a definition? I looked at this chapter again after I read the entire book and I do not think we were given an explicit, official definition. On page 6, Jamia Wilson says "...sadly, what has stayed the same since the word was first described as 'the qualities of females' in an English dictionary in the 1840s. Then on page 8 she says this "Although I was happy people were looking up the definition of feminism, I yearned for the dictionary to speak more about the feminism I embrace and live for-one that includes and uplifts the connection between: racial justice, disability, immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, labor rights, reproductive justice, environmental justice, and feminism."
The American Heritage Dictionary (copyright page was lost from our copy a longtime ago) says this: "A doctrine that advocates or demands for women the same rights granted men, as in political and economic status." This seems more accurate to what so far has occurred in its history, but what the author refers to seems speaking to human rights as a whole. White men can be immigrants and have disabilities too, shouldn't they also be treated with equality? If you going to say that we need to look at intersectionality then you cannot just isolate it to just women and other people in the global majority. A lot of the rights that Jamia Wilson talks about speaks to the larger topic of human rights and treating each human with the dignity they deserve.
Chapter Two: The Name Game-Would a word by any other name
I had some sticking points with this based on my own experience, which is sticking point I have with this book as a whole. While there are some general points in this book, it seems like is largely based on the authors experiences. When looking at the United States presidents, I did not think of it as a subtle message saying women and people of color do not belong as president. Also technically Obama is the first president of mixed-race, which you could make the argument that being mix-race is better representation of the melting pot of America (that just came to me as I was writing this). Also when I was reading this section and others I was thinking that if most women experience bias and sexism then I must be one of the luckiest women on the planet or I am one of the most oblivious, because I do not remember encountering it.
How feminism (whatever it is-remember still unsure about that) is presented here it does not "click for me." While Jamia Wilson does the barest mentioning of religion, that piece was missing for me and why this entire book was hard for me. For me a better book on feminism and religion was Girl, Arise!: A Catholic Feminist's Invitation to Live Boldly, Love your Faith, and Change the World. When it comes to rights and make sure everyone is living up to their dignity and potential, I think we need to look at humans as whole and not just those who have been marginalize and oppress. I fear if we only look at those who have been oppressed and try to lower those who have not been oppress then a new group of oppress and marginalize people will rise. I am skipping over chapter 3, because I do not have anything that immediately comes to mind.
Chapter 4: Identity
This is another chapter where I clash with the author, because I am coming at this with a Catholic background that is supported by the Catechism. Everyone was created by God and created in His image with traits that can be shared by others, but are combined into unique ways. I may have similar characteristics to other people, but that doesn't mean I will follow their path or them me. With that I also believe that our bodies are part of our identity, which stems from the belief that God created us body, mind, and soul. Those concepts were not meant to be separated, until original sin happen and death came into being. We experience life through our bodies, so why shouldn't our bodies be part of our identity? Bodies cannot change form, because we are not shapeshifters or skrulls. That is why it is hard for me to understand the concept of gender being fluid, but that doesn't mean we cannot dressed up in different clothes or act in different ways. Just because something has two choices or binary doesn't mean it can limit you. At the end of the day, you limit you. To put it a different way, I do not think making up another gender to match someone's feelings is the way to go. If we are saying men and women are not stereotypes then why do have to create other genders? Can we just say a man and woman are acting how they were created within reason without resorting to other categories? Until we exhaust all possibilities we shouldn't need to create brand new categories.
Equality and Equity
Major stickiness for me here and where I need some more clarification. Equality was defined as "giving everyone the same opportunities, treatment, and support" and equity was defined as "giving people what they need in order to make things fair and equal." Equity was also follow up with the sentence "Equity is how we get equal." Does that mean equity wants everyone to have the same outcome? If that is true then the box example doesn't match the point.
There are three figures on the page, where each are given a box to stand on to see the view. One figure is tall with an Asian appearance, another is average height with darker complexion, and the last one is in wheelchair. Then the book asks the questions about can they see the same thing, is anyone left out, sees the most, and shortchanged. The only one who is truly left out is the person in the wheelchair. This means on the next page she should get accommodations and it is not necessary for everyone else, because the tall person and the average height person has the roughly the same view. You cannot blame a tall person for being tall. That was how they were created so they shouldn't be punish for it. Also tall people have tradeoffs, due to their height or how the height is formed. My brother is tall, but it is roughly equally split between his legs and torso. This means finding a car where he fits in the backseat is hard for roofs sloped down for some reason. Also tall people have to move around more or else they can get health problems.
The equity page shows everyone with different boxes. The tall person's box is significantly lowered from the previous page. The average person's box was also lowered. The person in the wheelchair is on a box with a ramp. Yet, if equity means everyone is on the same level then this example failed for nobody's head lines up with each other and the person in the middle is a smidge taller than the rest. While this was not the illustrator's point, the person in the middle could be described as male and the other two could be described as female. This means the equity page kind of shows the males being taller than the other two. On the equity page, nobody's head lines up evenly, which to means they are all equal for they are all the same. The person in the middle is a smidge taller than everyone else.
Also the wording about equity is particularly worrisome. "Based on circumstances, it gives more to those who need it, and less to those who don't, so they can reach their potential" (Wilson, Jamia, 33). What?! Who is supposed to decide who has more or less? How is someone supposed to judge who has less? Also if we go back to the box example I could argue that the person in the wheelchair can still use that box they just need to manipulate their surroundings, which would mean that it is not a sign of inequality. It is question of manipulating circumstances and using your knowledge to improve the situation. Also everyone's potential is different. My maxed potential is different from yours, but that doesn't mean we are at odds or superior/inferior to each other. In the most recent movie of Little Women, Emma Watson's character says something like this "Just because my dreams are different from yours doesn't mean they are less important." Then in Haikyu!! and Kuroko's Basketball we see players work their strengths and weaknesses to their advantage. There is a line that says something like the world being unfair at the same time it is being fair in Haikyu!!.
The Author's Examples and Experiences
Nobody. NOBODY. should experience the terrible things that the author, Jamia Wilson, experienced. That is not good at all! In that respect, we should all try harder to treat people with respect and dignity even when they are wrong or different from us. (I know radical concept that even I am still working head around). My heart ache for the author when I read about her experiences.
Facts and Figures
While there is a notes page, I was not happy with it. There was only five notes, but there was a lot more facts and figures that were used. A lot of times the fact is given and then it lists who said it, but there was no bibliography. There was nothing that refer me to a specific source to double-check the information. That is why this book had more a feel of being a memoir-based primer instead of a fact-based-primer with memoir examples to illustrate the concepts.
Words and Meanings
There are some words and points that I struggle with that I wish were defined more by the author, such as reproductive rights. Reproductive rights is not just a woman issue. It's a human issue. Yes, a woman bears the brunt of the work, but without the sperm no life can be created. Both men and women have the right to reproduce. Also when people talk about reproductive rights they also mention "my body my choice" as seen on page 65. That is a huge sticking point for me, because a baby or a fetus is not the woman's body. It is IN her body, but it does not have the exactly the same DNA as the rest of the body and that make it not her body. So what does "my body" means?
There were other points that I would like to mention, but I am running out of time and patience. While it is unlikely I will get this book again, I may fill out those points at later date and time.
Verdict: This book is a good starting point, but this book is meant to be read with other people to get a conversation going. I feel the more people talk and expose to different things then I think we realize that we are all the same as in what really matters as Mandisa and Tobymac mention in their song Bleed the Same.
Chapter One: What Does Feminism Mean?
Did we actually get a definition? I looked at this chapter again after I read the entire book and I do not think we were given an explicit, official definition. On page 6, Jamia Wilson says "...sadly, what has stayed the same since the word was first described as 'the qualities of females' in an English dictionary in the 1840s. Then on page 8 she says this "Although I was happy people were looking up the definition of feminism, I yearned for the dictionary to speak more about the feminism I embrace and live for-one that includes and uplifts the connection between: racial justice, disability, immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, labor rights, reproductive justice, environmental justice, and feminism."
The American Heritage Dictionary (copyright page was lost from our copy a longtime ago) says this: "A doctrine that advocates or demands for women the same rights granted men, as in political and economic status." This seems more accurate to what so far has occurred in its history, but what the author refers to seems speaking to human rights as a whole. White men can be immigrants and have disabilities too, shouldn't they also be treated with equality? If you going to say that we need to look at intersectionality then you cannot just isolate it to just women and other people in the global majority. A lot of the rights that Jamia Wilson talks about speaks to the larger topic of human rights and treating each human with the dignity they deserve.
Chapter Two: The Name Game-Would a word by any other name
I had some sticking points with this based on my own experience, which is sticking point I have with this book as a whole. While there are some general points in this book, it seems like is largely based on the authors experiences. When looking at the United States presidents, I did not think of it as a subtle message saying women and people of color do not belong as president. Also technically Obama is the first president of mixed-race, which you could make the argument that being mix-race is better representation of the melting pot of America (that just came to me as I was writing this). Also when I was reading this section and others I was thinking that if most women experience bias and sexism then I must be one of the luckiest women on the planet or I am one of the most oblivious, because I do not remember encountering it.
How feminism (whatever it is-remember still unsure about that) is presented here it does not "click for me." While Jamia Wilson does the barest mentioning of religion, that piece was missing for me and why this entire book was hard for me. For me a better book on feminism and religion was Girl, Arise!: A Catholic Feminist's Invitation to Live Boldly, Love your Faith, and Change the World. When it comes to rights and make sure everyone is living up to their dignity and potential, I think we need to look at humans as whole and not just those who have been marginalize and oppress. I fear if we only look at those who have been oppressed and try to lower those who have not been oppress then a new group of oppress and marginalize people will rise. I am skipping over chapter 3, because I do not have anything that immediately comes to mind.
Chapter 4: Identity
This is another chapter where I clash with the author, because I am coming at this with a Catholic background that is supported by the Catechism. Everyone was created by God and created in His image with traits that can be shared by others, but are combined into unique ways. I may have similar characteristics to other people, but that doesn't mean I will follow their path or them me. With that I also believe that our bodies are part of our identity, which stems from the belief that God created us body, mind, and soul. Those concepts were not meant to be separated, until original sin happen and death came into being. We experience life through our bodies, so why shouldn't our bodies be part of our identity? Bodies cannot change form, because we are not shapeshifters or skrulls. That is why it is hard for me to understand the concept of gender being fluid, but that doesn't mean we cannot dressed up in different clothes or act in different ways. Just because something has two choices or binary doesn't mean it can limit you. At the end of the day, you limit you. To put it a different way, I do not think making up another gender to match someone's feelings is the way to go. If we are saying men and women are not stereotypes then why do have to create other genders? Can we just say a man and woman are acting how they were created within reason without resorting to other categories? Until we exhaust all possibilities we shouldn't need to create brand new categories.
Equality and Equity
Major stickiness for me here and where I need some more clarification. Equality was defined as "giving everyone the same opportunities, treatment, and support" and equity was defined as "giving people what they need in order to make things fair and equal." Equity was also follow up with the sentence "Equity is how we get equal." Does that mean equity wants everyone to have the same outcome? If that is true then the box example doesn't match the point.
There are three figures on the page, where each are given a box to stand on to see the view. One figure is tall with an Asian appearance, another is average height with darker complexion, and the last one is in wheelchair. Then the book asks the questions about can they see the same thing, is anyone left out, sees the most, and shortchanged. The only one who is truly left out is the person in the wheelchair. This means on the next page she should get accommodations and it is not necessary for everyone else, because the tall person and the average height person has the roughly the same view. You cannot blame a tall person for being tall. That was how they were created so they shouldn't be punish for it. Also tall people have tradeoffs, due to their height or how the height is formed. My brother is tall, but it is roughly equally split between his legs and torso. This means finding a car where he fits in the backseat is hard for roofs sloped down for some reason. Also tall people have to move around more or else they can get health problems.
The equity page shows everyone with different boxes. The tall person's box is significantly lowered from the previous page. The average person's box was also lowered. The person in the wheelchair is on a box with a ramp. Yet, if equity means everyone is on the same level then this example failed for nobody's head lines up with each other and the person in the middle is a smidge taller than the rest. While this was not the illustrator's point, the person in the middle could be described as male and the other two could be described as female. This means the equity page kind of shows the males being taller than the other two. On the equity page, nobody's head lines up evenly, which to means they are all equal for they are all the same. The person in the middle is a smidge taller than everyone else.
Also the wording about equity is particularly worrisome. "Based on circumstances, it gives more to those who need it, and less to those who don't, so they can reach their potential" (Wilson, Jamia, 33). What?! Who is supposed to decide who has more or less? How is someone supposed to judge who has less? Also if we go back to the box example I could argue that the person in the wheelchair can still use that box they just need to manipulate their surroundings, which would mean that it is not a sign of inequality. It is question of manipulating circumstances and using your knowledge to improve the situation. Also everyone's potential is different. My maxed potential is different from yours, but that doesn't mean we are at odds or superior/inferior to each other. In the most recent movie of Little Women, Emma Watson's character says something like this "Just because my dreams are different from yours doesn't mean they are less important." Then in Haikyu!! and Kuroko's Basketball we see players work their strengths and weaknesses to their advantage. There is a line that says something like the world being unfair at the same time it is being fair in Haikyu!!.
The Author's Examples and Experiences
Nobody. NOBODY. should experience the terrible things that the author, Jamia Wilson, experienced. That is not good at all! In that respect, we should all try harder to treat people with respect and dignity even when they are wrong or different from us. (I know radical concept that even I am still working head around). My heart ache for the author when I read about her experiences.
Facts and Figures
While there is a notes page, I was not happy with it. There was only five notes, but there was a lot more facts and figures that were used. A lot of times the fact is given and then it lists who said it, but there was no bibliography. There was nothing that refer me to a specific source to double-check the information. That is why this book had more a feel of being a memoir-based primer instead of a fact-based-primer with memoir examples to illustrate the concepts.
Words and Meanings
There are some words and points that I struggle with that I wish were defined more by the author, such as reproductive rights. Reproductive rights is not just a woman issue. It's a human issue. Yes, a woman bears the brunt of the work, but without the sperm no life can be created. Both men and women have the right to reproduce. Also when people talk about reproductive rights they also mention "my body my choice" as seen on page 65. That is a huge sticking point for me, because a baby or a fetus is not the woman's body. It is IN her body, but it does not have the exactly the same DNA as the rest of the body and that make it not her body. So what does "my body" means?
There were other points that I would like to mention, but I am running out of time and patience. While it is unlikely I will get this book again, I may fill out those points at later date and time.
Verdict: This book is a good starting point, but this book is meant to be read with other people to get a conversation going. I feel the more people talk and expose to different things then I think we realize that we are all the same as in what really matters as Mandisa and Tobymac mention in their song Bleed the Same.
May 17, 2021
As with her other writings Ms. Wilson hits the nail on the head giving information to young folks on their level. This is well written, informative, and fun. Beautiful illustrations and relatable voice on intersectionality and feminism.
August 6, 2021
I love this book - perfect for that young changemaker in your life and so smartly done.
March 7, 2023
This book is advertised as being a primer for preteens and teens about intersectional feminism. As far as a preteen audience goes, I think that's accurate, however I believe it falls far short of what a teen reader would want.
This book is more auto-biographical than anything. I really enjoyed all the quotes from famous activists at the beginning of each chapter and wish we could have gotten more stories and examples from their lives and the lives of other women besides the author. Also, the notes section really needed to be far more robust to back up all the assertions the author made. I'd like to know where the quotes she used came from and I'd like to be able to read the actual research from which she quoted statistics. Yes, I realize this is just a "primer" meant for ages 9-17, but let's not shortchange those readers! They are capable of research and critical thinking and evaluating to come to their own conclusions.
What I did really like was the broad range of subjects that the author covered, everything from education and power, to media, wellness, and innovation.
Also, the illustrations were engaging and wonderful. Overall, I'd say this is a nice intro for readers ages 9-12 who are barely getting started understanding feminism and civil rights and activism. However, readers will definitely want to continue to read and learn, this book has very little depth, it's a very broad introduction to the subject.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is more auto-biographical than anything. I really enjoyed all the quotes from famous activists at the beginning of each chapter and wish we could have gotten more stories and examples from their lives and the lives of other women besides the author. Also, the notes section really needed to be far more robust to back up all the assertions the author made. I'd like to know where the quotes she used came from and I'd like to be able to read the actual research from which she quoted statistics. Yes, I realize this is just a "primer" meant for ages 9-17, but let's not shortchange those readers! They are capable of research and critical thinking and evaluating to come to their own conclusions.
What I did really like was the broad range of subjects that the author covered, everything from education and power, to media, wellness, and innovation.
Also, the illustrations were engaging and wonderful. Overall, I'd say this is a nice intro for readers ages 9-12 who are barely getting started understanding feminism and civil rights and activism. However, readers will definitely want to continue to read and learn, this book has very little depth, it's a very broad introduction to the subject.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 9, 2021
As an introduction to feminism for younger people, this has a fun and engaging layout with multiple questions and "Call to Action" sections. By starting each chapter with quotes from feminists, the book demonstrates the history of and the current work of feminists of all types. However, the push is on one type which frankly seems like the most logical type to this old Radical: Intersectional Feminism.
The book is short and to the point, so it does not go into as much history or definitions as I might want as a feminist historian, I'm not the target audience. For that audience I think it well crafted. While the book is for "everyone" I want to note that it is mostly woman-presenting people who are quoted and should in the illustrations, that could put some men-presenting folks off, but honestly they need to read it, too.
I think this would be a fun book for a club to offer to members.
The book is short and to the point, so it does not go into as much history or definitions as I might want as a feminist historian, I'm not the target audience. For that audience I think it well crafted. While the book is for "everyone" I want to note that it is mostly woman-presenting people who are quoted and should in the illustrations, that could put some men-presenting folks off, but honestly they need to read it, too.
I think this would be a fun book for a club to offer to members.
June 9, 2021
This was a great book. I saw the author at a Bookfest panel this morning, and was so impressed by her that I immediately went to request her book after hearing her talk about it. This book was well written and nicely illustrated. It made me think, taught me some new information, and was a joy to read. I would absolutely recommend it. 4.5 stars.
*I received a free copy through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received a free copy through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.*
February 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book, but was confused by the intended audience and purpose. The book purports to be a "Primer for Feminists in Training", but the majority of the book is a memoir of the author's life which, while interesting, does not really serve as instructions or even tools. I also struggled with the lack of bibliography and any kind of clear citations. Organizations were named, but where precisely the information came from was unclear. In terms of the audience, there are aspects that seem to lean toward a high school age reader, but simultaneously there are historical situations and philosophical and theoretical references that may be beyond what those readers would be familiar with and, since there are very few citations/references, it would be challenging for a reader to easily find more context.
April 21, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Plc.
Wilson challenges readers to think about their lives and where they stand. She provides history on feminist movements and brings readers to the present situation around the world. Shorter chapters provide needed information with personal challenge questions at the end of each. A reader can choose their level of involvement and interaction with each point raised. The glossary and further reading sections at the end provide ample information to continue growth.
Wilson challenges readers to think about their lives and where they stand. She provides history on feminist movements and brings readers to the present situation around the world. Shorter chapters provide needed information with personal challenge questions at the end of each. A reader can choose their level of involvement and interaction with each point raised. The glossary and further reading sections at the end provide ample information to continue growth.
July 28, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
This book is amazing. Full stop. I have spent the past 8 weeks in a Multicultural Counseling class for a Master's program where we have been discussing all of the issues that are brought up in this book. As adults in this program we are deconstructing our learning of the patriarchy & colonization, reading textbooks written by researchers who have spent decades doing work in the counseling & psychology fields to come up with information on this, and we are feeling emotionally drained at the end of each class. This material is important and I have been trying to figure out how to explain these concepts to younger audiences in such a way that their entire identity isn't crushed as it is forming. This book is that tool.
This book combines illustration with wonderful relatable narrative, blended together with honest definitions & discussion of issues that people don't want to talk about. There are "activities" for more thought provoking work scattered throughout the book, along with quotes that are beautiful. In roughly 160 pages it breaks down huge concepts from the media to healthcare, but never makes the reader feel like they are being coddled. This is so important when working with youth as well, since they are much more likely to listen if you treat them as autonomous beings instead of children.
I am going to be passing this book along to all of my friends who have children, as well as all of the professors in the Counseling & School Psych program at my university. This is a great resource for children, but truly for anyone at any age. 10/10
This book is amazing. Full stop. I have spent the past 8 weeks in a Multicultural Counseling class for a Master's program where we have been discussing all of the issues that are brought up in this book. As adults in this program we are deconstructing our learning of the patriarchy & colonization, reading textbooks written by researchers who have spent decades doing work in the counseling & psychology fields to come up with information on this, and we are feeling emotionally drained at the end of each class. This material is important and I have been trying to figure out how to explain these concepts to younger audiences in such a way that their entire identity isn't crushed as it is forming. This book is that tool.
This book combines illustration with wonderful relatable narrative, blended together with honest definitions & discussion of issues that people don't want to talk about. There are "activities" for more thought provoking work scattered throughout the book, along with quotes that are beautiful. In roughly 160 pages it breaks down huge concepts from the media to healthcare, but never makes the reader feel like they are being coddled. This is so important when working with youth as well, since they are much more likely to listen if you treat them as autonomous beings instead of children.
I am going to be passing this book along to all of my friends who have children, as well as all of the professors in the Counseling & School Psych program at my university. This is a great resource for children, but truly for anyone at any age. 10/10
August 11, 2021
What feminism means to you?
The book covers not only feminism, there are a lot covered like wellness, health, Identity. relationship, money. Feminism and its definition differ from person to person and generation to generation so don't rely on the definition in the dictionary. Some want equity, equality, the right to education, freedom.
We all are mould based on what society and people around us teach us. But very few believe their instincts to do what they feel is right to them as well as the society.
I wish to see a world that is anti biased and anti-racist. There is a lot of influence on us because of the media we see where they show a girl who is lean and white with curves as a perfect being which really makes us feel bad about ourselves. We should have an exercise and routine to be healthy and don't want to be so thin to look beautiful. Be yourself and love yourself and follow your instincts.
The book is so inspiring and shares a lot of influential thoughts. Thanks to the author of such a feministic book with simple and lucid writing to inspire other through your words.
The book covers not only feminism, there are a lot covered like wellness, health, Identity. relationship, money. Feminism and its definition differ from person to person and generation to generation so don't rely on the definition in the dictionary. Some want equity, equality, the right to education, freedom.
We all are mould based on what society and people around us teach us. But very few believe their instincts to do what they feel is right to them as well as the society.
I wish to see a world that is anti biased and anti-racist. There is a lot of influence on us because of the media we see where they show a girl who is lean and white with curves as a perfect being which really makes us feel bad about ourselves. We should have an exercise and routine to be healthy and don't want to be so thin to look beautiful. Be yourself and love yourself and follow your instincts.
The book is so inspiring and shares a lot of influential thoughts. Thanks to the author of such a feministic book with simple and lucid writing to inspire other through your words.
September 14, 2021
I originally got this book to use for a female-identifying empowerment group for children ages 9-14. I was really looking forward to using this book as the book is in similar format as “This Book is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell. However, I feel as though this book would not be as appropriate for that age range at all as the words, definitions, and references would be unfamiliar or confusing to the age group I’d need it for. This book would be better suited for high school students or even college students who already have a foundational understanding of feminism. There was also a lot of personal narrative that, for me, took away from the book’s intent. I liked the discussion questions included at every chapter; I just wish the chapters were better broken down and explained for children who have no fundamental understanding of feminism.
October 29, 2021
*A copy of this book was given by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This Book is Feminist is a well-rounded book on feminism that covers many aspects from intersectionality, misconceptions and stereotypes, economic injustice and more. It encourages readers to explore their own feminism - our relationship with feminism, experiences, and learn to listen to others with curiosity instead of judgement.
It contains a lot of self-reflection questions from the author that aims to help understand the way we think and react, and actionable changes we can do.
I like how it was accompanied by great illustrations, which enhances the experiences of reading, especially with pull quotes that highlight important lines.
It is important to note that this isn't a very easy book to read, hence it's "couldn't put it down"-ness is low. You'll need frequent breaks and time to reflect.
This Book is Feminist is a well-rounded book on feminism that covers many aspects from intersectionality, misconceptions and stereotypes, economic injustice and more. It encourages readers to explore their own feminism - our relationship with feminism, experiences, and learn to listen to others with curiosity instead of judgement.
It contains a lot of self-reflection questions from the author that aims to help understand the way we think and react, and actionable changes we can do.
I like how it was accompanied by great illustrations, which enhances the experiences of reading, especially with pull quotes that highlight important lines.
It is important to note that this isn't a very easy book to read, hence it's "couldn't put it down"-ness is low. You'll need frequent breaks and time to reflect.
January 31, 2022
This is such a succinct, personal, and effective introduction to feminism for teenage girls (and anyone else, for that matter!). In short, themed chapters, Wilson tackles various aspects of what it means to grow up and live as a woman, how one's identity beyond being a woman plays into the sexism one faces and what feminism needs to do to include and support those identities, and what one can do to further their own understanding of feminism and how they can apply it through activism and innovation. I particularly loved the emphasis on Black feminism and womanism, and the bright, varied illustrations really pop on the page. I do wish that some of the quotes had been better applied visually to the person who originated them; as it is, it's easy to confuse one person's illustration with another's words.
September 10, 2021
I enjoyed the author's personal stories, such as her trigger feminist moment, her story of having a permanent eye problem, analysis of her hair and other peoples' telling reactions to it. This is slated for teens. The self reflection questions for readers were good. There were good snapshot statistics, such as Rwanda with its over 60% of women in government; the high % of white people in publishing and media (men paid significantly more than women there); how magazines and book reviews sorely publish more men than women. The drawings are vibrant. There are chapters on identity, justice, money, power, health, media, activism....
April 7, 2024
At times too surface level and at times too in-depth without enough explanation, I’m not sure who this book is ideal for. I am seeking more detailed information on feminism but didn’t find it here. I thought this might be a useful introduction for a young reader being introduced to the topic but it jumps in a bit too far without drawing a “new to the subject” individual in to align with the movement (IMHO). The bold words are not explained in the text which would be confusing for a young reader used to vocab words being found in the margins. I read the e-book on Kindle, perhaps it is presented differently in other versions of the book?
July 21, 2021
Thank you netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a review
This is a good introduction to feminism, especially for teenagers. It's well written and easy to understand. The book focuses a lot on the intersection of oppressions : sexism, racism, lesbophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc. I really liked this aspect, because it's important to underline that not everyone's life is the same, and sexism can be experienced in different ways.
This book is written for teens, but I think that adults who want to understand feminism could use it as a good introduction.
This is a good introduction to feminism, especially for teenagers. It's well written and easy to understand. The book focuses a lot on the intersection of oppressions : sexism, racism, lesbophobia, transphobia, ableism, etc. I really liked this aspect, because it's important to underline that not everyone's life is the same, and sexism can be experienced in different ways.
This book is written for teens, but I think that adults who want to understand feminism could use it as a good introduction.
July 26, 2021
Lovely illustrations and intersectional feminism true to its every word. It's high time this books are picked up by north america and kept in libraries to understand the diaspora and black women and brown women. To look beyond becoming "modern" and if you as a white person call yourself feminist then do you understand that feminism is not a chapter like science. It's a socio-economic-political theory that will keep evolving and it can certainly not be put in a box. Read this one to see some colours along with the essays to brighten up the term and it's advocates.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews