UHPP’s Comments (group member since Oct 13, 2017)

UHPP’s comments from the The F-Word group.

If I Was Your Girl Discussion Questions

1. Why do Amanda’s parents react so differently to her identity? Is it due to just individual differences, or do you think it is a cause of strict gender roles?

2. This book attacks the notion of the strict binary societal gender roles. Why is this important? What are your favorite parts of the novel that do so?

3. Through Amanda’s experiences, Russo shows why and how dangerous bathroom bills and other transphobic policies are. Why do you think society has made it so hard for people who identify against the norm, like those who are transgender?

4. The novel, through Anna’s character, brings in the discussion of religion and the LGBTQ community. Do you think this discussion is important? Do you think the novel accurately portrayed this?

5. Toxic Masculinity and violence towards the trans community is very prevalent within this novel. Why do you think Russo provided so many examples of violence? Do you think is was necessary to the story?

6. Why do you think Russo went back & forth between the present and various moments in Amanda’s past throughout the book? What is the importance of the book’s timeline?

7. The book also discusses mental health and suicide within the trans community a lot. Do you think this was done well, why or why not? Why must we discuss suicide so much when discussing the trans community?

8. In the beginning of the novel, Bee was extremely good. She was open about her bisexuality and not ashamed of her identity. She was also the first person Amanda told about her identity. However, Bee betrayed Amanda, and Chloe, by forcibly outing them very publicly. Why do you think Bee’s character development occurred this way? What does it say, if anything, about the LGBTQ community? Why is Bee outing Amanda and Chloe so traumatic and wrong?

9. Overall, this young adult love story discusses a lot of issues the LGBTQ community experience, especially the trans community. What do you think are the most powerful messages and moments within the novel, and what do they say about society?

10. As per Russo’s author’s note, Amanda is a very privileged girl throughout her transition. How does that privilege make her life and transition easier, and how would the story be different if she did not have these privileges?

The Hate U Give Discussion Questions

1. The Hate U Give shows the spectrum of racism and the escalation of racism throughout the novel, what are some of the ways Starr and her family experience racism, and how do they respond? Why is it important for Angie Thomas to include as many macroaggressions and cases of passive racism to the story? What significance do they have, in comparison to extreme racist violence like police brutality and systemic racism and poverty?

2. Starr’s family is a central part of the novel. What is the importance of her relationship to her mother? Her father? Her siblings? Her Uncle? How different would Starr’s story be without this family structure?

3. Why are people like April Ofrah so important, to the novel and to the real world? What would have happened if Mrs. Ofrah wasn’t there for the Carter family, and Khalil?

4. What does Chris being white add to the story, and to Starr’s life?

5. What do you think about the police’s treatment of the investigation, and of Khalil? What about the media’s treatment of Khalil?

6. What is the importance of voice and silence in this novel? (Starr being the voice of Khalil, Starr having an internal struggle of using her voice).

7. What does this novel add to the Black Lives Matter movement? What were some of the real life parallels of the events within the novel?

8. What is the significance of Starr losing both of her childhood best friends from extreme violence? What are the parallels, other than guns, between Natasha and Khalil’s death?

9. Why do you think Starr’s father not want to leave Garden Heights so badly? What does that say about his character? Why does it take him so long to change his mind?

I am Malala Discussion Questions


1. Malala’s relationship with her parents, particularly her father, is arguably one of the most important factors in Malala’s story. Why are her family members so important to her work, and why do you think her parents, especially her father, had such a huge influence?

2. Malala’s passion and activism for women’s rights and education may lead the reader to forget that she is only 16 years old when writing her story. Are there moments in or recollections of her school and home life when you feel that the “teenager” in Malala becomes apparent?

3. Malala’s mission is obviously about education. Why her mission so important? Why does everyone need access to education? Why are women so hurt without the access they deserve? How is society as a whole affected?

4. The book's title is an answer to the question the gunman asks before shooting Malala. What is the significance of the title, and how are names significant throughout the book?

5. Why is the telling of the history of Swat significant? How does this meaning show itself when Malala describes her current surroundings?

6. Do you agree with Malala that books and pens are our most valuable weapons? Explain your thoughts.

7. What are a few of your favorite Malala moments from the book?

We Should All Be Feminists

Missed last Month's meeting, or still have more to say about We Should All Be Feminists? Here is your chance to discuss! Here are all the discussion questions from that event, including the ones we didn't get a chance to talk about!

Why is being called a feminist used as an insult by many, and why do women take it to be an insult? Should the use of ‘feminist’ as an insult reflect the true nature of the movement?What misconceptions of the movement allows for it to be an insult?

To build off what Adichie discusses, why do you think women are not allowed to get angry in society, and why is there such a large pressure on women to be liked or likable, especially when it comes to their occupation? How does the inability to get angry and need to be liked play a role in female oppression?

Within the book, Adichie discusses a lot about how a lot of the sexist beliefs and habits were instilled in us as children, for both young girls and boys. How accurate do you think this claims is, and if it is true, how can one raise children without instilling this habits and ideas?

Adichie makes the point that the concept of gender tells us how we “should” be in society. What messages do we send about how women “should” behave versus how men “should” behave? How do you think those expectations affect us?

Are there any points you disagree with Adichie on, or would like her to provide more evidence for in order to convince you?