Our Shared Shelf discussion

Hi all,

Carrie Brownstein is not a feminist activist. She dislikes talking about how it feels to be a woman musician and her memoir only touches, doesn't dwell on, topics like gender stereotypes and identity. Is Hunger Makes me a Modern Girl even a feminist book?

Sometimes feminism is in the subtleties. It's subjective, it's about role models, shared struggle and encouragement. I'm very curious to hear which parts of the book you found empowering, which parts resonated with you or had you nod along, thinking: yes, this is why more poeple should read this book.

I've seen in the discussions that many people were critical about the book; but everything has it's good sides.

Let's talk about them.

Carrie says, “I set out from a place where I never assumed that [the actions of making music] were acceptable choices or that I could be anything but an accessory to rock’n’roll. The archetypes, the stage moves, the representations of rebellion and debauchery were all male…. We sang about playing and performing, as if in singing it, we could really live it, free of judgment or the feeling that we were interlopers… We wrote and played ourselves into existence.”

This need to defend your right to exist comes through in the music of Sleater-Kinney. Even if the band was not positioned as part of the riot grrrl movement, as an all-women band they were forced to confirm their own legitimacy. It wasn't necessarily something that they wanted; in fact, as your said, Carrie is incensed by the focus on their gender, rather than their music. Yet they do more than write about the male gaze and their experiences moving through the world as women. They attack gender roles and sexual assault, harshly, unapologetically.

I think they did an excellent job in the latest album at telling emotive and interesting stories, and even in that album they feel the need to explain themselves. “It's not a new wave, it's just you and me.”

So Carrie, as a lyricist in maybe the most influential women’s punk rock group, is obviously a feminist. But her story doesn't read like a guidebook for feminism. I noticed this in Bossypants (by Tina Fey) too. The stories of successful women are, like it or not, stories of defying expectation and fighting for every inch. And so their memoirs must be feminist.

Rose wrote: "The stories of successful women are, like it or not, stories of defying expectation and fighting for every inch. And so their memoirs must be feminist."

Very well said.

Not sure where to start or even how to put what I feel into words. I used to be an avid writer, but now it has slipped from me, so much of my post may be a bunch of jumbled thoughts. I am sorry for that in advance.

Even though she isn't an avid feminist activist, she is a woman living in a world in which she finds herself being defined as a "female guitarist" and not just a guitarist. She has to justify herself in ways that men do not. Reporters constantly write about looks and ask sexists questions, and do not capture her musical genius in the article. They are merely seen as a "female band" and aren't held to the same standards as "male bands."

I agree with Rose and the affirmation of Kressel. "The stories of successful women are, like it or not, stories of defying expectation and fighting for every inch. And so their memoirs must be feminist."
A book doesn't have to be outright feminist activist to be a feminist book in my opinion. This is the life of a strong woman, and from that I have gained some inspiration in her passion and drive. She has a unique story to be told, and I loved listening.

The part with the collection of article snippets really resonated with me. She says that the reporters had good intentions and tried to compliment the band, but you see in the articles how sexism has weaved its way into the fabric of life. Even when people are trying to be complementary, we fall into the trap. Sexism has been ingrained in our society.

I love the way she writes. She has such a way with words that is truly mystifying and beautiful. It reads beautifully and paints a vivid picture without being overly descriptive. But also I just love metaphors. haha

It's feminist for simple reason that it's a book about a woman who fought for her place and didn't give up. Other issues may be feminist too in the book, but the aforementioned issue alone declares it a feminist book.

I rushed through the book and I must say I will read it again, with more attention, because I think it can still give me something.
One can clearly see how much the music influences her life, the chapters are sometimes named after albums.

Feminist books can look and be read very differently. There's not one form of feminist book, look at the books since January, they're very different, although they're all biographies, except two.

With this book it's like with The Color Purple: The feminism doesn't jump at you, you have to look for it:)