The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

20.3 El’s Task (Best Review Contest) – Feminist Literature
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (b. November 1815, d. October 1902) was a leading figure in the early days of the women's movement in the US. In her honor read a book of feminist literature.

Suggestions for feminist literature - may not be limited to just these books.

Other suggestions - as always with Goodreads lists, not all books may actually be appropriate (eg, Sex and the City or Bridget Jones's Diary will not work for this task). It is always good to double-check.

Note: A book written by a woman does not automatically mean it is a feminist work. It should be a book that was either influential to the women's movement (The Feminine Mystique, etc.) or deals heavily in women's rights and/or issues (Herland, etc.); not just about a woman who can't find a good man or the right pair of high heels.

This can be fiction or non-fiction so long as it fits the task (and you are able to defend it if necessary). This is not limited to women's movements in the United States. There are women all over the world and in many countries who are still fighting for their rights.
For this purpose the idea of feminist literature is a work that focuses on the struggles of women in a male-dominated society and hopefully their efforts to change their environment. What I would really like to illustrate is that "feminism" does not necessarily equate "radicalism" - though works of radical feminism is acceptable here as well if one chooses to do so. I've known many women who turn their nose up at the idea that they may be considered "feminist" - they find it offensive because what they know are the negative connotations that they've seen of militant feminists. My personal definition is simply equality. Edith Wharton's House of Mirth is much different than Gloria Steinem's Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions: Second Edition, yet they're both important works of literature and both helped change either society and/or literature.

Please no re-reads or YA.

Approved:
The books suggested by Vicky in Message 4 are all acceptable in addition to the following:
The Awakening, Kate Chopin.
The Female Man, Joanna Russ.
A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf.
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood.
Herland, Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte.
The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton.
Listen Up 2 Ed: Voices from the Next Feminist Generation, Barbara Findlen.
Beyond the Blossoming Fields, Junichi Watanabe.
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, Mary Pipher.
Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women, Geraldine Brooks.
The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath.
Introducing Postfeminism, Sophia Phoca.
Bachelor Girl: The Secret History of Single Women in the Twentieth Century, Betsy Israel.
A History of the Wife, Marilyn Yalom.
The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler.
Native Tongue, Suzette Haden Elgin.
The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin.
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, Nicholas D. Kristof.
The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley.
Woman At Point Zero, Nawal El Saadawi.
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced, Nujood Ali.
Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart : Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna, Betty de Shong Meador.
America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines, Gail Collins.
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire, Jack Weatherford.
Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi.
The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women, Jessica Valenti.

Does not work:
Sarah Waters's books: Tipping the Velvet, Affinity, Fingersmith.
Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress, Susan Jane Gilman.
Never Jam Today, Carole Bolton.
The Stone Diaries, Carol Shields.
Girls Against Girls: Why We Are Mean to Each Other and How to Stop the Hating, Bonnie Burton. (Reason: YA.)
The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff.
Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert.

Can we assume that anything on the feminist literature page at Wikipedia is acceptable? I was considering a few of those books along with these:

The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth About Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood, and Marriage
Kiss My Tiara: How to Rule the World as a SmartMouth Goddess
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence
The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much?
Girls Gone Mild
Slut! Growing Up Female with a Bad Reputation

I think most of them work, but wanted to double check before deciding.

El - Can you please let me know if The Awakening by Kate Chopin would work?

Thanks

Do either of these two work?

1. Beyond the Pale
2. The Female Man

Both books deal with women and their places in society--the first in a historical context, and the second in more of a SF/Alternate Universe way. I also own them, which is why I was hoping I could use one or the other.

Thanks for your help!

Would these work?
The Female Man by Joanna Russ
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

More later .......

I have been meaning to read The Handmaid's Tale so it was nice to see it on both of the lists... I am assuming this book works.

How about these?
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Diane wrote: "How about these?
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman"

In the very first post, El references Herland, so I assume that it is fine. Someone can correct me if I am wrong...

Woo! I ACTUALLY have one. An excuse to read Jane Eyre has produced itself. Nice task.

Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth is on the list above. Is it acceptable for this task?

Would a collection of writings work?

Vicky wrote: "Can we assume that anything on the feminist literature page at Wikipedia is acceptable? I was considering a few of those books along with these:

[book:The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Tr..."

Vicky, yes, anything on the Wiki page would be appropriate. Your suggestions also seem fine.

Lyn M wrote: "El - Can you please let me know if The Awakening by Kate Chopin would work?

Thanks"

Lyn M, The Awakening certainly works. Hope you enjoy it!

Ms Anderson wrote: "Do either of these two work?

1. Beyond the Pale
2. The Female Man

Both books deal with women and their places in society--the first in a historical context, and the s..."

Ms Anderson, I'm not familiar with Beyond the Pale - so long as it deals with women's issues and it's not just a story about lesbians I think it would be fine.

The Female Man works.

Deedee wrote: "Would these work?
The Female Man by Joanna Russ
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

More later ......."

Deedee, yes to both.

Kathryn wrote: "I have been meaning to read The Handmaid's Tale so it was nice to see it on both of the lists... I am assuming this book works."

Absolutely, Kathryn.

Diane wrote: "How about these?
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman"

Diane, they both work. Herland would probably fit a little more appropriately than West with the Night, but I suppose I'll take it.

Petra wrote: "Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth is on the list above. Is it acceptable for this task?"

Petra, absolutely. One of my favorites.

Kathy G. wrote: "Would a collection of writings work?
"

Kathy G., that collection works.

does Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress work?

From the description: funny and poignant collection of true stories about women coming of age that for once isn't about finding a date.

Would Never Jam Today work? The only description I can find is it is about a 17 year old girl who joins the suffrage movement.

Would you approve the early works of Sarah Waters? They are not just about lesbian, but also explore the Victorian attitude to (and against) women.

Tipping the Velvet
Fingersmith
Affinity

Could I use this book? It sounds like a story of a woman struggling against the unfair rules of a male dominated world.

Beyond the Blossoming Fields

El wrote: "Ms Anderson wrote: "Do either of these two work?

1. Beyond the Pale
2. The Female Man

Both books deal with women and their places in society--the first in a historica..."

Yay! I'm going to use The FeMale Man for this...so much excitement. And I was worried I wouldn't find anything I'd like to read.

Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "does Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress work?

From the description: funny and poignant collection of true stories about women coming of age that for once isn't about finding a date."

Dee, it looks to me like it's just really a memoir written by a woman, so I'll have to say no to that one.

Bluemoon wrote: "Would Never Jam Today work? The only description I can find is it is about a 17 year old girl who joins the suffrage movement."

Bluemoon, sorry, it looks like a children's/YA book to me, so I'll have to say no.

s'ok - I found one on the wiki list that my library has...the Girls Gone Mild

El wrote: "Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "does Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress work?

From the description: funny and poignant collection of true stories about women coming of age that fo..."

Would Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher work? This is non-fiction; it deal with adolescents but isn't YA. On the back it is described as "a call to arms" and seems to be a sort of "feminism was great and now here's the NEXT step" kind of thing.

Thanks!

Would Infidel work?

Potjy wrote: "Would you approve the early works of Sarah Waters? They are not just about lesbian, but also explore the Victorian attitude to (and against) women.

Tipping the Velvet
..."

Potjy, I've thought long and hard about these, even before I posted my suggestion. They're not quite what I'm going for - I've read Tipping the Velvet and Affinity, and I feel that the focus on the stories are meant to be more gender and sexuality than actual feminism, though I am aware it's a fine line. However, being a lesbian does not automatically make one a feminist. I do not think Waters was trying to make any social change or specific point with those books other than just to showcase lesbians in a time many readers did not expect. So for that reason I'm going to have to say no to Sarah Waters's books for this task, sorry.

chucklesthescot wrote: "Could I use this book? It sounds like a story of a woman struggling against the unfair rules of a male dominated world.

Beyond the Blossoming Fields"

chuckles, it sounds like the protagonist is a woman who breaks barriers in her society, so I'll take it. I'll admit the cover looks a bit YA to me, but as long as it is not YA I'll accept it.

Ashley FL wrote: "Would Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher work? This is non-fiction; it deal with adolescents but isn't YA. On the back it is described as "a call..."

Ashley FL, I guess I'll take it. I personally didn't care for it :), but I could see the mark Pipher was trying to hit.

Julie wrote: "Would Infidel work?"

Julie, yes, that would work.

El wrote: "Ashley FL wrote: "Would Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher work? This is non-fiction; it deal with adolescents but isn't YA. On the back it is de..."

Do you have other recommend in its stead? I have an adolescent and I could use some guidance!

El wrote: "chucklesthescot wrote: "Could I use this book? It sounds like a story of a woman struggling against the unfair rules of a male dominated world.

Beyond the Blossoming Fields"

chuckl..."

I'll go ahead and read it and will only submit it if it isn't YA in content. Thanks!

Ashely this was on the wiki list and I think i'm going to use it - Girls Gone Mild

Ashley FL wrote: "El wrote: "Ashley FL wrote: "Would Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher work? This is non-fiction; it deal with adolescents but isn't YA. On the ba..."

Ashley FL wrote: "Do you have other recommend in its stead? I have an adolescent and I could use some guidance!"

Ashley, it's okay to use Opehlia for this task. I personally felt that Pipher glossed over a lot of issues, put a nice little ribbon on everything... but I understand Pipher's intention was to give voice to adolescent girls in a society that often overlooks them and the issues they go through, and I believe she tried to offer solutions to change social expectations of young woman, so for that reason I'll accept it. Good luck with your adolescent! That's a rough age!

What about Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women?

Can anyone tell me if The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields would work? From the description I can't really tell if the main character makes a feminist breakthrough in society or succumbs to it.

Rachel Lee wrote: "What about Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women?"

Rachel Lee, yes, that works.

Thanks!

Kate wrote: "Can anyone tell me if The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields would work? From the description I can't really tell if the main character makes a feminist breakthrough in society or succumbs to it."

Kate, having not read it and just basing my thoughts on the reviews of the book, it seems this may be more the story of a woman's life, which does not necessarily (or automatically) make it feminist. If someone else here has read it and has a different opinion I'd be willing to reevaluate my decision, but right now I'll have to say no to The Stone Diaries. Sorry!

El wrote: "Lyn M wrote: "El - Can you please let me know if The Awakening by Kate Chopin would work?

Thanks"

Lyn M, The Awakening certainly works. Hope you enjoy it!"

Thanks, El, I have been wanting to read that one.

how about The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath?
other sites similar to this list it as feminist- i just wanted to make sure it fits.

Okay. And how about Introducing Postfeminism? I know I owned a copy, but not sure where it is. So I might end up downloading The Awakening from Project Gutenberg. :D

May I use A History of the Wife?

LindseyPinzy wrote: "how about The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath?
other sites similar to this list it as feminist- i just wanted to make sure it fits."

LindseyPinzy, I'll take The Bell Jar. On the surface I would say it's not feminist, but if I remember correctly there are feminist undertones.

Potjy wrote: "Okay. And how about Introducing Postfeminism? I know I owned a copy, but not sure where it is. So I might end up downloading The Awakening from Project Gutenberg. :D"

Potjy, that works.