New books look at feminism, women’s history
We’re right in the middle of Women’s History Month. Here’s a look at some new books that address feminism, history and women’s place in society.
‘Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifest in Fifteen Suggestions’
By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Alfred A. Knopf, 80 pp., $15
This slim volume is written as a letter from Adichie, the author of “Americanah,” to a friend who wants to raise her daughter as a feminist. (Adichie has written plenty about the subject before; in fact, Beyoncé sampled her TED talk, “We Should All Be Feminists,” in the song “Flawless.”) Adichie — who has a young daughter of her own — offers 15 ways a new mother can shape her daughter’s life in a way that rejects society’s limitations and instills the belief that boys and girls matter equally. Among her suggestions: “Never speak of marriage as an achievement.”
“Teach her not to universalize her own standards or experiences.”
“Motherhood is a glorious gift, but do not define yourself solely by motherhood. Be a full person. Your child will benefit from that.”
‘Divided We Stand: The Battle Over Women’s Rights and Family Values That Polarized American Politics’
By Marjorie J. Spruill Bloomsbury, 368 pp., $30
Here’s some history for you. This book focuses on the 1977 National Women’s Conference, when 20,000 people flocked to Houston for “four days that changed the world.” At what Gloria Steinem has called “the most important event nobody knows about,” the group adopted a National Plan of Action, which put the Equal Rights Amendment, reproductive rights, gay rights and more front and center in the women’s movement.
‘Why I Am Not a Feminist: A Feminist Manifesto’
By Jessa Crispin Melville House, 176 pp., $15.99
Crispin, founder of the now-defunct “Bookslut” blog, has an issue with how we’re defining feminism. She argues that the term has been watered down to appeal to everyone, and in the process, it has become “as banal, as nonthreatening and ineffective as possible.” Crispin discusses how toothless the movement has become; she says she is “disowning the label” because “the feminism I support is a full-on revolution.”
‘The Mother of All Questions’
By Rebecca Solnit Haymarket Books, 192 pp., $14.95
The author of “Men Explain Things to Me” (and many other books) has written a series of essays about women’s issues. From Tina Fey and Amy Schumer to rape jokes and Gamergate, Solnit explores the triumphs and setbacks for women in our current culture.
‘We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere’
By Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel Atria Books, 384 pp., $25
This one is less about a movement and more about individual empowerment. Anderson — of “X-Files” fame — and Nadel offer ways to avoid the “me culture” and take a “we” approach to life. “Imagine a sisterhood — across all creeds and cultures — with an unspoken agreement that we, as women, will support and encourage one another.” That sounds like a distant dream and a worthy goal.