A beginners guide to feminism?

[MrsRyanGosling15]

Is there such a thing? After a long time reading the boards here I must say I have had a complete turnaround in my thinking and really had my eyes opened to how women are treated and seeing everyday sexism in places, and from people I would of swore were never sexist. I feel like something has kind of clicked and I would really love to learn more about the history/meaning of women's rights and feminism and also how to be a good feminist role model for my daughter, as well as my sons. If anyone can give me some pointers eg books, websites, documentaries that would be great. I can't believe I have got to the grand old age of 30 and really haven't been aware enough to care about this. I can't explain what has changed in me but I just felt a bit shaken possibly with the world right now. I know that may seem dramatic. Sorry if this is all garbled, I'm dyslexic and really strigger to get my thoughts down sensibly!

[MrsJohanHegg]

An easy opener may be How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran. I think she's also got one called How To Raise A Girl though I may be mistaken! I'm sure someone without a massive headache will come along soon with more/better suggestions...

[YonicProbe]

Caitlin Moran is a good read

[MrsRyanGosling15]

Thanks for getting back to me, just ordered it from ebay for click and collect tomorrow, that's my day sorted!

[IAmAmy]

You may well know about it but the book "Everyday Sexism" by Laura Bates is (sadly) excellent.

[allegretto]

How about more classic feminist literature? Any ideas?

[Needmorewine]

Following with interest

[YonicProbe]

The Handmaid's Tale is classic but op seems to be looking for non fiction.

[MarciaBlaine]

The Delusion of Gender opened my eyes wide.

[VestalVirgin]

Germaine Greer is an author I can recommend. Though I am not sure if her writing is suitable for beginners?
(I started to read feminist literature when I was 11, so cannot really remember what I started with, and how difficult it was to understand)

[IAmAmy]

Delusions of Gender is brilliant and a must read, exposes neurosexism so well.

[MrsRyanGosling15]

Thanks, I'm such a beginner that I didn't even realise there was such a thing as feminist fiction. All tips much appreciated so thank you all.

[NeverEverAnythingEver]

YY to Delusion of gender and Handmaid's Tale.

[YonicProbe]

Threads on here may have some good thoughts:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feminist_book_club

[Thelilywhite]

Living dolls by Natasha Walters a good, if depressing read.

[Gwenhwyfar]

There was a good programme on the BBC recently about the suffragettes and then the pill www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0824wgr
I found Caitlin Moran too patronising for an adult.

[ThatStewie]

Kat Banyard's The Equality Illusion is excellent - much better than Caitlin Moran

[Pizanfan]

'I have had a complete turnaround in my thinking and really had my eyes opened to how women are treated'

'I can't believe I have got to the grand old age of 30 and really haven't been aware enough to care about this'

I worry about this type of thinking, I would suggest that if you made it to 30 without viewing things as sexist then they probably havn't been sexist.

'from people I would of swore were never sexist.' - This is very troubling, please don't end perfectly comfortable and fullfilling relationships based on an internet chat forum.

My advice would be to read a lot from all differing angles, start with some prominant feminists of today, then some feminists of yesteryear, maybe 1970's, and 1950's, then some not so self proclaimed feminists such as Hoff Summers, Paglia, and Patai.

Please think for yourself, if you see sexism stamp it out, stand up and be counted, be strong, be brave and make a difference, but please don't manipulate your children, if you found feminism, so will they.

[Datun]

MrsRyanGosling15

You're opening post resonated with me, because I too have felt it has come to me far too late.

I sort of just assumed that things were as they are.

But as someone said on here a while ago, once you see it you can't unsee it.

I am slowly educating my family (all men). I wish I could've saved myself the fricken hassle, by doing it all years ago.

However, they are not dinosaurs and they are intelligent, and the more I talk about it, the better their understanding becomes.

And mine.

Glad you're onboard!

[Iloveswears]

The first feminist text I ever read was the female eunuch, it had a profound impact on me. Highly recommend it.
Also as previously suggested, everyday sexism is excellent. Made me realise how many incidences of street harassment I had experienced and minimised. It's so odd when you see it in black and white, you wonder why so many of us just keep quiet and put up with this shit without complaint. One of the patriarchy's greatest achievements has been the complicity of women in their own oppression.