Recommend me a book!

[RibenaBerry]

Right, reading these boards recently has given me a bit of a kick up the arse on my feminist principles. I've done a bit of 'light' reading in the area (think The Beauty Myth as a teenager) but think I need something a bit more serious without being so weighty I never pick it up. I'd rather have something published in, say, the last 15 years than any of the 'classics'.

Any ideas?

[Sakura]

I've just finished 'Backlash' (Susan Faludi). I diverge politically from her (She slags off Greer, Brownmiller and Friedan because she doesn't understand the ethos of finding value in motherhood, which I do) but on the whole it was a brilliant read.
I agree with her on many more issues than I disagree (abortion, pay gap, media misogyny etc) It mademe realise that there are many issues that EVERY feminist agrees on

[sethstarkaddersmum]

agree with both of those. Or Living Dolls by Natasha Walter.
The good news is all these recent books are readable and not at all heavy . The good stuff being written at the moment is not particularly theoretical, it's more simply 'look, we really do still need feminism and this is why'.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

Backlash is very good. Are you looking for classics (The Feminine Mystique or the Female Eunach) or something more up to date?

[RibenaBerry]

Definitely up to date. I have read some of the classics and, to be honest, I struggle with Greer.

[RibenaBerry]

Sorry, posted too soon. Thanks for the recommendations so far.

[HerBeatitude]

Melissa Benn wrote a book on motherhood a while ago - not v. upto date (about 10 years perhaps?) but v. thoughtful and easy to read

I also loved The Second Shift, but I can't remember who it was by. Again, v. easy read, well researched and interesting. A bit old now, but still oh so valid.

[HerBeatitude]

Ooh yes, Wifework is excellent. Also v. readable

[tabouleh]

As you are an HR person [stalker emoticon!] you might be interested in Hard Labour by an academic called Caroline Gatrell. (Second hand price on amazon not too bad).

"This innovative book examines changes in family practices and paid work in the 21st century. Focusing on highly qualified mothers who combine childcare with employment, it makes a valuable contribution to current debates."

[confusedfirsttimemum]

Thanks everyone.

I haven't read the Whole Woman Dittany. I didn't really get along with F. E and I guess that put me off.

Tabouleh - thanks! That looks very interesting.

Now I just have to not spend too much pn Amazon.

[RibenaBerry]

Sorry, that was me. Now you know the people who borrow my latop in RL (oops)

[earwicga]

Re Germaine Greer's The Whole Woman - there are lots of questionable bits. A couple are the transphobia which is utterly vile, and also the damning of HRT which is irresponsible and downright cruel.

I would totally recommend Natasha Walter's Living Dolls and also anything by Eve Ensler such as The Vagina Monologues or I am an Emotional Creature, or any of hers really as they are excellent.

[earwicga]

Have you read The Vagina Monologues or know any of Eve Ensler's work dittany? It's the most empowering work I've encountered. Germaine Greer is full of shit.

[earwicga]

dittany - I was under the impression that this was a discussion board.

Greer has a lot of critics. Yes it is important to read her work, but it definately needs to be read critically as she is very prejudiced. Think for yourself.

I'm sorry you don't get Ensler's work. It certainly isn't women defining ourselves through our vaginas I'd definately rate her over Greer who writes about herself as if she is representative of all women. The Vagina Monologues isn't Ensler's work? She wrote the book after talking to a lot of women. In the same way that a lot of other feminists (except Greer) write.

Have you read Yes Means Yes edited by Jessica Valenti & Jaclyn Friedman?

[earwicga]

dittany - you are missing out by not reading Yes Means Yes. And tbh, you don't get to decide who and what is 'much use to women'.

If so, they will be referring to Greer's bigotry.

Have you read Necessary Targets?

[earwicga]

I haven't read Valenti's work, apart from her pieces on Feministing, but she isn't the author of Yes Means Yes.

I have read some of Dworkin's work, yes.

I'm loving how you dismiss feminists as 'lightweight'.

[earwicga]

Actually, saying that I would dismiss Ellie Levinson as she isn't even a feminist beyond any stretch of the imagination.