A Book for an 18yo Girl

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

I wonder if anyone could recommend a good book on Feminism that I could buy for my Daughters 18th birthday.

She has a good grasp of Feminism and I`m glad to see that she not only embraces WRs but understands some of the background in WRs. I would like to give her something that is thought provoking and has some history in WRs, as well as giving her something to take her into the future.

Any ideas much appreciated, many thanks.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

There is a great Persephone book that covers the status/rights/history of women from 1910 - 1975. It is very readable and split into decades by chapter.

www.persephonebooks.co.uk/pages/titles/index.asp?id=37

[SageBush]

How about this beautiful edition of 'the Handmaid's Tale' - www.foliosociety.com/book/HDT/handmaids-tale - not a book about feminism, but a brilliant evocation of how life could be if women were stripped of their rights. I read it around 18, and it encouraged me to identify as a feminist.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

If she hasn't read The Beauty Myth, 18 is a good age for it.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

Ooh, any Margaret Atwood actually. The Penelopiad is wonderful.

Congratulations on raising a feminist daughter in this day and age! My daughter is 2 and I hope she will have some interest and awareness when she is a young woman. x

[SageBush]

Yes, any Margaret Atwood! And I agree with SkaterGrrrl that it's great you've raised a feminist daughter!

[DiaryofaSleepDeprivedMum]

For a modern take on feminism (and one touted as the new Female Eunuch) is How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. It is very funny, but also thought provoking and I think would be of enormous appeal to an 18 year old.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Thank you so much for the suggestions, will be googling and looking through the list (somehow I think I`ll end up buying her more than one!).

Its funny as Id never thought that I had raised her in a feminist way, but I bought her up on my own and I have realised (now that she is nearly 18) that I I think it was a rejection of how my parents had raised me, very loving but the focus on sucess was on the boys, I was encouraged to make a good marriage, ha which didnt happen until I hit 40 (so that worked well, Mum and Dad! )

She understands that WRs have been fought hard for and still are, and I dont want her to take for granted that life is better for her because other woman in the past have paved the way. But, I think its important that woman of her age realise that they will still need to push and fight to make it better for the next generations.

Thanks again.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

How to be a woman is the best contemporary feminist book I have read in ages. She (Caitlin Moran) is also screamingly funny (follow her on twitter!).

[suburbandream]

I've just read How to be a Woman and agree it is a very thought provoking read but also really entertaining. I wish I had read it at 18 (although I realise Caitlin Moran would have probably only been about 10 at the time )