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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Anyone fancy joining a Mumsnet feminist book club?

60 replies

Tartle · 30/04/2017 18:12

I know there is a book club section but i thought I'd post here for traffic and then maybe start a new thread over there for anyone interested.

Basically I feel like I've become increasingly radicalised since joining Mumsnet. Having moved away from lib fem communities over the past few years without really being able to articulate why I started reading some of the second wave arguments on here and it blew my mind. I've gone away and done a lot of thinking and completely changed my stance on a number of issues.

I've also realised that despite engaging somewhat with feminist theory at uni I am woefully under read and I want to go back to basics and engage with some of the key texts. I've just picked up a copy of The Female Eunuch that has been on my book case for at least 5 years so I am going to start there. I know there is an amazing community here and it would be great to be able to discuss things as they come up.

So what do you think? We could do a book a month and just chat and comment as we go along?

If you are up for joining in then sign up below by nominating a feminist book that either you have been meaning/wanting to read or that you felt had a big impact on your thinking.

Could be a novel/article/poem or a theoretical text then we can try and alternate different genres to keep things interesting!

OP posts:
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AspasiaFitzgibbon · 09/05/2017 12:35

I'm a latecomer but may I join please?

Bookreader2403 · 08/05/2017 15:15

I'm in. Looking forward to some great reading suggestions and debate :-)

Tartle · 06/05/2017 15:35

Hope everyone is still up for this? I have started the first months thread over in feminist book club so come and say hi and mark your place.

Feminist Book Club month 1: The Female Eunuch
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feministbookk_club/2922186-feminist-book-club-month-1-the-female-eunuch

OP posts:
weegiemum · 06/05/2017 12:00

I've just ordered The Female Eunuch. Really looking forward to this, I don't do enough with my brain!

CuntAmongstThePigeons · 04/05/2017 02:50

Ooh please can I join!!! So many great titles already, some of which I've read but not nearly enough.

RJnomore1 · 03/05/2017 23:29

I'm up for it

Off to amazon to order the female eunuch

AlmaWhittaker · 03/05/2017 23:26

If anyone is a member of audible they have the female eunuch read by germaine greer herself. Looking forward to starting it.

boldlygoingsomewhere · 03/05/2017 08:44

Would love to join! I've read some of these already but it would be great to refresh and discuss them.

Just to note, I've tried to get hold of Gender Hurts recently and it seems to be very expensive. Not sure if anyone knows where to get it a bit cheaper for when it comes round...

NC1nightstand · 03/05/2017 08:37

Excited! Thank you Tartle.

Firenight · 03/05/2017 07:36

Yes please, me too. I am woefully under read (I think my DH has read more feminist works than me!)

Tartle · 02/05/2017 22:52

All are welcome Grin

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AlmaWhittaker · 02/05/2017 22:36

Oh can I join in too. I've needed this push to read some of these texts.

newtlover · 02/05/2017 22:34

I'd like to add a vote for Woman on the Edge of Time
Afraid i would de-nominate the second sex as it is so hard going Sad
however worth reading a decent synopsis so you can explain what she really meant by
one is not born but rather becomes a woman
Grin

woman12345 · 02/05/2017 22:28

Tartle brilliant, thanks.

venusinscorpio · 02/05/2017 22:15

Cool :)

Tartle · 02/05/2017 22:13

Brilliant, thanks everyone. I think the best thing to do is to alternate fiction and non fiction and I'll set up the next montage thread in the last week of the previous month so we can overlap a bit and have something for faster and slower readers.

I will go through the list and try and mix things up a bit so we have a good spread.

For now lets kick off May with The Female Eunuch as our first theory text? I'll start a thread in the book section tomorrow and post the link here.

It did occur to me that this might get expensive, especially if people don't have library access. I am very happy to pass texts on/around once I've read them if it would be useful?

A final bit of inspiration for us

"There will be no mass-based feminist movement as long as feminist ideas are understood only by a well-educated few." bell hooks

OP posts:
QuentinSummers · 01/05/2017 21:12

lass have you read The Robber Bride? That was my first Atwood and still my favourite.

Cakescakescakes · 01/05/2017 20:26

I think I would struggle to do two a month just at the minute - although could give it a go! Or maybe we could alternate one month fiction and one month non fiction? Some of the theoretical non-fic can be quite heavy or dense if you want to digest it properly I think?

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 01/05/2017 20:21

There are 5 books mentioned which I have read, I will not say which, but I disliked all of them. Actually I will mention two- The Golden Notebook - which I loathed. I can't remember that much about it other than it was utterly tedious and I couldn't stand Anna Wulf.

Re The Handmaid's Tale, I really, really have tried with Atwood but she leaves me unmoved.

woman12345 · 01/05/2017 19:24

Sounds good Tartle and thanks for starting the thread.

Tartle · 01/05/2017 18:52

Do you think it's worth trying one fiction and one non fiction a month or is that too much? There is just so much to read!

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venusinscorpio · 01/05/2017 18:39

Ooh yes I've meant to read Living Dolls for ages.

weegiemum · 01/05/2017 17:54

I'd like to do this too (and have amazon vouchers to spend!)

aginghippy · 01/05/2017 17:33

Me too sticklebrix I just finished reading The Handmaid's Tale.

I suggest Living Dolls by Natasha Walter.

EElisavetaOfBelsornia · 01/05/2017 17:17

I'd like to be in.

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