Book to introduce 20yo DD to feminism?

[lawn]

20yo DD1 has just got out of a toxic, controlling relationship and it's time for her to wake up to feminism. We have a great relationship but the messages I've been trying to convey all through her childhood need some reinforcement, and she's a great reader. I feel like the books that opened my eyes in the 80s and 90s won't cut it for a 20yo in 2024. What should I recommend to her?

It was a joke!

(but on further reflection bears some truth, strictly speaking....)

This is a fair point actually.

I notice that quite a few of the posters on here that take issue with men in general have often arrived at this conclusion from bad experiences that were seemingly avoidable or bad behaviour that was facilitated - "my husband has never lifted a finger around the house, is he BU?" etc.

In many cases they seem to have missed the red flags themselves, so I'm not sure I'd be turning to them for advice. The best outlook IMO is to have a well adjusted viewpoint that recognises male pisstaking without veering into a feminist separatism type mentality.

Easier said than done though!

Michelle Ellerman seems good. Plus any funny woman. Margaret Attwood is also to the point.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has written some good, accessible stuff.

But Why Does He Do That might be what she needs at the moment.

I started with The Beauty Myth at her age. It was a good illustration of how the world is set up against women and so was a good gateway to feminism for me at the time.

Second the Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche suggestion, especially her We Should All Be Feminists essay/pamphlet (think it might be based on her own TED Talk)

I recommend the Freedom Programme by Women's Aid, preferably in person.

I also suggest a discussion on relationship red flags and healthy relationships.

As well as a good book on boundaries, self esteem and assertiveness.

Feminism books:

We Should All be Feminists
The Female Eunuch
Everyday Sexism
The Beauty Myth
The Second Sex
Badly Behaved Women: The Story of Modern Feminism

Mary beard published an excellent short book on feminism.

I recommend "The Places I've Cried In Public" by Holly Bourne. It's a YA book not expressly about feminism but the author is a feminist and a lot of that comes across.

Does your daughter want you to recommend books about feminism? This could potentially come across as, “well, clearly you didn’t learn what I taught you, young lady, so here’s your remedial homework.”

I know it's an older thread but came to recommend the Freedom Programme. If she has Instagram, Vulga Drawings are useful and informative

He’s a Stud, She’s a Slut by Jessica Valenti - it’s a good primer on various feminist issues and double standards.

Feminism by Deborah Cameron
Concise starter book

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