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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

OK feminozas, I am going on holiday and you can choose ONE book to educate me.

27 replies

TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 10:16

But I don't want to feel as if I am reading a textbook or being educated.

It has to be interesting and engagingly-written (interesting content but dry style is a no-go).

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 12/04/2011 10:21

have you read Cordelia Fine, Delusions of Gender? That's the funnest feminist book that has been written in a long time IMO.

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 10:22

I haven't read anything.

OK, so I've read loads of stuff, even The Handmaid's Tale, but I haven't read any specifically-feminist non-novels. My non-fiction tends to be popular science or the new set of economicsy-psychology-stuff (Freakonomics et al).

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 12/04/2011 10:25

this is another one you might like

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 10:27

Noooooo - you must choose one and then when someone else suggests a different one you must fight it out! :o

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 12/04/2011 10:29

ok then. Delusions of Gender is (even) better than The Myth of Mars And Venus.
just thought you might like a back-up, you know, in case all the copies are sold out.

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 10:32

:)

Are you going to tell me that Amazon is anti-feminist? Amazon are never sold out!

(obvs if I went to an independent bookshop run by an enterprising single mum that would be more feminist than Amazon, but I don't think there's one nearby)

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Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 10:35

Is everyone else ignoring me because I called you feminozas?

Sorry. I thought it sounded funny.

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steamedtreaclesponge · 12/04/2011 11:06

I quite like feminozas!

But don't have a great knowledge of feminist books (am still educating myself, innit) so I was waiting for the big guns to turn up...

I took Female Chauvinist Pigs and Living Dolls on holiday with me last year and really enjoyed them - but I've heard that the Equality Illusion and Delusions of Gender are brilliant so one of those might be better for you to start with?

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 11:09
OP posts:
Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 12:09

Who are the big guns, incidentally? Apart from Dittany obviously.

OP posts:
karmakameleon · 12/04/2011 12:15

I can recommend The Equality Illusion and Delusions of Gender (which I'm reading on holiday now) but would also throw Wifework into the mix. It's very readable and probably personally relevant to you (or certainly was to me).

StewieGriffinsMom · 12/04/2011 12:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 12:47

If Delusions of Gender is funny then I think that's the one I'll go for. I need to ease in gently and read something that is entertaining as well as informative.

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AliceWorld · 12/04/2011 22:35

If you want a novel, I like the Womens Room by Marilyn French. It aint funny though.

Or Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, again not funny.

(I actually found Delusions of Gender quite dry, and I read a lot of dry stuff, but I am sure that is just me as it's at odds with everyone else)

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 12/04/2011 22:48

I've read Oryx and Crake, didn't find it particularly feminist, but no I'm looking for an edumacational thingy, not a novel.

Have ordered Delusions of Gender now, hope that my taste aligns with the people who said it was good :)

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blackcurrants · 13/04/2011 02:11

Have a great holiday, Trillian and do think of Wifework as a backup read, if you speed through Delusions of Gender. It's not funny but it is a good holiday read in that it's better to read it on holiday than read it when at home, with lots of housework piling up while your rage knowledge piles up too.

Beachcomber · 13/04/2011 07:56

Not offended by feminozas - just couldn't decide on ONE book. Have a good holiday and a good read.

PMSL at blackcurrants' 'guncake'.

Original poster
TrillianAstra · 13/04/2011 08:41

Mmm, blackcurrant guncake - blackcurrants would make the cake a good dark gun-like colour I suppose :)

Thanks for the suggestions.

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 13/04/2011 08:45

I agree with the Woman's Room Marilyn French but it ain't exactly a bundle of belly laughs.

steamedtreaclesponge · 13/04/2011 10:07

Mmm, guncake

not sure who the big guns are really - just not me! Grin

Antidote · 13/04/2011 10:16

On a vaguely related note, can anyone recommend a good feminist podcast to keep my brain from turning to porridge as I walk the buggy?

AliceWorld · 13/04/2011 12:34

No but how I wish there was a MN feminist board summary podcast prepared for me to listen to every morning

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 13/04/2011 12:43

LOL @ the FeMNists eating blackcurrant guncake.

steamedtreaclesponge · 13/04/2011 15:12

Big guns cake

Incidentally, is it just me or does anyone else think making a five-year-old a cake shaped like a tank is a bit odd? Am happy to be corrected... I suppose they're not that different from trains...

blackcurrants · 13/04/2011 15:15

if there's no cake at the revolution I'm not going. Ditto if I can't bring my baby to the revolution, I'm not going. I'm a feminist, dyed-and-true, card-carrying since my 14th Birthday - but there are some things one must stand firm on, and cake + buggy access are those things!

I quite like the skepchick podcasts - a feminist take on atheism and science. But I'd love more, and more feminist stuff. I wonder if Bitch or Ms do one? Quick, to the googlemachine!