Recommendations of good intro books on feminism?

[GertieGooseBoots]

I'm looking for something for my DH. I'm failing to make my points clearly so need a book to do it for me. He thinks he doesn't encounter examples of inequality in daily life. Dissecting the outfit-flesh ratio on X Factor isn't winning my case...

The Equality Illusion by Kat Banyard

Oh, I think I'd like one too! I used to think that I could go through life without worrying about things too much, but this pesky feminism board keeps giving me food for thought, and now I think I'd like to read a bit more about it.

In the past, DH has said that he thinks that feminism isn't simply about equality for women, but is instead about promoting women ahead of men. I think that this is just a negative image of feminism, but I really need to know more about it so that I can educate him .

I will see if I can get a copy of that Kat Banyard book, thanks. He's just said "I think we should teach our children to live in the real world, rather than in an ideal world". I disagree...

Natasha Walter's "Living Dolls" is pretty good and not too heavy going.

Although it's ancient (and he might say "oh but it's not like that now,") Dale Spender and Sally Cline's "Reflecting Men at Twice Their Natural Size" is painfully funny but gets the point across.

"End of Manhood" or "Refusing to Be a Man" by John Stoltenberg might be a bit heavy duty for someone just dipping their oar into the feminist sea.

I haven't got this one, but it looks good - Shira Tennant's "Men and Feminism" (which includes a chapter by Jackson Katz,) or go whole hog for Katz's "The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help."

Will keep thinking on this one (and adding to my Christmas wish list as I go! :) )

The "Men and Feminism" one is good and a Reclaiming the F Word is really good as a reference book - to go back and consult on various areas and topics.

I started with Living Dolls by Natasha Walter. Now working my way through The Equality Illusion (Kat Banyard) and Delusions of Gender (Cordelia Fine)

All very highly recommended. :)

Thanks, DH and I are going to be busy reading!

I'd second Delusions of Gender; its very non-polemical and scientific, so perhaps a better start for someone who is sceptical.

I third (or fourth) Delusions of Gender. Pink Brain, Blue Brain by Lise Elliott is also very good (though a bit harder going for a non-scientist reader).

Ive just ordered Living Dolls, Equality Illusion and and one called 'Grassroots, A Field Guide for Feminist Activism'.

Has anyone read the Grassroots one?

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran is an enjoyable read and might open his eyes to a few things.

Have just read some reviews which suggest it might be too American in focus, but will let you know.

I really liked How to Be a Woman - it's a great read - but I think she's spectacularly wrong on pornography, which is why I didn't recommend it earlier.

Delusions of Gender is interesting and sciency and entertainingly-written.

I found the Equality Illusion a bit dull. It didn't inspire me at all.

I think Caitlin Moran failed to distinguish between pornography as a concept and the porn industry. I also think her book was mis-sold as a feminist treatise when in fact it's just a memoir.

The best bit in the Caitlin Moran book is the part about cosmetic surgery. It worth flicking to that bit in the book shop and just reading that bit.

I did actually read that part out to my DH and he found it v convincing.

Living Dolls is especially good if you have daughters. Most men do not like the thought of their daughters being poorly treated and this can be a v good gateway to feminism.