Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman's Guide to Why Feminism Matters, by Jessica Valenti (Seal Press, Emeryville, Cal., 2007)

Jessica Valenti, who writes the blog Feministing.com , wrote this book to get young women as excited as she is about feminism. She wants to make them realize that they are already feminists by pointing out that they hate sexism, by dispelling the usual myths about feminists (and including a brief history of the movement), and by educating them about the many problems women still face.

She wisely starts by discussing women’s sexuality, first in regard to how the religious Right tries to stifle it and explaining how “abstinence only” education is really intended for the control of young women, not for keeping them safe. Then, she talks about how popular culture also tries to control women’s sexuality by objectifying us. She then moves on to the more emotionally difficult subjects of rape and violence. A chapter on reproductive rights discusses “crisis pregnancy centers,” the persistence of forced sterilization, and right-wing lies about abortion and birth control. There is also a chapter on discrimination against pregnant women and mothers and others on the right-wing war on women’s involvement in the workforce and in politics. There is a chapter on how holding men to sexist, and often violent, standards of “masculinity” is damaging to both men and women. Valenti then discusses how feminism can include the struggles against racism, classism, and homophobia.

It is really important that this book doesn’t make the reader feel helpless by just describing the severity of the problems but that Valenti constantly gives suggestions on how the reader can both empower herself and change society. She also aims to inspire readers (and banish the myth of young women’s apathy) by telling them about the activism that young women are already doing. She includes a resource list of organization websites, books, magazines and hotlines to help the reader get active.

--Adele

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