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gullyer's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't get into this book. Halfway through I let it go. It may have helped to know going into it that each chapter is an separate subject essay that ties into feminism or being a woman. For instance, one chapter tells her story of becoming a professor at a university. Another chapter focuses on her opinions on several feminist books. There were definitely some paragraphs or sections that I enjoyed, however, it didn't really flow for me - not every essay was captivating.
skeetergal's review against another edition
5.0
Outstanding essays on feminism and popular culture too. She nails it and isn't too pious to read 'trash' fiction or watch trash TV. Love her
tstreets's review against another edition
4.0
This wide-ranging and thought-provoking collection of essays wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was a very enlightening read. Too often, we as readers are faced with perfect characters and perfect narrators and perfect essayists telling us the right way to do everything. Roxane Gay is not afraid to admit that she is imperfect, but her reflections on life, culture, feminism, racism, and more are no less valuable because of it. This is a relatable collection of real life experiences that will get you thinking about the roles we play in the world around us, and ways that we can and should reexamine and reinvent those roles.
srdavis24's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you, Roxane Gay, for writing this book. Too often we lose sight of what really matters. We are so quick to label, categorize, and stereotype. For example, what does being a feminist mean? There are too many negative connotations of feminism. Conversely, there are feminists who believe you need to act a certain way to be a feminist.
Gay counters these notions of feminism. “Like most people, I’m full of contradictions, but I also don’t want to be treated like shit for being a woman,” she writes. “I am a bad feminist. I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.”
Women are allowed to like different kinds of music (most of the songs on the radio are pretty sexist) and wear dresses without feeling like they are betraying the feminist sisterhood. Gay also writes on race and how, thanks to the media and entertainment industry (mostly created by white people), stereotypes are reinforced and we never get to the heart of the matter. There aren’t enough honest and legitimate portrayals of “real people” in the media. We are constantly pulled and tugged by the forces that surround us. Bad Feminist was a slap in the face saying “don’t give in.” Gay doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. She is simply a writer who writes honestly and purely and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She certainly isn’t the first person to do this, but her words are refreshing and meaningful for newer generations that need, now more than ever, a real voice to relate to.
Gay counters these notions of feminism. “Like most people, I’m full of contradictions, but I also don’t want to be treated like shit for being a woman,” she writes. “I am a bad feminist. I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all.”
Women are allowed to like different kinds of music (most of the songs on the radio are pretty sexist) and wear dresses without feeling like they are betraying the feminist sisterhood. Gay also writes on race and how, thanks to the media and entertainment industry (mostly created by white people), stereotypes are reinforced and we never get to the heart of the matter. There aren’t enough honest and legitimate portrayals of “real people” in the media. We are constantly pulled and tugged by the forces that surround us. Bad Feminist was a slap in the face saying “don’t give in.” Gay doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. She is simply a writer who writes honestly and purely and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She certainly isn’t the first person to do this, but her words are refreshing and meaningful for newer generations that need, now more than ever, a real voice to relate to.
jmtcalero's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
safymo's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I wanted to like this book a whole lot more than I did.
I learned a lot from this book, how being a feminist doesn't mean being perfect and consistently and always picking the side that moves the cause forward - feminists are human.
I also heard a lot that I already knew - how a lot of ignorant people misunderstand the meaning of feminism, how they exclude the narrative of trans lives and POC, how they propagate reductive and negative ideas of what it means to be a feminist, how men (and women) in power have belittled us through the ages...
and there were parts I disagreed with - however tiring it is to hear about slavery and about women's perennial fight for justice, I think it's important to teach people, especially as far right movements do their best to minimise and nullify these issues. People should be taught to recognise the red flags in the public discourse because as Gay emphasises "History repeats itself".
but Gay always acknowledges her bias and I should give her the same grace for that bias as I should give myself for being a bad feminist at times. Overall it's a well written book and an important one at that.
I learned a lot from this book, how being a feminist doesn't mean being perfect and consistently and always picking the side that moves the cause forward - feminists are human.
I also heard a lot that I already knew - how a lot of ignorant people misunderstand the meaning of feminism, how they exclude the narrative of trans lives and POC, how they propagate reductive and negative ideas of what it means to be a feminist, how men (and women) in power have belittled us through the ages...
and there were parts I disagreed with - however tiring it is to hear about slavery and about women's perennial fight for justice, I think it's important to teach people, especially as far right movements do their best to minimise and nullify these issues. People should be taught to recognise the red flags in the public discourse because as Gay emphasises "History repeats itself".
but Gay always acknowledges her bias and I should give her the same grace for that bias as I should give myself for being a bad feminist at times. Overall it's a well written book and an important one at that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Slavery
larca's review against another edition
5.0
"It's hard to be told to lighten up because if you lighten up any more, you're going to float the fuck away."
oreiadae's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
Sad, I know. Also, unexpected.
This book was very middle of the road for me. I am notoriously bad with non-fiction no matter how many intellectual books by smart people I pile onto my tbr, but I went into this expecting to love it, because I have heard many good things, and also because I am a rabid (and also bad, if we go by Gay's definition) feminist.
I did not love it.
Most of the essays raised good points, and I enjoyed some more than others (I particularly liked the last essay) but the whole time i kind of wished that the essays were shorter and longer at the same time, somehow. Alot of them just seem a bit shallow, I wish they went more in depth.
There is also the matter of some parts of this writing not having aged particularly well by now, or essays making points that people who are conscious and interact in recent social justice discourses are already aware of.
Ultimately, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it when it came out, and I do partially blame myself for just. not getting into non-fiction for how slowly and begrudgingly i read through this book.
I do recommend it though for people who struggle with the label of feminist or people who are not very invested in social justice issues, like reproductive rights, police brutality, etc. and want to learn more or maybe just want to analyse some internalised misogyny.
I am very comfortable with labeling myself as a feminist, and have been for a while so this just basically spoke back at me things I already internalised.
Sad, I know. Also, unexpected.
This book was very middle of the road for me. I am notoriously bad with non-fiction no matter how many intellectual books by smart people I pile onto my tbr, but I went into this expecting to love it, because I have heard many good things, and also because I am a rabid (and also bad, if we go by Gay's definition) feminist.
I did not love it.
Most of the essays raised good points, and I enjoyed some more than others (I particularly liked the last essay) but the whole time i kind of wished that the essays were shorter and longer at the same time, somehow. Alot of them just seem a bit shallow, I wish they went more in depth.
There is also the matter of some parts of this writing not having aged particularly well by now, or essays making points that people who are conscious and interact in recent social justice discourses are already aware of.
Ultimately, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it when it came out, and I do partially blame myself for just. not getting into non-fiction for how slowly and begrudgingly i read through this book.
I do recommend it though for people who struggle with the label of feminist or people who are not very invested in social justice issues, like reproductive rights, police brutality, etc. and want to learn more or maybe just want to analyse some internalised misogyny.
I am very comfortable with labeling myself as a feminist, and have been for a while so this just basically spoke back at me things I already internalised.