mollief's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.0
This was a reread for me. Bad Feminist was absolutely groundbreaking when it came out, and I will still recommend to anyone I meet who hasn’t read it, but some of the references and opinions are a little outdated because it’s a nearly 10 year old book that uses pop culture references in the essays, and it seems Dr. Gay’s opinions have shifted over time, too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
jessica_lam's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
This book is extremely of its time and if you are old enough to remember the early 2010s in the United States, you'll recognize most, if not all of the references Gay makes in the book. Beyond that, it probably gets a bit too specific. A collection of personal essays, Gay reflects on a variety of topics from her personal and extremely specific lens, mostly on pop culture - large swaths of the book focus on popular media of the time. Each chapter could be summarized by a well-formulated series of tweets, especially as Gay is an extremely approachable writer.
The title comes from her reflection on the implications of the word "feminist," and how she still holds views or have preferences that may not conform with the mainstream stereotype of feminism, especially as they were in 2014 (and earlier when she was writing this book). There's also the extremely legitimate criticism of the history of white feminism, but ultimately concludes that "being a bad feminist is better than not being a feminist at all."
It was an interesting trip down memory lane as someone who also consumes perhaps a disproportionate amount of media. Each section feels like a conversation I might have after watching the Fruitvale Station/50 Shades/The Hunger Games/etc. with a friend - fairly surface level observations, but well written and probably a level deeper than most media consumers.
Bonus: did all of us want to be Jessica's but, lbr, were Elizabeth's?
The title comes from her reflection on the implications of the word "feminist," and how she still holds views or have preferences that may not conform with the mainstream stereotype of feminism, especially as they were in 2014 (and earlier when she was writing this book). There's also the extremely legitimate criticism of the history of white feminism, but ultimately concludes that "being a bad feminist is better than not being a feminist at all."
It was an interesting trip down memory lane as someone who also consumes perhaps a disproportionate amount of media. Each section feels like a conversation I might have after watching the Fruitvale Station/50 Shades/The Hunger Games/etc. with a friend - fairly surface level observations, but well written and probably a level deeper than most media consumers.
Bonus: did all of us want to be Jessica's but, lbr, were Elizabeth's?
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
This book is extremely of its time and if you are old enough to remember the early 2010s in the United States, you'll recognize most, if not all of the references Gay makes in the book. Beyond that, it probably gets a bit too specific. A collection of personal essays, Gay reflects on a variety of topics from her personal and extremely specific lens, mostly on pop culture - large swaths of the book focus on popular media of the time. Each chapter could be summarized by a well-formulated series of tweets, especially as Gay is an extremely approachable writer. The title comes from her reflection on the implications of the word "feminist," and how she still holds views or have preferences that may not conform with the mainstream stereotype of feminism, especially as they were in 2014 (and earlier when she was writing this book). There's also the extremely legitimate criticism of the history of white feminism, but ultimately concludes that "being a bad feminist is better than not being a feminist at all." It was an interesting trip down memory lane as someone who also consumes perhaps a disproportionate amount of media. Each section feels like a conversation I might have after watching the Fruitvale Station/50 Shades/The Hunger Games/etc. with a friend - fairly surface level observations, but well written and probably a level deeper than most media consumers. Bonus: did all of us want to be Jessica's but, lbr, were Elizabeth's?ginimeh's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
I read Bad Feminist in 2023 after years and years of having it on my reading list. I think this is why I was so disappointed by the book. I only ever knew the title and after coming to terms with the fact that Gay is not writing about being a bad feminist but mainly popculture and the time the book was written I was ready and set to read it in historical context.
There were a lot of points where I thought "if I read this as a teen back when it was published I'd be able to take so much from it" and some thoughts and sentences are a welcomed gift for the next arguments I'll have with sexists or racists but further than that it didn't give me much. The only thing I really take away from it is that 2014 was still a year when "being feminist" meant to be a woman, to only talk about two genders, to mix up liking a specific color and shaving your legs is the same as supporting being a bad feminist. Honestly the last chapter accomplished to ruin the book for me. 2014 is almost a decade ago but if you write a book about feminism (no matter if it's about your perspective or the lense of media and society) I think one should look at the big scope of privilege and not only brush them while talking about two main points or axes of intersectionality. But maybe I'm putting to much responsibility on the author and thereby proof her point that we expect a lot from feminism.
Also I read it in German and the translation were horribly stiff sometimes.
There were a lot of points where I thought "if I read this as a teen back when it was published I'd be able to take so much from it" and some thoughts and sentences are a welcomed gift for the next arguments I'll have with sexists or racists but further than that it didn't give me much. The only thing I really take away from it is that 2014 was still a year when "being feminist" meant to be a woman, to only talk about two genders, to mix up liking a specific color and shaving your legs is the same as supporting being a bad feminist. Honestly the last chapter accomplished to ruin the book for me. 2014 is almost a decade ago but if you write a book about feminism (no matter if it's about your perspective or the lense of media and society) I think one should look at the big scope of privilege and not only brush them while talking about two main points or axes of intersectionality. But maybe I'm putting to much responsibility on the author and thereby proof her point that we expect a lot from feminism.
Also I read it in German and the translation were horribly stiff sometimes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Slavery, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Rape, and Sexual assault
schnanko's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Abortion, Death, Slavery, Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
baileysir's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I loved this book of essays! Gay’s writing style is casual and familiar yet thought-provoking and incisive. She provides an important perspective on race, gender, feminism, women’s rights, and more with this infinitely compelling and powerful collection of her essays.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual assault and Pedophilia
lubarbara's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
La considero una lectura importante del feminismo, pero no así esencial. Si bien me dejó pensando en varias ocasiones mi rol como mujer y feminista, me fue difícil encontrarme o identificarme con varias de las dificultades planteadas por la autora ya que yo no soy ni negra ni estadounidense. Además, muchas referencias a la cultura pop no las entendí (creo que es muy específico de los 2010’s y se pierden bastantes cosas).
Sin embargo, hay experiencias universales que vivimos todas las mujeres y se encuentran muy bien retratadas. La invitación a cuestionarnos, pero a ser más pacientes y amorosas con nosotras mismas es muy clara y necesaria.
Sin embargo, hay experiencias universales que vivimos todas las mujeres y se encuentran muy bien retratadas. La invitación a cuestionarnos, pero a ser más pacientes y amorosas con nosotras mismas es muy clara y necesaria.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child death, Murder, and Hate crime
maggieparedesauthor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Child death, Racism, Addiction, Injury/injury detail, Police brutality, Gun violence, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
ashbuggs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Roxane Gay’s book of sharp, funny, and culturally relevant essays details and explores flaws and imperfections in many forms, and invites you into the inner workings of her mind. In turn, I began to to do the same to mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Abortion, and Slavery
onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual violence
aniagajecka's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Rape