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letsgolesbians's review against another edition
3.0
There were some really strong pieces in here, and I’ll copy/paste the lists of the ones I enjoyed when I’m on a laptop rather than a phone. Because I like logic and realism, I enjoyed the interviews and other pieces that focused on an aspect of culture and the how and why of changing that aspect. I don’t see us ending capitalism any time soon, so the pieces that were really about utopias didn’t hold my interest because I wanted to read about more realistic things.
Also, there was a lot of sex and love positivity in this, which I do think we need, but as an ace person I kept trying to figure out how I would fit into these spaces. I do think this collection was too focused on allosexual and alloromantic folx, and I would have loved more from writers who are generally left out of things—-more interviews and essays by indigenous folx and disabled folx.
I’d recommend this because there is likely something for everyone in here depending on your style preferences.
Also, there was a lot of sex and love positivity in this, which I do think we need, but as an ace person I kept trying to figure out how I would fit into these spaces. I do think this collection was too focused on allosexual and alloromantic folx, and I would have loved more from writers who are generally left out of things—-more interviews and essays by indigenous folx and disabled folx.
I’d recommend this because there is likely something for everyone in here depending on your style preferences.
brogan7's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Some of the pieces in this anthology were really good. I preferred the essays to the short stories, and I preferred the last third of the book to the first.
Unfortunately, like a lot of this type of book, it gets bogged down at times in the theoretical and it fails in the one aspect I was really looking for: the creation of short fiction around truly feminist and progressive visions of the world...not an "almost," not a stated list of wishes, but a vision (flawed, sure, but complete) of what a different world might look like.
Unfortunately, like a lot of this type of book, it gets bogged down at times in the theoretical and it fails in the one aspect I was really looking for: the creation of short fiction around truly feminist and progressive visions of the world...not an "almost," not a stated list of wishes, but a vision (flawed, sure, but complete) of what a different world might look like.
choirqueer's review against another edition
5.0
YES! YES!! YES!!! This book was SO good and SO necessary and I loved it and I want everyone to read it. It's a collection of short pieces portraying each contributor's hopes and dreams for a feminist utopia, including pieces that focus on education, sexuality, work/employment, body image, race, the justice system, and more. Some of the writings are fictionalized narratives, placing characters of the writer's creation in a futuristic setting to illustrate what the world would be like in that writer's utopia. Others take more of a non-fictional approach, describing the differences between the present and the imagined future. Still others are presented as interviews, including one phenomenal one with a rock/punk band of 12y/o girls. A magnificent compilation.
turtlelullaby's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, for sure. Loved the concept and really got into the more fiction pieces. TONS to digest and discuss!
erinaceously's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to love this book, and there were definitely some gems, but many of the pieces felt like they could have been a little better thought out, and I wish they tied together a bit more. Ultimately, I wasn't quite able to finish it.
dizzymslindsay's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted on Tsundokuholic.
The Feminist Utopia Project Overview
The Feminist Utopia Project, edited by Alexandra Brodsky and Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, begins with a short but powerful declaration: “We want more.” In the fifty-seven pieces that follow, feminists present their views on the components of a feminist utopia. These views are expressed through art, poetry, photos, interviews, short fictional stories, and personal narratives spanning a variety of feminist-interest topics. One writer imagines a future where girls are coached in family planning from puberty and abortion restrictions are archaic. Another piece imagines how humans of the future will look back on the early 21st-century issues of “rape” and “consent” with incredulity because the concept of people having sex with each other without them both wanting to have sex is unfathomable. While some writers imagined a feminist utopia, others analyzed the issues humanity must overcome in order to reach a feminist utopia. Others imagine specific facets of a feminist utopia, such as justice systems, education reform, workplace reform, and medical practice. The feminism presented in this anthology is inclusive, with many pieces focusing on how sexism affects women of color, transgender women, and men. Each piece explores something “we want more” of, whether it’s more paid parental leave or more freedom to move freely through the world without the constant nagging feeling that we will be victims of gender-based violence.
My Thoughts
This book, being an anthology, contains a little something for everyone, as long as you’re not a bitter, ill-informed meninist, I guess. There are fifty-seven unique works by fifty-seven different people. I enjoyed some of the pieces more than others, depending on each author’s voice. I really enjoyed the fictional imaginings of utopian futures where feminism isn’t a dirty word, it’s common sense. The pieces that centered on economics were a bit dry in my opinion, and I’m sure others would find it fascinating to consider a more feminist take on medical care but it just wasn’t stimulating enough for me. That’s not to say I disagreed with the authors’ messages, I just can’t get deeply invested in those topics past a page or two. The fact that a few of the chapters weren’t up my alley shows the diversity of the subject matter. At the end of the book is a categorized index for those who want to read about specific topics like food, sex, art, disability rights, queer rights, or trans justice. What strings together this cornucopia of opinions about all of the issues underneath the feminist umbrella is the theme of wanting more, and the question of why we’re struggling to reach a feminist utopia. I frequently see women being subtly demeaned by friends and family. Sexist ideas about what it means to male and female are so ingrained into our culture that they appear to be fact. It’s easy to demean emotions and other stereotypically feminine traits at the expense of both men and women. The visions of feminist utopias presented in this book depend on the willingness of people to challenge our own beliefs and imagine a better, safer, inclusive future.
Rating: 4 out of 5 feminist utopias
The Feminist Utopia Project Overview
The Feminist Utopia Project, edited by Alexandra Brodsky and Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, begins with a short but powerful declaration: “We want more.” In the fifty-seven pieces that follow, feminists present their views on the components of a feminist utopia. These views are expressed through art, poetry, photos, interviews, short fictional stories, and personal narratives spanning a variety of feminist-interest topics. One writer imagines a future where girls are coached in family planning from puberty and abortion restrictions are archaic. Another piece imagines how humans of the future will look back on the early 21st-century issues of “rape” and “consent” with incredulity because the concept of people having sex with each other without them both wanting to have sex is unfathomable. While some writers imagined a feminist utopia, others analyzed the issues humanity must overcome in order to reach a feminist utopia. Others imagine specific facets of a feminist utopia, such as justice systems, education reform, workplace reform, and medical practice. The feminism presented in this anthology is inclusive, with many pieces focusing on how sexism affects women of color, transgender women, and men. Each piece explores something “we want more” of, whether it’s more paid parental leave or more freedom to move freely through the world without the constant nagging feeling that we will be victims of gender-based violence.
My Thoughts
This book, being an anthology, contains a little something for everyone, as long as you’re not a bitter, ill-informed meninist, I guess. There are fifty-seven unique works by fifty-seven different people. I enjoyed some of the pieces more than others, depending on each author’s voice. I really enjoyed the fictional imaginings of utopian futures where feminism isn’t a dirty word, it’s common sense. The pieces that centered on economics were a bit dry in my opinion, and I’m sure others would find it fascinating to consider a more feminist take on medical care but it just wasn’t stimulating enough for me. That’s not to say I disagreed with the authors’ messages, I just can’t get deeply invested in those topics past a page or two. The fact that a few of the chapters weren’t up my alley shows the diversity of the subject matter. At the end of the book is a categorized index for those who want to read about specific topics like food, sex, art, disability rights, queer rights, or trans justice. What strings together this cornucopia of opinions about all of the issues underneath the feminist umbrella is the theme of wanting more, and the question of why we’re struggling to reach a feminist utopia. I frequently see women being subtly demeaned by friends and family. Sexist ideas about what it means to male and female are so ingrained into our culture that they appear to be fact. It’s easy to demean emotions and other stereotypically feminine traits at the expense of both men and women. The visions of feminist utopias presented in this book depend on the willingness of people to challenge our own beliefs and imagine a better, safer, inclusive future.
Rating: 4 out of 5 feminist utopias
lioness20's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
tking18's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0