A review by katie_greenwinginmymouth
Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power by Lola Olufemi

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

 This book is essential. Through a series of chapters covering areas such as reproductive justice, art, food, sex work, Islamophobia, prison abolition and transmisogyny Lola Olufemi sets out clear, concise and urgent arguments for an intersectional, radical and abolitionist feminism that imagines a future of solidarity and mutual aid rather than increasing state control.

This is without doubt the best book on feminism I have ever read, it does not dumb down or shy away from challenging issues but neither is it dense or academic. There were so many lightbulb moments for me in the book. One that has stuck with me is that whilst being strategic is necessary for any feminist project we also need to think about how to win radically. When compromise means not offending mainstream white, middle class liberal feminism we are immediately excluding black women and women of colour, working class women, trans and non binary people and ultimately reproducing the systems of oppression we are purporting to fight against.

I was so glad to see a chapter dedicated to art and that it recognised the transformative potential of creative practice that so many people are excluded from due to economic pressures.  The final chapter on food brilliantly made a link to global struggles of indigenous women and led into the conclusion talking about solidarity and how creating global networks of solidarity can help to envision a world without the brutality of borders, states and nations. I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough, and it’s a wake up call for those of us who have the luxury to choose to be a feminist and who should be leveraging our privilege to enact change.