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A review by srdavis24
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
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.