Listen Up: Voices from the Next Feminist Generation

Rating:
Summary: Listen Up!
Review: There couldn't be a better title for this book. Each essay begs you to "listen up" and listen good. The women in this book focus on all areas of feminism, and their feminist experiences at different times in their lives. Some are about trying to reconcile their circumstances with their feminist ideals, such as the feminist aerobics instructor, or the feminist who nearly had to become a go-go dancer just to pay the rent. My favorite essays were the ones that focused, at least in part, on what it's like to be growing up now, in a time where all too many people think that feminism is dead and/or dying. I have too many favorites to begin listing them here, but I definitely recommend this book to any one who is a feminist (no matter your age); think you might be a feminist, but don't want "that label"; or if you adamantly aren't a feminist, but you know one. I don't think any one will regret buying it.

Rating:
Summary: Listen Up!
Review: There couldn't be a better title for this book. Each essay begs you to "listen up" and listen good. The women in this book focus on all areas of feminism, and their feminist experiences at different times in their lives. Some are about trying to reconcile their circumstances with their feminist ideals, such as the feminist aerobics instructor, or the feminist who nearly had to become a go-go dancer just to pay the rent. My favorite essays were the ones that focused, at least in part, on what it's like to be growing up now, in a time where all too many people think that feminism is dead and/or dying. I have too many favorites to begin listing them here, but I definitely recommend this book to any one who is a feminist (no matter your age); think you might be a feminist, but don't want "that label"; or if you adamantly aren't a feminist, but you know one. I don't think any one will regret buying it.

Rating:
Summary: a mixed bag
Review: This book is a collection of women's personal narratives, which are loosely related by the theme of feminism and how it has affected thier lives. The book touches upon a wide range of feminist issues, from abortion to identity politics to body image. Many of the narratives are not to be missed, such as "Abortion, Vaccum Cleaners, and the Power Within" by Inga Muscio and "Bringing Feminism a la Casa" by Daisy Hernandez. Other narratives, such as "Your Life As a Girl" by Curtis Sittenfeld, are not as interesting. Fortunately, the book is organized in a way that makes it easy to pick and choose which parts to read. I recommend skipping around.

Rating:
Summary: a mixed bag
Review: This book is a collection of women's personal narratives, which are loosely related by the theme of feminism and how it has affected thier lives. The book touches upon a wide range of feminist issues, from abortion to identity politics to body image. Many of the narratives are not to be missed, such as "Abortion, Vaccum Cleaners, and the Power Within" by Inga Muscio and "Bringing Feminism a la Casa" by Daisy Hernandez. Other narratives, such as "Your Life As a Girl" by Curtis Sittenfeld, are not as interesting. Fortunately, the book is organized in a way that makes it easy to pick and choose which parts to read. I recommend skipping around.

Rating:
Summary: A life-changing book!
Review: This book is amazing. I laughed, cried, and learned. I spent hours reading it aloud to friends and bought every member of my family a copy. Every young woman should have this on her shelf.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent.
Review: This book is very well put together and the writers are all teriffic. I appreciate the diversity of the writers and where they are coming from. This is an important book for young (and older) feminists to read, I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: This book provides a very broad view of the struggles women face in every aspect of life. A new perspective is gained when reading the first hand experiences of those who have really struggled, as a result of merely being themselves. This book provides a lot of insight and is a must read for anyone who sympathizes with feminist struggles, or who just cannot yet grasp why there is a need for feminism.

Rating:
Summary: So thorough it can make you uncomfortable
Review: This comprehensive collection of essays and memoirs on myriad contemporary issues is so challenging and thorough, it may even make you uncomfortable. The book is inclusive of many of the criticisms of mainstream feminism, and succeeds in causing the reader to question her own place in the movement. From essays on the marginalization of disabled and differently abled feminists to the question of race and ethnic origin within feminist writings and ideals, the perspectives portrayed in this collection remind the reader that, though feminism has long been a movement embracing the White middle-class, women and freedom fighters are not all cut from the same cloth. The essays create bonds between readers and writer, and give the readers reason to broaden their ideas about what it means to be a feminist in the year 2001.

Rating:
Summary: a pleasure to read.
Review: this is one of the first books i've read about feminism, so i don't proclaim to be an expert, but i really enjoyed reading so many different perspectives about feminism. these women's opinions were interesting to read. i read it straight through one afternoon and was sad to put it down. i particularly enjoyed the essays by curtis sittenfield, abra chernik, nomy lamm, laurel gilbert, jennifer myhre, and cheryl green. the essays seemed a little short to me, though. but my one beef with the book is that every single one of writers was a well-educated woman who had gone at least for her bachelor's. what about women who weren't able to go to college? the book seemed to emphasize varieties of feminism but that varieties of education wasn't taken into account surprised me. there are feminists out there with merely a high school education or even less. i hope maybe someday to see a sequel to this book where those factors are taken into account.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: To me this book broke a lot of stereotypes among the female population. All the writer's were articulate in stating their views, opinions and personal experience's. Reading this book, felt like I was among friends. So much to relate to, and finaly feeling justified in my life. I'm proud to be a woman and have these women be my voice.