I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I think the title is off-putting to much of the targeted audience, at least in my view. If I were to write a book like this, I'd want boys and men to read this!! It's unfortunate to turn them away with a cover and picture

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that screams "this is a women's rights book". Conservatives, men/boys would be unlikely to pick up this book to read. And why? Because of the title and picture on the cover. It has a fist with painted nails- a kind of aggressive gesture. So, first thing I would do is change the title and cover. I can imagine what nay-sayers would say, "no, leave it as is, there's no need to kowtow to males and make anything more palatable ", but my response to this is, well, you just may be shooting yourself in the foot. The point of this book, I believe, is to educate and to attract otherwise improbable readers, to open their eyes, to instruct, to broaden perspective, to raise awareness of women's roles and needs and struggles and oppression. It serves no purpose to write and publish a book just to preach to the choir.

Apart from that, this book is an excellent overview of women's issues. It is geared for middle schoolers, but I as a middle aged woman found it informative and helpful. Polak is from Canada, so much of the history is about her country, but she does include statistics from the US, and her general points are valid cross culturally. She defines terms well, such as rape culture "Rape Culture refers to the trivialization of male violence against woman to the blaming of victims". Polak includes some great photos too, such as one of a woman holding a sign which says:

What causes rape?
a) drinking
b) short skirts
c) flirting
c) rapists

Of course the answer is c!! But there are many women who would say all of the above. Sadly, even women will blame themselves for violence committed against them. We need to do something about this if we're going to stop it. We need to change our language about rape, and stop taking about it in the passive voice ie 'I was raped'.. instead, 'he raped me'. Stuff like this is so important.

Polka addresses many other crucial issues, such as unequal pay for women, sexual double standards, body image, media and advertising, and sexual harassment. She begins the book with a short history of women's roles, the suffragette movement and women working outside the home. There were several points I disagreed with, such as abortion rights, but over all, Polak does a good job of giving middle schoolers an informed look at the history of women and the work that still needs to be done for women's rights.

I so wish feminism were not a movement solely associated with extreme liberals. So many people dismiss feminism in this way, because of leaders they disagree with (like Gloria Steinem, but let's remember she stood up to Hugh Hefner and she did a great job!)or causes they can't support, and I do understand this, but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let's listen and learn something. Women still need to fight against harassment and unequal pay and mistreatment and violence. It's not a liberal issue. It's all women.

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I want to hand this book out to every teenager I meet. With chapters on romantic relationships, appearance, careers, intersectionality, and finding allies with boys and men, this book covers a lot of ground. I was especially taken with the chapter on the history of feminism, and seeing the current

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movement in context with all that has come before. There are anecdotes, profiles, and images dotted throughout the text, which gives a fuller view of the issues at hand. The author helpfully provides a glossary and list of resources for further exploration. Many of the references and interviews are Canadian, giving a slightly more global perspective for an American audience.

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This book should be used as a textbook for young people, male and female!

A thorough but accessable look at feminism throughout recent history in North America.

Polak doesn't shy away from covering often overlooked, disregarded or hidden angles from which women have been discriminated against or

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abused.

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Monique Polak has written an engaging, accessible, and wide-ranging book on feminism for the YA audience (ages 12+). By the end of the book, the reader will have an understanding of the history of feminism from suffragists to the #MeToo movement. Polak touches on systemic barriers,

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intersectionality, domestic violence, rape culture, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and much more. I Am A Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times opens doors and windows to understanding and guides us to more with the inclusion of end matter such as Resources, References, and a Glossary. An easy read and a must read for all youth and anyone else, really, who needs a big view refresher on the importance of feminism.

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Monique Polak’s “I Am a Feminist: Claiming the F-Word in Turbulent Times” is an important and relevant book for these times. As the title indicates, the book discusses and demystifies feminism in a way that is approachable and clear for young adults (ages 12 and up). Each chapter addresses a

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different aspect of feminism, including its history and its global reach as well as topics such as appearance, equality in the workplace, and allies in feminism.

Polak does an excellent job of explaining a multifaceted topic in a way that is easy to understand and digest. Each chapter includes relevant pictures, interviews, profiles, and features, which further illustrate the ideas in the chapter. Many of the statistics, initiatives, and people noted are Canadian, which provides readers in the United States another perspective.

In short, I highly recommend this book to anyone (teen or adult) looking for an introduction to feminism, and I am excited to share this with my students as a resource.

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I highly recommend "I Am a Feminist..." to everyone who is interested in learning about what is feminism and to those who don't. The book is very accessible, everyone can learn from this book even those who think they know everything there is to know about feminism.

Wonderful book for young adults that gives explanations and helpful information on feminism. The specific stories of real life feminists were especially interesting and provided information on some new issues/organizations that I had not heard of.

I must admit that I flipped through and jumped around reading this book. It's not necessarily a book you need to read cover to cover as each chapter is its own mini-lesson in 4th wave feminism and current ongoing discussions/topics on the subject.

As a reader in their 30's, I am quite a bit older

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than the targeted YA audience for this book. However, there was still a ton for me to think about and it's definitely good to get a refresh on current topics.

Now because it's written for ages 12 and up I'm wondering why they chose to title a chapter: "Raising Feminist Boys: Allies in the fight against Sexism." When presented that way it seems to be about actually raising a child. Going with "Allies in the fight against Sexism" angle clarifies the chapter. It includes male role models, and analyzes society's expectations of boys/gender roles and keeps boys in the discussion to show them how to be an ally.

This would make an excellent book for a school or classroom library. There are plenty of pictures, insets, and fun facts that certainly make the topic accessible for anyone that isn't sure where to start when curious about feminism.

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It's always satisfying to find a up-to-date book about feminism that involves specifically Canadian issues and viewpoints, and this book is a solid addition to that area. It covers everything from young women who are unsure about the "feminist" label, to diversity in feminist, as well as gender

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roles. And more.

My only wish is that the images inside were colour - although a disclaimer on the back reads "Final book will be in color", which solves that.

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A good primer on feminism that is so needed right now. Being an introduction geared for young adults, the book prioritizes breadth over depth in its quest to cover all the bases, but I did learn quite a bit. (Especially about issues in Canada, as this silly American tends to think of our northern

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neighbor as a liberal paradise.) I wish I had had this when I was a teen -- I would've gotten a clue about patriarchal bullshit much, much earlier.

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This is a strong primer about the waves of feminism and why we are still protesting now. However it is important to note that sojourner truths famous address was originally written in educated English vernacular. They forced her to rewrite it. This is not gone into because it isn't what this book

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is about.

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This is a good introduction to contemporary feminism. It offers a look at the historical background that most mainstream feminism has emerged from, and also covers the current trends and concerns. It is written in a very open and engaging way which should appeal to a variety of readers.

What is feminism? Why does it still matter? What exactly does intersectionality mean? In order to answer these (and many other) questions, I Am a Feminist first examines the history of feminism and then addresses the issues girls and women continue to face today. The book also looks at the ways in

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which people, especially young people, are working together to create a world where gender equality is a reality, not a dream. The author shares stories about the courageous individuals who have made a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. From suffragists to the #MeToo movement, I Am a Feminist encourages readers to stand up and speak out for equality and justice.

This was a short, quick read that was very informational, particularly for those that have little experience with feminism or want to learn more about the movement's history.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Well, I totally forgot I had read this one until now! But I super loved it. Very clear, very direct, and made an effort to include women of color and their efforts to promote inclusion, as well as why those efforts were often rebuffed.

I did end up buying a copy of the finished product.

Informative and an excellent read. I passed my copy on to several people who found the book a great teaching tool for their daughters. Well worth reading and sharing.

This is a good introduction to one brand of feminism, and hopefully it will encourage readers, especially teenagers, to explore the many different points of view of feminism and explore what feminism means in countries around the world.

This book, which is a brief and informative history and description of the feminist movement, is an excellent read. Although its intended target is probably female teens, most people, regardless of age or gender, would benefit from reading it.

The book is well laid-out, beginning with the history of

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the movement in the first section, then moving through various aspects of feminism, before finishing up with a chapter on why males can and should be feminists. The author is Canadian, so I appreciated reading things from more of a Canadian point of view. The author included a few of her own experiences, which added to the overall story.

The book is also well illustrated and contains a good number of mini biographies of people associated with the feminist movement. The book is quite up to date and included accounts of fairly recent events and happenings, such as the #metoo movement. Although it is more of an overview than a detailed book, this book would be a great starting point for anyone not too familiar with feminism. The author included a great selection of resources at the end of the book for anyone wishing to delve deeper.

This is a book I'd recommend to anyone and I definitely benefited from reading it.

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I Am A Feminist: Claiming the F-WORD in Turbulent Times by Monique Polak
I enjoyed this book. I consider myself a feminist and thought I knew a
lot of the names and history, but I definitely learned some new things.
I liked the way it focused a lot on Canada since I didn't know much of
the history

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there and I was not surprised to learn that Canada was a
little ahead of the US in suffrage and things. I really liked the fact
that it covered the intersectionality. I hear more about that lately
and it definitely is an important aspect of feminism. And of course
the chapter on Raising Feminist Boys - that's definitely and important
piece and ties directly into todays all-too common Toxic Masculinity.
It is aimed toward young adults and I thinhk it really hits the mark
there. I would definitely recommend it, even for older ages who are
just getting exposed to this important topic.

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Claiming the F Word in turbulent times…
This was one of the best Early Review books I’ve received in the last 10 years. I loved it. Before I read this book, I never considered myself a feminist.
Women and men become feminists for different reasons. Equality. Stoping Rape. Stoping Sex Slavery.

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Stoping violence against women. Changing gender norms.
And for any of those reasons you can call yourself a feminist. You can be female or male or nonbinary… any religion… any race… any economic background… anybody.
I loved the book and bought two extra copies after I received my free one.
I think this is nice for teenagers and adults.

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