WUNRN
Full
Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman‘s Guide to Why Feminism Matters
Author: Jessica
Valenti
Book
Review by Kathambi Kinoti - AWID
It often
seems like young women are not interested in feminism any more. Jessica Valenti
is one young feminist who has set out to rekindle other young women’s interest
in it. Today, we review her book Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman‘s
Guide to Why Feminism Matters.
For some
years now, the dearth of young feminists has been a matter of concern to
feminist movements. It often seems like young women are not interested in
feminism any more. The aim of Full Frontal Feminism is to get young
women to embrace feminism. It dispels some of the misconceptions about feminism
and discusses some of its rallying points. Although several of the issues
discussed in the book are particularly relevant to readers in the United States
of America, its general ideas will resonate with a wider audience of young
women. It is written in an informal, conversational style which, again, is
likely to appeal to a young audience that belongs to the blogging culture.
In the first
chapter titled “You’re a Hardcore Feminist. I Swear,” Jessica Valenti asserts
that although many young women do not identify themselves as feminists, in
essence they are. Just like those who do call themselves feminists, they know
it is unfair for women to be paid less than men for the same jobs, and sexual
violence makes them angry. However stereotypes about feminism put them off. For
instance there is a perception that feminism is “super anti” or consistently
negative, (p. 6) when on the contrary, it is about creating positive change to
make life better. Valenti dismisses the “feminists are ugly” stereotype but
recognises its power to make women, and especially young women distance
themselves from feminism. On the other hand, she says that there are many young
women who identify themselves as feminists and are doing great work, but are
not the public face of feminism. It is the older feminists who tend to be in
the spotlight.
From time to
time the mainstream media will carry stories that claim feminism is dead, that
it is no longer relevant, or event that it has achieved its purpose since women
now have the vote and can work outside the home. Valenti dispels these
misconceptions. She discusses the different waves of American feminism and also
talks about the perception of it as a movement for white, middle-class and now
middle-aged women.
In a society
where “women’s sexuality is treated as a commodity, a joke or a sin” (p.19),
feminism gives young women the tools for discernment so that they can make
their own decisions about sex and sexuality. Valenti examines abstinence-only
education and its dangers and shows that feminism teaches responsibility.
In a chapter
titled “If these Uterine Walls could Talk” Valenti discusses reproductive
rights issues including some of the anti-contraception and anti-choice lies
that young women are told such as that abortion causes breast cancer.
Intimate
partner violence, rape, sexual harassment and other forms of violence against
women are discussed at length. Valenti says that one of the reasons for the
terrible state of affairs is the rape culture which means that even though rape
is illegal, “social and political conditions implicitly ‘allow for’ rape.”
(p.70) Take for instance the fact it is still common to justify rape on the
basis of what a woman was wearing when she was raped, on her being in the
“wrong place at the wrong time,” or on her history of several sexual partners.
She goes on to discuss the US laws that address violence against women. Some of
the laws, like the Violence Against Women Act are good. Others, particularly
state laws, do not offer enough protection in cases of marital rape, or
domestic violence in the case of same-sex couples.
Valenti
talks about beauty standards and about debate on the issue amongst feminists.
Third wave feminists like her, are often seen as “flighty, unserious feminists”
because of their interest in “makeup, heels and popular culture” (p. 172). She
recounts a war of words in the blogosphere between her and an older feminist in
which Valenti was accused of “breastblogging.” (p. 201)
There are
significantly influential retrogressive voices that promote the view that a
woman’s place is in the home and claim that women prefer not to work outside
the home. They have hijacked the feminist language of choice to claim that
women choose to stay home, and this can be translated to justify women’s slower
climb up the ladder or their lower pay as compared to men. Valenti says it
worries her that of all the things the young women talk about, women and work
seems to be bottom of the list. She delves into the dimensions of this issue.
Valenti ends
the book by suggesting different ways in which young women can get involved in
feminist organising and advocacy. She also lists resources for further
education about feminism and engagement in feminist advocacy.
Full
Frontal Feminism
does not profess to be an exhaustive guide to feminism. Valenti says that the
book is her “love letter to feminism and [her] invitation to [her] readers to
embrace feminism for everything it gives to and does for women.” (p. 3) For
readers who do not exactly know what feminism is all about, or who are hesitant
to call themselves feminists, the book is certain to educate and convince.
_________________________________
Valenti,
Jessica. Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism
Matters. Emeryville: Seal Press, 2007.