I went to the Making Media Connections conference today and learned a lot. But just before the last session started a new U of C graduate and young Latino man asked me about the Chicago Abortion Fund, asked for my card, and then read my title - Professional Feminist. "Oh...nice." He was quite amused and in a good way. He then asked what one book he should read to learn more about feminism.
I was stumped.
He said, "Just one..."
I replied, "That's like asking someone what their favorite food is and they say pizza just because it's the easiest thing!"
I ended up recommending Gloria Steinem's Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. It's classic and I think still relevant. I think searched for feminism on my LibraryThing catalog on my Treo (note, pay for lifetime membership so you can add more books!). At the end of the session I added in Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice and The Handmaid's Tale. But seriously, can you pick just one book for a newbie to start with? He did mention that he had read on of bell hooks' books and I said, "Read any bell hooks."
He thanked me adding in, "Most of the feminists I know are all radical and want to put men down." Now that I think about it, I should have pointed him to the Feminism 101 blog. D'oh! Me thinks I need to keep some business cards for that site in all my bags.
So readers, if you had to pick one book - fiction or non - what would it be?
I was stumped.
He said, "Just one..."
I replied, "That's like asking someone what their favorite food is and they say pizza just because it's the easiest thing!"
I ended up recommending Gloria Steinem's Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. It's classic and I think still relevant. I think searched for feminism on my LibraryThing catalog on my Treo (note, pay for lifetime membership so you can add more books!). At the end of the session I added in Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice and The Handmaid's Tale. But seriously, can you pick just one book for a newbie to start with? He did mention that he had read on of bell hooks' books and I said, "Read any bell hooks."
He thanked me adding in, "Most of the feminists I know are all radical and want to put men down." Now that I think about it, I should have pointed him to the Feminism 101 blog. D'oh! Me thinks I need to keep some business cards for that site in all my bags.
So readers, if you had to pick one book - fiction or non - what would it be?