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We Were Feminists Once

From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement
Apr 02, 2018Eosos rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Well, I was expecting more of a fluff piece but this book is actually really insightful. She writes about the marketing of feminism to sell a wide variety of products that make us feel better about ourselves but which also seem to make us still feel like we're not good enough. Like Spanx, powerful support for powerful women. But we still need to smooth out those lumps and lift that ass. Or Dove, real women with real bodies. But hey, you need this skin cream to fix those blemishes. And do we really need granny panties with feminist written on the ass?? Since when are wearing granny panties a feminist statement? She also had this section where she asks why everything has to be pink and I really agree. It bugs me to no end that my steel toe work boots are pink. I seriously considered getting a pair that didn't fit as well just to get away from that. Nor do I need pink safety vests or pink tools or pink rain gear or pink pens, though I will cop to having a pink hard hat. Honestly, I don't really love pink that much. A shirt and some earrings......but my entire work life?? No thanks. I like what she says about how we need to think of feminism as a social movement to make all women's lives better. It should not be about the individual, what you buy, whether you wax, if the shows you watch say something bad about you, if abortion is good or bad. It should be about all women having rights over their own bodies, about having social programs that help, about how anyone should have all the opportunities they deserve and no one should be marginalized. It's a good message.