Feminism for Dummies

Yesterday I suggested there should be a "Feminism for Dummies" book - as Rook and I had just been stunned into giggling incoherence by "Dungeons and Dragons for Dummies." Feminism for Dummies would sell quite well.

It was unfortunately inspired not just by the funny book in the game store but because at breakfast before Minnie's wedding, my dad and my cousin Tiffany asked me what the deal was with "feminist science fiction."

Dad: What is that... like, science fiction written by a woman?
Tifffany: Is it like.... what would be, like, feminist? Like, a tragic heroine?

I opened and closed my mouth like Bertie Wooster doing his best imitation of a goldfish for a little while... I began to hyperventiilate... Several realizations hit me at once:

- My dad apparently has senile dementia, or is deaf; we have been discussing feminism since I was about 10 years old. Lecturing from me, sure, but also real discussion.

- If I end up teaching community college I'm going to have to explain what feminism is to young women like Tifffany. I'll have to start at the very beginning. How to do this?

- The depth of misunderstanding I had just witnessed. Friendly... detached... slightly indifferent... polite social curiosity as to what feminism might possibly be? My reality is not their reality.

- I don't have a simple "what is feminism" explanation to give these people.

- The bitter laughter of despair. It seemed attractive. Moderated by heroic effort not to fight with my family, it came out as the nervous giggling of despair.

Rook then began to explain the plot of "The Left Hand of Darkness" to my dad in a slow, soothing way until we were able to get the hell out of there.

So: the point is - who should write "Feminism for Dummies" ? Debbie asked me this in the hallway when I brought it up, but I couldn't think who. Maybe after I sleep on it. Gentle readers... who?

Comments

[toobeaut]

My personal definition: Feminism is description of a just society where: men and women are treated with equal fairness and compassion; no traits or characteristics commonly associated with either men or women are thought to be inferior or superior merely because of their gender association; gender signifiers and differences are constructed and freely chosen; gender and affectional choices are joyfully made; and sex, childbearing and cohabitation are separated from archaic laws governing primogeniture and "marriage," and become a matter of preference, personal arrangement and, where necessary, contract.

[Prentiss Riddle]

I could have sworn there was a "Feminism for Beginners" in the famous series of book-length comics started by Rius, but neither Google nor Amazon turns it up.

Here's something amusing: Marx for Beginners from WalMart.com!

[Jo]

I'll do it. But I have to do some other stuff first.

[elswhere]

How about this?

But it's 13 years old. We definitely need a new one. I'd say J Russ but she might be a tad, um, brisk about it? And Jo has to finish unpacking first.

[me again]

And argh! on your dad & cousin. I've had very similar conversations with my dad over the years. It feels like willful denseness bc. he's actually very smart. (and he reads my blog. But not your site, er, I don't think.)

[Jo]

I have written up a 10-page book proposal on "Talking to your Liberal Child About Feminism." I hesitate to post it, because I actually want to sell that series at some point.

[me again]

That's it! Jo's doing it. Never mind unpacking. *I* wanna buy that so I can get ideas for raising the consciousness of our girly girl.

[Ide Cyan]

Last year I began sketching out a shorter feminist aide-mémoire, based on Russ's _What Are We Fighting For_ and other works by other feminists. I wrote down eleven points. I'd been meaning to edit it into something that could be distributed as a pamphlet (although I hadn't collated an appropriate bibliography yet, other than in my head). It wouldn't be the same thing as "Feminism for Dummies", since it would presume, at the very least, an experience of sexist oppression validating the necessity for feminism, and not go into a lengthy *demonstration* of the need for feminism, but it could serve, I would hope, as a tool for remembering the radical core of the matter, and hence cutting through the bullshit.

I should get back to that...

[Liz]

That sounds so great! I can't wait to read it.

[RJ]

I want to hear the take on this from the lizzard woman herself. I want you to give us your answer: What is feminism? I am enthralled by the prospect...

[David]

I remember 'Feminism for Beginners' very clearly. I had a T-Shirt of the cover and one of my favourite memories in life was being offered 10 T-Shirts and dinner for it by a local man in Turkey who laughed so hard he nearly split himself. That made me realise the world is not so bad a place as the media would have us believe...

[Hope]

I'm glad people are talking about this! I googled "feminism for dummies" because I think we need one, which lead me here!

I think we need one very badly. I haven't found any kind of overview book, like an Introduction to Feminism book. Everything is so scattered and random, lots of good information is still intimadating. I think I'm going to write one this summer, but do a bit of the demonstration too, in order to reach out to a greater population of young people. Kind of a "Feminism in the 21st Century: Where we are and where we are going". P.S. I've claimed that title!

[e]

well, well, well prescient as usual, badger, huh? did this ever go anywhere?

[lizthefair]

I certainly haven't written a book about the subject, but with a similar goal in mind I created a Squidoo Lens as a place to collect good resources for people just starting out in Feminism. The link is http://www.squidoo.com/discoveringfeminism/ and I'm always looking for more content, so if you have anything to add let me know or post it on the site.