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danycatreader's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
After reading Hunger, I thought this book would be so much more. And it's not because of a decrease in quality; Gay maintains her characteristic cadence and structure of writing. I expected more about feminism, and not so much about so many other things. I understand she's trying to be relatable, but the essays drag on sometimes instead of helping her with the initial argument. Some essays simply didn't fit in here and I don't understand why they were included. But it's ironic that all that is included in the title Bad Feminist.
knerbbie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
emmabeckman's review against another edition
3.0
As far as a compilation of personal essays detailing one person's opinions and experiences, this was closer to a 4-star book. I appreciated the author's preferences and unique insight as a daughter of immigrants, a woman of color in modern America.
And yet. (One of the most annoying repetitions in this book was this specific two-word statement as a way to introduce a second side of a single coin...)
This book was billed as a world-changing, influential, work-of-the-times feminist book. It was most certainly not. I disagree strongly with the author's view of feminism in regards to herself (I know, I can't be her judge and jury as her experience is hers alone and I would never let her dictate my own experience). But after railing on for essay after essay about how various feminism-related issues have not been expressed or valued in a feminist-enough way, she then ends the compilation by saying that she's a "bad feminist" meaning that she herself doesn't follow her own doctrine. "Do as I say, not as I do" at its most definitive, I suppose. I don't know. I supposed I just didn't like someone trying to pontificate about how everyone should live their lives when they themselves don't even follow it was a little condescending to me as a modern woman and an open feminist.
So as I saw, as far as essays of a unique experience, it was fine. As a feminist-literature-of-our-time, there are better ones out there.
And yet. (One of the most annoying repetitions in this book was this specific two-word statement as a way to introduce a second side of a single coin...)
This book was billed as a world-changing, influential, work-of-the-times feminist book. It was most certainly not. I disagree strongly with the author's view of feminism in regards to herself (I know, I can't be her judge and jury as her experience is hers alone and I would never let her dictate my own experience). But after railing on for essay after essay about how various feminism-related issues have not been expressed or valued in a feminist-enough way, she then ends the compilation by saying that she's a "bad feminist" meaning that she herself doesn't follow her own doctrine. "Do as I say, not as I do" at its most definitive, I suppose. I don't know. I supposed I just didn't like someone trying to pontificate about how everyone should live their lives when they themselves don't even follow it was a little condescending to me as a modern woman and an open feminist.
So as I saw, as far as essays of a unique experience, it was fine. As a feminist-literature-of-our-time, there are better ones out there.
burningupasun's review against another edition
4.0
It doesn't really work well to use my standard header on this, as it's a collection of essays rather than a story. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It really spoke to my idea of feminism, and being a "bad feminist"-- bad as in not meeting the "standards" of feminism that are really kinda b.s. to begin with. Gay is funny at times, and very serious at other times, and it all works very well together. I think her essays on sexism were some of my favorites, and she makes some good points about racism.
On the slightly negative side, I was a bit jarred by her recounting of her personal experience with gang rape, and it was ironically followed by an essay on trigger warnings which I didn't fully agree with. (Gay somewhat espouses the idea that you don't get trigger warnings irl, so why bother, but she also understands the idea of safe spaces, which I appreciated.) I did think she went a bit easy on The Hunger Games when it comes to feminism/sexism, but given that she's a big fan of the books, it wasn't surprising. (She did do a much better job of examining movies like The Help, and 12 Years a Slave, etc.)
In the end it was a very good book, and there were a few sections and quotes I particularly related well to. Most especially, relevant to the title:
"No matter what issues I have with feminism, I am a feminist. I cannot and will not deny the importance and absolute necessity of feminism. Like most people, I'm full of contradicitons, but I also don't want to be treated like shit for being a woman. I am a bad feminist. I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all."
I definitely recommend it as a read for any feminist.
On the slightly negative side, I was a bit jarred by her recounting of her personal experience with gang rape, and it was ironically followed by an essay on trigger warnings which I didn't fully agree with. (Gay somewhat espouses the idea that you don't get trigger warnings irl, so why bother, but she also understands the idea of safe spaces, which I appreciated.) I did think she went a bit easy on The Hunger Games when it comes to feminism/sexism, but given that she's a big fan of the books, it wasn't surprising. (She did do a much better job of examining movies like The Help, and 12 Years a Slave, etc.)
In the end it was a very good book, and there were a few sections and quotes I particularly related well to. Most especially, relevant to the title:
"No matter what issues I have with feminism, I am a feminist. I cannot and will not deny the importance and absolute necessity of feminism. Like most people, I'm full of contradicitons, but I also don't want to be treated like shit for being a woman. I am a bad feminist. I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all."
I definitely recommend it as a read for any feminist.
duod3cima's review against another edition
I thought I would've liked this book, but I was only able to get a few essays in before I felt like I was trudging through to keep reading. I may try to pick this back up in the future, but I'm marking it as DNF for now.
heidilreads's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely have me a new perspective on several of my favorite movies, but I appreciated that she is just providing her thoughts - not judging mine. And she's honest about her taste in reality TV and music.