Reviews

No More Nice Girls: Racial Inequality in the U.S. Labor Market by Ellen Willis

lattelibrarian's review against another edition

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4.0

This book of essays describe a time in which Reagan was president, the Vietnam war was ongoing, and Roe v Wade won. The first half was hugely interesting--I was so intrigued at the ways Willis describes her experience as a Jewish feminist operating within Marxist and psychoanalyst circles. I think this book has aged fairly well, though there were some things that I disagreed with (namely her stance on pornography. Luckily Willis didn't live in a time where boys and men had 24/7 access to pornography on a pocket-sized device). However, this is probably not due to the fact that this book is now about 30 or 40 years old, but due to the fact that we simply disagree. I also found her arguments compelling and totally understandable--I get why she feels the way she does! And it enlightened me to an actual well-spoken difference in our experiences.

The latter half is about her lived experience in the United States, having traveled across the country by bus. She also discusses art criticism and more. Definitely a great read for all areas!

mistylloyd's review against another edition

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3.0

I had really high hopes for this, and some of the different essays included were undoubtedly interesting, but for the most part this rubbed me the wrong way. The author seemed so quick to write off other feminist writers, especially women of color like bell hooks, and explained how they are looking at everything wrong, wrong, wrong, when it's important to listen to the experiences of those who are fighting alongside us, those we should also be fighting for.

crowyhead's review against another edition

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5.0

This collection of essays will come as a shining relief and call to action for those of us who have been confused and angered by some of the turns taken by feminism in the 70s and 80s. Willis rejects cultural feminism and that which would place women on a pedestal, instead championing true equality rather than victimhood.
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