Bad Feminist

I’ve enjoyed the last few books that RAs have recommended for me to read.  This one in particular was a good “broadening of my perspective” type of book.  I have not read a great deal of feminist books, so delving into one that was in the “bad” camp of how-to-be a feminist, was helpful.  Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, is a collection of essays that the author has written over a period of time.  Gay focuses most of her essays on “entertainment culture” through the lens of gender, sexuality, and race.  While I don’t feel completely the same on all of her opinions, I certainly was moved by her insights to say, wow, yes there is a different perspective to think about.  Gay presents the concept of being “flawed” and hence why she may not totally understand or accept the thinking of others.  I am in complete agreement of her argument.  Our journeys are so different, how can I judge you when my experience in no way reflects what you have lived.  She notes. “I am not trying to say I am right.  I am just trying to support what I believe in, trying to do some good in this world, trying to make some noise with my writing while also being myself.”  Amen!  Shouldn’t we all be trying to do the same!  Gay discloses in a few of her essays a brutal sexual assault she experienced at the age of 12, with a group of male on-lookers.  I can’t imagine the pain and how it has impacted her life.  I enjoyed her story on racism when an older white woman complained to her about the international renters who lived in their apartment and looking for Gay to join in on reinforcing a stereotype, which Gay did not.  Great response, loved it!  In so many ways, most of us would have just agreed and allowed the bonding over a racist comment.  True to her actions, Gay did not.  Gay rails on Chris Brown, the movies The Help and Django Unchained, television shows and popular songs like Blurred Lines and Yeezus, and the entertainment channel BET.  She gives specific examples for her discomfort – all the way to utter despair.  She is thorough in her approach and eloquent in her prose.   I had never heard of her before, but promise I will read more of her work.  I was really engaged in her assessments of the culture we live in and how the celebs and media greatly impact our thinking, and not always for the best.  Great read!