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FAUX FEMINISM

WHY WE FALL FOR WHITE FEMINISM AND HOW WE CAN STOP

A critique of modern feminism that advocates for a more intersectional, systems-based approach.

A political philosopher reimagines contemporary feminism.

When Khader becomes pregnant, her friends shower her with “all the cliché bookish Brooklyn mom swag,” including a series of feminist children’s books with titles like Dream Big. These gifts purportedly celebrated radical feminism, but Khader realizes she’d seen their messages before: an amicus brief supporting the Supreme Court decision to repeal the constitutional right to abortion contained language embracing women’s “total freedom from burdens of unwanted children.” The call for freedom for American women is something Khader associates with her own progressive views and not those of conservatives who backed policies that restricted reproductive rights. Khader asks, “Since when were conservatives saying that women were free? And since when did they seem to be conceding that we should be?” The co-optation of these ideas inspires Khader to investigate the state of current feminism and to engage in a robust critique of which types of feminism are effective tools for achieving equity. Khader writes, “This book is about how to recognize feminist visions that harm and exclude, and how to stop ourselves from falling into them.” In the end, Khader encourages feminists to take stances that work toward systemic equality rather than personal freedom, and to be wary of feminists who conflate the two. Her book is well researched, compellingly written, and passionately argued. At times, the terms Khader uses are confusing or redundant, since they often feel like a rewording of a facet of white feminism that other scholars have already critiqued. That being said, the depth of her analysis and the breadth of her research make this a fascinating and informative read.

A critique of modern feminism that advocates for a more intersectional, systems-based approach.

Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024

ISBN: 9780807008270

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Beacon Press

Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024

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WAR

An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.

Documenting perilous times.

In his most recent behind-the-scenes account of political power and how it is wielded, Woodward synthesizes several narrative strands, from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to the 2024 presidential campaign. Woodward’s clear, gripping storytelling benefits from his legendary access to prominent figures and a structure of propulsive chapters. The run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is tense (if occasionally repetitive), as a cast of geopolitical insiders try to divine Vladimir Putin’s intent: “Doubt among allies, the public and among Ukrainians meant valuable time and space for Putin to maneuver.” Against this backdrop, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham implores Donald Trump to run again, notwithstanding the former president’s denial of his 2020 defeat. This provides unwelcome distraction for President Biden, portrayed as a thoughtful, compassionate lifetime politico who could not outrace time, as demonstrated in the June 2024 debate. Throughout, Trump’s prevarications and his supporters’ cynicism provide an unsettling counterpoint to warnings provided by everyone from former Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley to Vice President Kamala Harris, who calls a second Trump term a likely “death knell for American democracy.” The author’s ambitious scope shows him at the top of his capabilities. He concludes with these unsettling words: “Based on my reporting, Trump’s language and conduct has at times presented risks to national security—both during his presidency and afterward.”

An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.

Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024

ISBN: 9781668052273

Page Count: 448

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024

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BEYOND THE GENDER BINARY

From the Pocket Change Collective series

A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change.

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Artist and activist Vaid-Menon demonstrates how the normativity of the gender binary represses creativity and inflicts physical and emotional violence.

The author, whose parents emigrated from India, writes about how enforcement of the gender binary begins before birth and affects people in all stages of life, with people of color being especially vulnerable due to Western conceptions of gender as binary. Gender assignments create a narrative for how a person should behave, what they are allowed to like or wear, and how they express themself. Punishment of nonconformity leads to an inseparable link between gender and shame. Vaid-Menon challenges familiar arguments against gender nonconformity, breaking them down into four categories—dismissal, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope (fear of the consequences of acceptance). Headers in bold font create an accessible navigation experience from one analysis to the next. The prose maintains a conversational tone that feels as intimate and vulnerable as talking with a best friend. At the same time, the author's turns of phrase in moments of deep insight ring with precision and poetry. In one reflection, they write, “the most lethal part of the human body is not the fist; it is the eye. What people see and how people see it has everything to do with power.” While this short essay speaks honestly of pain and injustice, it concludes with encouragement and an invitation into a future that celebrates transformation.

A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change. (writing prompt) (Nonfiction. 14-adult)

Pub Date: June 2, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-593-09465-5

Page Count: 64

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020

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