An important look at how far women have come and still have to go in politics.
Hayashi offers a how-to guide for women seeking political office.
The author, a former California state legislator, award-winning health care advocate, and writer, presents a hard-hitting account of her experience as an Asian American woman in politics, using her personal history and the stories of other female politicians (both well known and less so) to provide actionable advice for women with similar ambitions. The book begins autobiographically, with an account of the author growing up as part of a Korean immigrant community and struggling to move beyond the “good girl” expectations of her culture: “being good meant keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself. Any direct communication—even direct eye contact—was discouraged, and avoiding conflict altogether was expected.” Hayashi broadens her focus to examine the structural challenges women face when running for office—and holding that office once won. She looks in depth at the intersectional issues involved in public office, comparing the challenges women belonging to different racial minorities face: “Racial barriers compound the many other obstacles faced by all women, making it even harder for minority women to achieve positions of power and leadership. This is the case with our ability to receive endorsements, raise campaign money, and win votes.” The book is a well-crafted and thoughtful guide for aspiring women officeholders, but it has some limitations; sexuality is not addressed, and the text only makes vague mention of “minority religious groups” who might be subject to social media hate. For example, Hayashi fails to acknowledge the Jewish identity of Jael Silliman, who’s written about the Indian Jewish community she hails from and proudly identifies with, identifying her as simply “a south Asian woman.” These reservations aside, this is a valuable guide for women interested in pursuing a career as an elected official.
An important look at how far women have come and still have to go in politics.Pub Date: Oct. 25, 2023
ISBN: 9798989003907
Page Count: 208
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An important dialogue at a fraught time, emphasizing mutual candor, curiosity, and respect.
Two bestselling authors engage in an enlightening back-and-forth about Jewishness and antisemitism.
Acho, author of Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man, and Tishby, author of Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth, discuss many of the searing issues for Jews today, delving into whether Jewishness is a religion, culture, ethnicity, or community—or all of the above. As Tishby points out, unlike in Christianity, one can be comfortably atheist and still be considered a Jew. She defines Judaism as a “big tent” religion with four main elements: religion, peoplehood, nationhood, and the idea of tikkun olam (“repairing the world through our actions”). She addresses candidly the hurtful stereotypes about Jews (that they are rich and powerful) that Acho grew up with in Dallas and how Jews internalize these antisemitic judgments. Moreover, Tishby notes, “it is literally impossible to be Jewish and not have any connection with Israel, and I’m not talking about borders or a dot on the map. Judaism…is an indigenous religion.” Acho wonders if one can legitimately criticize “Jewish people and their ideologies” without being antisemitic, and Tishby offers ways to check whether one’s criticism of Jews or Zionism is antisemitic or factually straightforward. The authors also touch on the deteriorating relationship between Black and Jewish Americans, despite their historically close alliance during the civil rights era. “As long as Jewish people get to benefit from appearing white while Black people have to suffer for being Black, there will always be resentment,” notes Acho. “Because the same thing that grants you all access—your skin color—is what grants us pain and punishment in perpetuity.” Finally, the authors underscore the importance of being mutual allies, and they conclude with helpful indexes on vernacular terms and customs.
An important dialogue at a fraught time, emphasizing mutual candor, curiosity, and respect.Pub Date: April 30, 2024
ISBN: 9781668057858
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Simon Element
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change.
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
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
bookshelf
