
10 New Books on Anger, Feminism, and Unruly Women
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Anger is in the air, and with good reason. If ever there was a time for unruly women, this is it.
Currently, the Brett Kavanaugh hearings for a spot on the Supreme Court are taking place. His confirmation could mean a lot of very bad things, including the end of marriage equality and abortion rights. The #metoo movement has offered women some hope that change is on the way, but it has also made many of us more acutely aware of how much our culture is saturated with misogyny. Women are ready for change, but progress is slow and halting. For every bigwig sexual harasser brought down, there is an incident like the sexist response to Serena Williams’s anger that shows us how far we have to go.
Fortunately for us, there is a large crop of books out in 2018 about feminism, anger, and unruly women. Want some historical context for today’s feminist issues? Need some inspiration to keep fighting for justice and equality? You are in luck, because the books below are exactly what you’re looking for.
This is an essential memoir about the power of black women’s anger. Cooper undermines the stereotype of the angry black woman by showing the power, resourcefulness, and energy that rage can bring. Along with her argument about anger, she writes movingly about her life and offers incisive cultural critiques. It’s aimed at black women, but it’s a good everyone can learn from.
Soraya Chemaly argues that rage, far from being a sign of weakness, is a source of power. She shows how anger can provide women a way forward as we look at the injustices around us and decide to do something about them. Looking at the many reasons women have to be angry, Chemaly points the way to turning what is often seen as a negative emotion into an instrument of change.
This book is for those who want some humor thrown into the mix. Erin Gibson is the creator of the “Throwing Shade” podcast, and here she gives us essays that look at the ways women are hobbled by the patriarchy. It’s a book that will make you laugh and make you angry at the same time—and maybe it will make you want to change the world.
Charlene Carruthers argues for inclusivity in political movements, showing how people who have been on the margins can take their place in the center. She looks at black political movements from the past, including the Haitian Revolution, the U.S. Civil Rights movement, and more, to offer a more powerful, more radical way of working toward change.
Until earlier this year, Cecile Richards was the president of Planned Parenthood, and this book is a memoir of her life spent as a leader in the fight for women’s equality. She began as a 7th-grader protesting the Vietnam War and continued as a labor organizer and activist. Here she tells her story and inspires other women to continue the fight.