Table of Contents
To Miss Magoo.
INTRODUCTION
I dont know why I didnt call myself a feminist until I was in college. I certainly was one way before then. I think we all are.
I mean, really, what young girl hasnt thought at some point that some sexist bullshit is completely unfair to women? The problem seems to be putting a name on that feeling. Feminism is just too scary and loaded a word for some women. Which is really too bad.
Because feminism is a pretty amazing thing.
When youre a feminist, day-to-day life is better. You make better decisions. You have better sex. You understand the struggles youre up against and how to best handle them.
I wrote Full Frontal Feminism because I spent a really long time feeling completely confused about why more young women wouldnt embrace something that to me was clearly the greatest thing ever.
Feminism has become such an important part of my life; its changed me for the better and shaped who I am in tremendous ways. While Ive always known I was a feminist, I didnt get into it hardcore, or even call myself a feminist, until I was in college and took my first womens studies class. My sister likes to tell me that I said (and I still somewhat refuse to believe that I ever said anything this cheesy) that the class opened my eyes. But I guess it really did. Without that awakening, I never would have gone to grad school, worked for womens organizations, or started my blog, Feministing .com. I needed that one little push that let me know what feminism was really all about.
Then I realized that young women dont have enough outlets teaching them and showing them how great feminism is. Of course, there are womens studies classes and books, and maybe some of us are lucky enough to have moms and friends who are self-professed and proud feminists. But the majority of young women only know the total-crap stereotypes. To most young women, feminism is ugly. Its unpopular. Its the anti-cool.
So when I thought about writing a book about feminism, I thought the most important thing I could do was dispel the myth that feminism is anything but awesome.
Because young womenmost of whom, unfortunately, dont identify as feministsdont know what theyre missing. And if the idea of a stereotypical feminist doesnt exactly inspire thoughts of some secret fab life youre missing out on, Im here to tell youyou are missing out.
I truly believe that feminism makes your life better. Imagine being able to get past all the nonsense that tells you youre not good enough. To all of a sudden understand why youve ever felt not smart enough or not pretty enough. To finally be able to put your finger on that feeling youve always had that something is off. Believe me, to get to this place is amazing.
Full Frontal Feminism is not an exhaustive review of all things feminist. Theres a lot of feminism out thereand you should check it all out. This book is just my take on itmy love letter to feminism and my invitation to my readers to embrace feminism for everything it gives to and does for women.
Most important, perhaps, was my desire to write something that explained not only why feminism is so necessary and relevant, but also why its so damn cool.
Im hoping that as you read the book, all of this will become clearer. Maybe youll call yourself a feminist when youre done. Maybe you wont. But at the very least, my hope is that this book changes the way you think about feminismand yourself.
YOURE A HARDCORE FEMINIST. I SWEAR.
Whats the worst possible thing you can call a woman? Dont hold back, now.
Youre probably thinking of words like slut, whore, bitch, cunt (I told you not to hold back!), skank.
Okay, now, what are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag, girl, bitch, pussy. Ive even heard the term mangina.
Notice anything? The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl. Being a woman is the ultimate insult. Now tell me thats not royally fucked up. Recognizing the screwed nature of this little exercise doesnt necessarily make you a feminist. But it should. Most young women know that something is off. And even if we know that some things are sexist, were certainly not ready to say were feminists. Its high time we get past the Im not a feminist, but... stuff. You know what Im talking about: Im not a feminist or anything, but it is total bullshit that Wal-Mart wont fill my birth control prescription.
Do you think its fair that a guy will make more money doing the same job as you? Does it piss you off and scare you when you find out about your friends getting raped? Do you ever feel like shit about your body? Do you ever feel like something is wrong with you because you dont fit into this bizarre ideal of what girls are supposed to be like?
Well, my friend, I hate to break it to you, but youre a hardcore feminist. I swear.
Feel-Good Feminism
For some reason, feminism is seen as super anti: anti-men, anti-sex, anti-sexism, anti-everything. And while some of those antis arent bad things, its not exactly exciting to get involved in something thats seen as so consistently negative.
The good news is, feminism isnt all about antis. Its progressive andas cheesy as this soundsits about making your life better. As different as we all are, theres one thing most young women have in common: Were all brought up to feel like theres something wrong with us. Were too fat. Were dumb. Were too smart. Were not ladylike enoughstop cursing, chewing with your mouth open, speaking your mind. Were too slutty. Were not slutty enough.
Fuck that.
Youre not too fat. Youre not too loud. Youre not too smart. Youre not unladylike. There is nothing wrong with you.
I know it sounds simple, but it took me a hell of a long time to understand this. And once I did, damn, did it feel good. Why go through your life believing youre not good enough and that you have to change?
Feminism not only allows you to see through the bullshit that would make you think theres something wrong with you, but also offers ways to make you feel good about yourself and to have self-respect without utilizing any mom-popular sayings, like Keep your legs together, or boy-popular screamings, like Show me your tits!
Really, imagine how nice it would be to realize that all the stuff youve been taught that makes you feel crappy just isnt true. Its like self-help times one hundred.
But all that said, I really do understand the hesitancy surrounding the f-word. My own experience with the exercise that kicked off this chapterWhats the worst possible thing you can call a woman?was presented by a professor on the first day of a womens literature class after she asked how many of us were feminists. Not one person raised a hand. Not even me. My excuse-ridden thinking was, Oh, theres so many kinds of feminism, how can I say I know what theyre all about? Blah, blah, blah, Im a humanist, blah, blah, blah. Bullshit. When I think back on it, I knew I was a feminist. I was just too damn freaked out to be the only one raising her hand.
