What feminist book would you have 12-18 year olds read?

From the “Alas” mailbag…

hi,

I’m looking for a book recommendation, and i wonder if you or a blog reader could help (though please don’t give out my e-mail address).

I’m a teacher at a jr. high/high school. A recent incident at the school exposed what i thought was a serious need to start a dialog about sexism at the school among our students and possibly our faculty. We are a fairly liberally oriented group, but i think a lot of our kids dont see how sexism affects their lives. And i think the faculty is sometimes passively sexist without meaning to be. so i floated the idea of a discussion group among the faculty about sexism and sexuality, and i got a pretty strong response. now I’m looking for a book i can suggest we all read to give us a basis for further discussion and action.

The ideal book would be something like the practical modern feminists guide to navigating the pre-teen and teen years.

We need ideas about teaching 12-18 year olds (boys and girls) about the effects of sexism, a positive and responsible attitude about their sexuality (without seeming preachy or coercive or censoring), skills for critically analyzing media portrayals of sex and sexism, and other important things like that.

I don’t know how often you take requests like this, but if it seems worthwhile, id appreciate a request to your readers for a recommendation.

Readers? Anyone got a recommendation for this nice teacher?.

This entry posted in Feminism, sexism, etc. Bookmark the permalink. 

48 Responses to What feminist book would you have 12-18 year olds read?

  1. Pingback: The Uncommon Man

  2. Pingback: feminist blogs

  3. Pingback: FeministBlogosphere

  4. 4
    Stabosaurus says:

    Well, I’m a highschool student, and I’d reccomend “The Edible Woman” by Margaret Atwood. It’s hilarious and accessible. While it doesn’t focus on the teen years specifically, the protagonist experiences a lot of pressures that teenagers of both sexes can relate to. Atwood makes her point beautifully and without preaching.
    The only catch is that there are some sex scenes. Is that kosher where you teach?

  5. 5
    tekanji says:

    It’s not a book, but Scarleteen is a must-have for a teen resource list. It focuses on sex and sexuality — especially safe practices, emotionaly safety, sexuality issues, etc.

  6. 6
    Marge says:

    I’d ditto the Margaret Attwood recommendation; I haven’t read that particular book, but her books are good jumping-off points for discussions (of a lot of things).

    What you want to be careful about is how you approach it; which I’m recommending Attwood I know people who reacted badly to some poor teaching around ‘The Handmaid’d Tale’ which really served to reinforce negative attitudes rather than create positive ones.

  7. 7
    Josh Jasper says:

    I’d say go global. Tie things in to world history and current events. Give people an understanding that sexism is a problem worldwide.

  8. 8
    B says:

    I never much liked The Edible Woman.

    Gaudy Night by Sayers brings up a lot of feminist issues and can be used as a starting point for some history as well (Sayers herself was one of the first women allowed to graduate from Oxford).

    Deerskin by McKinley deals with incest and rape from a fairytale/fantasy perspective that makes it bearable to read and is really quite good.

    Booth these books could work with teens and not be too inaccessible.

    Additionally why not do feminist readings of the classics? Is it, for example, really any wonder Ofelia went crazy when that was the only way she was allowed to express herself and act on her fellings and opinions?

  9. 9
    wookie says:

    That’s a really awsome thing to try and tackle. I’ll also throw my vote behind Atwood, we did Handmaid’s Tale in highschool and I think there are a lot of issues in the US right now that could draw paralells in that book… forced childbearing, the theocracy declaring second marriages as not “real” marriages, the roles of men and the roles of women and how each had their power strucutre.

    I think the problem with “going global” is that it specifically casts our focus away from home. Yes, there is rampant rape and prostitution in refugee camps, even those set up by the UN, South Africa is just… yeah, I don’t even have a word for that. But the scope of the problem here at home (aquiantance rape, etc.) is almost as horrific, not by the brutality of the crime but by it’s commonality. How accepted that is.

    One thing that might go over well is to find a book (I have to get to work or I’d research this)… find something that talks about how to spot a “predator”. I think the lady who writes “Granny gets a Vibrator” found one in particular surprisingly useful. Kids need to know that people who are constantly blaming the other person when someone get’s mad at them (She got so mad when I touched her waist, what a bitch! She must be PMSing!) are displaying traits that make them more likely to rape someone and think they’ve done nothing wrong. “Granny’s” review of that book made me think the tone of the book might deal well with that.

    Wow. There’s just so much territory to cover you could probably teach an entire course on the topic.

  10. 10
    acm says:

    Wow. There’s just so much territory to cover you could probably teach an entire course on the topic.

    heh, or create a major? say…. Women’s Studies??
    ;)

  11. 11
    TheGlimmering says:

    Not a book per se, but there’s a locally owned print shop in this college town that for a reasonable fee produces bound “packets” of essays (all copyrights respected and the material legally used). If you tried that sort of approach you could present essays, short stories, or excerpts from numerous viewpoints to jumpstart a dialogue. Granted, the commitee meetings to choice the material would be atrocious. How about going at it from the other angle? I recall a philosophy course where reading Aristotle’s views on family life and women was extremely enlightening. On the one hand, the bias in such historical works is stark, on the other hand, there are people who will buy it because the language is so black and white.

    Actually, I’d recommend fantasy or science fiction novels, for some reason people are less resistant to the inherent message when the story is obviously fictional, and it’s still easy to draw neccesary parallels. In the young adults book section, I’d highly recommend works by Cynthia Voigt, particularly her Kingdom Series which is overrun with terrific female characters. In Jackaroo an innkeeper’s daughter under pressure to marry and behave like a young lady instead finds the costume of a legendary hero which she takes on to do good deeds. Aside from representing bias against capable women, the book doesn’t dumb men down at all, and there are good relationships between women developed by the end of the novel. In On Fortune’s Wheel, another innkeeper’s daughter (implied descendant of Jackaroo) breaks the law learning to read, defies her parent’s wishes in consenting to marry, than ends up disappearing from her village when she tries to stop a thief from stealing her father’s boat in the middle of the night. Thief turns out to be the highest noble in the land trying to escape responsibility. Despite his constant attempts to treat her like a helpless “lady,” she saves his ass repeatedly through some very bad straits such as being enslaved. Without being preachy at all, or even telling you that you’re getting a message, by the end of the book points have been made about class issues, respect, friendship, and loyalty for those different from us (in this case a fellow slave who is apparently developmentally disabled), unwed motherhood (the heroine gets the impression the nobleman will simply forget about her when they’ve reached the castle and decides to raise her child on her own rather than be shoved in the background), relationships between women even “evil stepmothers,” and actual egalitarian relationships. All while being an intensely good read. Last book from that series is Elske which starts when Elske’s grandmother saves her from a barbaric Viking inspired funerary rite and leads to her making her way in a foreign city where she forms a close friendship with a high ranking noblewoman who’s brother is usurping her rightful place as queen. This book deals with rape, adoption, friendship between two women, conflict, quick thinking, tons of issues with women in power and bias, and personal sacrifice. Once again, all these books tend to be very flattering to men as well, giving the guys in the class plenty of decent male role models who are strong, intelligent, and don’t have to resort to sexism.

  12. 12
    Xocolotl says:

    This is a tangent to what was requested, but I’m going to take the opportunity to plug “Alanna: the First Adventure” by Tamora Pierce. It’s introduced a lot of young women to the concepts of feminism. And when you’re twelve, that can be pretty damn important. There are still very few feminist novels for those reading levels. Even better, Pierce is highly addictive–great for making your students into readers.

  13. 13
    mailbag author says:

    Thanks, Amp, for posting my request. Since the discussion started with a work of literature, let me clarify:

    Our English classes do an excellent job of approaching sexism from a more academic point of view, especially in their analysis of women in literature. I was hoping for a recommendation of a more practical book that interested faculty could read first, and that we would possibly then recommend to students. A sort of “Our Bodies, Our Selves”, but one that addresses the current times, is for young people, and not necessarily just for girls. The more of those conditions we could meet, the better.

    I don’t mean to diminish the value of studying literature, but that’s not the focus of this project.

    Thanks to everyone who has and will contribute.

  14. 14
    Angiportus says:

    The more critical thinking, the better. That just might be key to the whole deal.
    Another good thing would be to see if you can find one that really tells the whole story on first intercourse. I’ve been checking the offerings for the young these days, and they don’t always cover that one better than the stuff I recall from my youth. Specifically, how to make sure it won’t hurt. They don’t always tell them how to prevent that, and it has got to be preventable. No one should have to go thru that. Which is why I second the Scarleteen recommend, even though it isn’t a book, because they at least are taking on that one. I think I’ll get on them to do a book.
    Again…critical thinking, and how to use it on many different things.

  15. 15
    Lala says:

    THE CAT ATE MY GYMSUIT by Paula Danziger is a little dated, but it does still ring true in its depiction of the treatment of feminism at home and in schools.

  16. 16
    Rachel S. says:

    What about the Ramona books? Does anybody think those are feminist? Or am I just too old to remember what I actually read? They would certainly be more for the 12 year olds.

  17. 17
    Katie says:

    When I was in that age group (I’m 21 now), I found that MANIFESTA: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future, by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards (New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 2000) was a relevant guide for my introduction to feminism.

    12-18 is a large age span. I would recommend this book for the older students. But it’s great for a concise history of the women’s movement and de-stigmatization of the term “feminist”.

  18. 18
    Jake says:

    Not to nitpick, but I think the intended question was actually “What feminist books would you have the teachers of 12-18 year olds read?

    Not that I have any suggestions…

  19. 19
    reddest says:

    I suggest Speak, by Laurie Anderson. It’s one of the best YAF books about rape that I’ve ever read. Cynthia Voigt’s When She Hollers is about incest, and deals with the subject very well. I’m not sure if they’re what you’re looking for, but they belong on any reading list you might create, I’d think.

  20. 20
    Kate L. says:

    This isn’t terribly “academic” it’s by a journalist, but I think it hits a lot of the issues you are getting at. It’s called “School Girls” by Peggy someone… I have it at home, I will look it up this evening and get back to you. I also always recommend Reviving Opheilia by Mary Pipher, it’s more focused on teenage girls, and doesn’t hit the boys too much, but I think it’s a good read.

    I have a few others at home I’ll need to look up… one other interesting read might be Gender Play by Bonnie Thornton… but that deals with little kids more… I’m gonna go through my bookshelf at home and get back to you tonight.

  21. 21
    Astra says:

    A sort of “Our Bodies, Our Selves”, but one that addresses the current times, is for young people, and not necessarily just for girls.

    Perhaps you’re looking for something likeChanging Bodies, Changing Lives?

  22. 22
    Candy says:

    Our Bodies, Ourselves! It’s a classic.

  23. 23
    fkm says:

    I’ll second Manifesta; it’s flawed, but good. Similarly imperfect but valuable might be bell hooks’s Feminism is for Everybody. Longer but an excellent resource is Estelle Freedman’s No Turning Back. None of these are specific to the 12-18 age group, but still….

  24. 24
    jam says:

    I was hoping for a recommendation of a more practical book that interested faculty could read first, and that we would possibly then recommend to students. A sort of “Our Bodies, Our Selves”, but one that addresses the current times, is for young people, and not necessarily just for girls. The more of those conditions we could meet, the better.

    well, there is a teen version of “Our Bodies, Our Selves” – it’s called “Changing Bodies, Changin Lives” – it’s a little dated (1998 was the last edition) but it’s got good reliable info on STDs, birth control, eating disorders, domestic violence, date rape, etc. – & it’s aimed at boys and girls

    we recommend it at my bookstore on a regular basis & have gotten good responses/reactions from local teens, teachers & youth advocates

  25. 25
    Amy says:

    I read a series way way back when called ‘Dark Angel’. It was a bout a demo like creature that stole a young rich girl to be one of his wives. Her slave followed to try to rescue her and ends up serving the Dark Angel and eventually saving his soul. I can’t find the series anymore but I remember it very well being about the difference between weak and strong and how the strong slave girl was villified and ridiculed, but an incredile character.

  26. 26
    Keelin says:

    Amy, that series is Meredith Ann Pierce’s _Darkangel_. It’s hard to find but still out there.

  27. 27
    Karen says:

    FWIW, Our Bodies, Ourselves certainly addresses the current times, seeing as there have been two new editions this decade alone. Some sections are more for young people than others, but still an excellent resource. It is, obviously, pretty female-focused, though.

    I’d also second Manifesta, which, while not perfect, is very accessible, and also makes one feel like there’s work to be done (as opposed to that evil sexism is taking over the world, and it’s all so big and impossible that we should give up). I also like Listen Up, which is a collection of essays, including a couple from high-school aged women.

  28. 28
    jam says:

    oops, repeated Astra…

  29. 29
    rachel says:

    12-18 is a huge age group. I teach 7th grade and they are in no way capable to read and understand a book a high school senior or freshman in college might read. I would second Speak, by Laurie Anderson as a good choice for high school students, some of my 12 year olds read it and didn’t quite “get” all of it.

  30. 30
    Doctor Science says:

    My own baby (HS junior) feminist was very influenced by Susan Faludi’s “Backlash”. I will ask her for more recs when she gets home from school.

  31. 31
    B says:

    In that case I recommend you to go to http://www.rfsu.se (the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education) they have lots of experience and material – including free pdfs for downloading (and in english). It is all geared for education – usually for teens as well. I am also fairly certain that they would be very helpful and supportive if you ask them for suggestions.

    Otherwise what about reading Faludi and maybe some classics like Kollontaj, Woolf and Mill? Those, or excerpts from those books, ought to work well both with the teachers and the older pupils.

  32. 32
    Adrian says:

    I suspect the modern youth equivalent to _Our Bodies, Our Selves_, may well be http://www.scarleteen.com/ They have lots of good information, political and social as well as physical. It’s written for young men as well as young women, and it’s written to be very accessible. If the teachers are willing to read something online, or if they can print excerpts from the net, it might be just what the original poster wants.

  33. 33
    Doctor Science says:

    Now that I’ve had time to actually talk to the Future of Feminism, she says “the trouble with non-fiction is that you tune it out after a while.” It turns out she doesn’t even *remember* “Backlash” all that well, but she strongly recommends a novel, Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment “Non-fiction just tells you, fiction *shows*, and show is always more persuasive than tell.”

  34. 34
    Anna in Cairo says:

    For young adult fiction, younger than 12, there aer a lot of books from my generation that were really influential to me and might have been even more so had they been taught in my school. The Ramona books as someone upthread said and the Judy Blume books. (In fact I often thought she’s good for both genders, and it is good for them to read the ones addressed to the other – like I think reading “superfudge’ and “tales of a 4th grade nothing” made me a lot more understanding of boys). For older kids as you were asking, I think the Margaret ATwood books like the Handmaid’s Tale are easy enough to read that they would work. What about some of the Earthsea books? Or some Anne McCaffrey? They sort of show societies where things are BETTER and the characters accept it as such. We don ‘t have to make the kids drown in negativity after all.

    As for nonfiction, the Faludi book might be good (I have not read) or Friedan? It’s pretty easy to read (I just read it for the first time at age 37, but I think the grade level of writing is pretty accessible for kids).

  35. 35
    Anna in Cairo says:

    There is a self-help book I got for my son called the teenage guy’s guide to everything (or something like that) which discusses many issues including girls that I felt was written in a pro-feminist type of way. He has found it very useful especially as he does not necessarily want to discuss all these issues with his mom all the time.

    But this may be less relevant in the US. Here in Egypt the adults just don’t discuss any of these issues with the kids and they are absolutley in need of any guidance they can get- in the US I assume it is like it was when I was a kid, with stuff like this being discussed regularly in the classroom and with parents. (My kids’ school counselor borrowed “the 7 habits for teens” from me because he did not know how to discuss sexual issues with the kids and found the stuff in that book to be helpful. This is a guy whose job is to counsel the kids. It is just way not OK for the stuff to be discussed in this culture and thus kids are confused, end up getting most info from each other and it is wrong, or have a really negative self-image because they get all these cultural/sociall messages that all the things they think about are morally wrong.)

  36. 36
    Angiportus says:

    THe LGBTQ Guide–not sure I’ve got it spelled right–for kids who aren’t sure they are straight. I saw it in our library, paperback, blue and black spine. I’ll ask the librarians about more possibilities today or tomorrow.

  37. 37
    Nella says:

    It isn’t easy to find these days, but i’d recommend Jean Ure’s ‘Plague’ series for raising gender questions. The individual books are ‘Plague 99’, ‘Come Lucky April’ (sometimes published as ‘After the Plague’) and ‘Watchers at the Shrine’. I think most of Ure’s books discuss relevant issues to some extent, but these are the most blatant.

  38. 39
    Feminist Mom says:

    As a high school teacher, I have seniors in my women’s studies course read “Body Outlaws” edited by Ophira Edut. It’s an excellent anthology for young women, focusing mostly on body and image issues.

  39. 40
    reader says:

    Reviving Ophelia, Mary Pipher
    The Girl Within, Emily Hancock
    Against Our Will, Susan Brownmiller
    Feminist Pleasure and Feminist Beautification, Ann Cahill
    The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan

  40. 41
    Elena says:

    A lot of these suggestions are “eat your vegetables” books, which I think is not a very wise way to introduce the idea of sexism to preteens and young teens. What they really should read is plenty of books about girls and by women- classics like Laura Inghalls Wilder and Maya Angelou. There is nothing like a good novel to help people really GET something. Is there any graphic novel that does for sexism what Maus did for the Holocaust? That would be great. Probably the Handmaid’s Tale would be great for older teens, or Sex Wars by Marge Pierce. The problem is that when you discuss the real horror of sexism and sexual violence, you get into angry parents territory, because you have to read and discuss so called lurid topics. Not looking at these topics, however, is to perpetuate them because violence against women is by its very nature a private and often ‘lurid’ matter.

  41. 42
    lemonpeelings says:

    I’m not sure it’s overtly feminist, but the best coming-of-age novel I’ve ever read is Alice Munro’s Lives of Girls and Women. It hits the nail on the head so many times, that I felt it could have been written about my own feelings as a teenager. Maybe your teachers would appreciate a reminder of what life is like for young women.

  42. 43
    siren says:

    I would highly recommend The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

    I read it the first time my senior year of HS and it’s still my favorite more than a decade later. Every time I pick it up it reinforces the convictions I have about what kind of person I want to be.

  43. 44
    Teddy Ostrow (Ms) says:

    “The Mists of Avalon”–Marion Zimmer Bradley. Arthurian legend told from the point of view of Morgan le Fay, who is depicted as Morgaine, a Wiccan priestess, who is part of a community of priestesses on the Isle of Avalon. One of my all-time favorites.

    The Peter Pullman “His Dark Materials” 3-part series, featuring Lyra, who thinks and acts for herself.

    for high-school jrs/srs: Naomi Klein, “No Logo”, about consumerism.

  44. 45
    Peggy Nature says:

    I would say “The Beauty Myth” or “Reviving Ophelia.” Some of Gloria Steinem’s books are very accessible…like “Outrageous Acts and Everday Rebellions.”

  45. 46
    Peggy Nature says:

    I’d also really strongly agitate for “The Handmaid’s Tale” but parts of it might be too sexually explicit. It’s wonderful though, and would definitely make an impression on kids that they wouldn’t soon forget. Very easy to draw parallels between the story and the real world as well, plus it’s just exciting and fun to read.

  46. 47
    Conway Queen says:

    We are just starting a Feminism section in my AP literature Class. We are reading The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

  47. 48
    Kondomer says:

    I also highly recommend The Awakening by Kate Chopin.