City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Publications and Research CUNY Graduate Center 2009 I Promise I Won't Say 'Herstory': New Conversations Among Feminists Jannelle Ruswick Alycia Sellie CUNY Graduate Center How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_pubs/17 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Book Reviews I PROMISE I WON’T SAY “HERSTOry”: NEW CONVERSATIONS AMONG FEMINISTS by Jannelle Ruswick & Alycia Sellie Jessica Valenti, FULL FRONTAL FEMINISM: A YOUNG WOMAN’S GUIDE TO WHY FEMINISM MATTERS. Berkeley, CA: Seal, 2007. 271p. pap., $15.95, ISBN 978-1580052016. Deborah Siegel, SISTERHOOD, INTERRUPTED: FROM RADICAL WOMEN TO GRRLS GONE WILD. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. 224p. bibl. index. pap., $14.95, ISBN 978-1403982049. Anita Harris, ed., NEXT WAVE CULTURES: FEMINISM, SUBCULTURES, ACTIVISM. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2008. 283p. bibl. index. pap., $34.95, ISBN 978-0415957106. [We] decided to write a paper in conversation with each other. — Chilla Burlbeck & Anita Harris, Next Wave Cultures, p.221 In the introduction to “Femi- debates that are presented in the works rounding girls who have “gone wild.” nism, Youth Politics and Generational reviewed here. What follows is excerpt- However, in an interview on Alternet. Change,” their chapter in Next Wave ed from our conversations. org, Valenti stated, “It was a book I Cultures, Chilla Burlbeck and Anita wish I had when I was in high school.”1 Harris discuss their individual inter- Full Frontal Feminism: A Young The book seems to have been written pretations of “data sets” about young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Mat- for urban, sarcastic, and witty female women, using their own geographic, ters sells itself as a primer on feminism, adolescents — women who are teen- cultural, and theoretical frameworks. discussing topics deemed pertinent aged Valenti clones. The consequence Discovering their collaborative man- to Generation Y. The book has two of such a limited audience is that wom- ner of writing was delightful for us as objectives: to get young women to en who do not fit this demographic are we began our process of reading and embrace feminism as a hip movement likely to be turned off by the sex and reflecting for Feminist Collections. Al- vital to their wellbeing and to provide beer talk. I say this as a woman who though we aren’t sure how Harris and a refresher course for out-of-the-closet grew up in the Midwest; the frequent Burlbeck communicated, our corre- feminists. mentions of getting drunk and having spondence was dictated by geography. Alycia: I enjoyed reading Full sex would have scared me as a teen. I Separated by hundreds of miles, we Frontal Feminism on the train. It was wonder if reading this in high school corresponded by email and discussed easy to put down and pick up again, would have turned me off from my these works in real time via instant and I flew through it. Overall, the tone emerging feminism. messaging. As reviewers, we share of the work felt like an informal con- Alycia: I think I would have been many commonalities. We are both aca- versation with a cool older sister who intrigued but intimidated to read demic librarians. We’re twenty-seven was trying to convince you why it’s Full Frontal Feminism as a teenager. years old. We are from the Midwest. important to be a feminist. Valenti puts a lot of personal beliefs Perhaps most importantly, we identify Jannelle: Full Frontal Feminism into the book, and this could be a as feminists. was a pleasant read, but I had difficulty turn-off for some, as much as it may In spite of our similarities, we determining the audience. At first I make it voyeuristically interesting for hope that our conversation will pres- thought the book was for college-aged others. I think this book was written ent varied reactions to the works that women, because in Chapter 2, Valenti as an expression of Valenti’s personal we have both read. We also hope that argues that it is “O.K.” to have consen- experiences as a feminist rather than of as young feminists, we can present a sual inebriated sex as long as the reader the totality of women’s experiences of perspective that is sometimes missing is aware of the myriad of issues sur- in discussions about the generational Feminist Collections (v.30, no.1, Winter 2009) Page 7 Book Reviews feminism. While I read, I kept ques- she says, “Clearly, this case is fucked Jannelle: I didn’t intend to ap- tioning whether Valenti was making up in a thousand ways” (p. 29). I proach it as if I were reading a blog, space for others, where I fit into her know the ways in which the example is but in the end I felt the book was more conception of feminism, and whether “fucked up,” but will a young woman of a “Best of Feministing” anthol- young women would be able to relate new to feminism? The “Um, no” and ogy than a full book. What worries to this presented perspective. I’m not “Just saying” conclusions got tiring and me about the lack of depth is that sure I have many conclusions, but I felt like excuses to avoid explanation. when Valenti does provide analysis, think Valenti realizes that feminism can Alycia: These phrases, plus the the research is shoddy. For example, be intimidating to the audience she is swearing in some areas and the fake she quotes the famous Joycelyn Elders writing for (closeted feminists), and so swearing in others (“friggin”), as well statement about masturbation be- she is using herself as an example of a as the lack of depth, were problems ing a topic for sex education. When healthy, happy feminist. for me personally as a reader, but I I checked the notes for the chapter, I Jannelle: To give Valenti credit, also recognized immediately that I discovered that she used the website she repeatedly emphasizes that Rotten.com as her source. This most of the things she says in her particular quote may be accurate book are her personal feelings, and despite the unreliable source, but that the reader needs to determine it left me worried that Valenti her own opinions on the subject. wasn’t exercising due diligence in I wish Valenti (or the publishers) her research. A teen may not care would have marketed the book to do further research, but I think differently; perhaps as a memoir authors have an obligation to pro- of a young feminist instead of as a vide verifiable information from “Feminism 101” guide. reliable sources. Alycia: I couldn’t agree more Alycia: The tone of Valenti’s about the framing of the work. writing is most successful in the Full Frontal Feminism is a great last chapter of the book (“Get to representation of what Valenti is It”), where readers are invited to experiencing as a feminist writer get involved by listing feminist today, but the book does not pres- goals that are simple to accom- ent a comprehensive history of plish. Her examples are brash, and feminism by any means. She leans laden with her own personality, to the left, and so the book does and yet still do-it-yourself: “Don’t too; for instance, she lists “Don’t diet. Fuck them and their bullshit have sex with Republicans” (p.30) beauty standards. Eating can be as a personal rule in Chapter 2, a powerful act when the world “Feminists Do It Better (and wants you to disappear” (p.244). Other Sex Tips).” Although other I like the participatory aspects of topics are highlighted (reproduc- the book that invite ladies in, and tive rights, relationships, politics, the fact that the end of the work and pop culture are a few), I think Val- was not the intended audience for the doesn’t leave a hole that merely makes enti frames all issues within the scope book. The writing was definitely remi- us ask Where do we go next? without of- of identity politics. niscent of a mainstream magazine or fering any suggestions. Valenti is great Jannelle: I found her writing lack- news article and lacking in thorough at making readers realize that feminism ing in analysis. If one of the goals of research. I was also aware that Valenti is what they will make of it. the book is to educate young women co-founded and writes for the popular Following this, I was left wonder- about “why feminism matters” (sub- feminist blog Feministing.com. Thus, I ing whether Full Frontal Feminism will title), I’d expect to see a more thorough think that on some level I approached be effective at convincing young people examination of issues. For example, in this book as if I were reading a series that identifying as feminists is impor- a paragraph about statutory rape charg- of blog entries, so I wasn’t surprised by tant. In this book, Valenti is the cool, es in Nebraska that were avoided by the tone of the writing or its random- swearing older sister trying to convince the couple getting married in Kansas, ness. Page 8 Feminist Collections (v.30, no.1, Winter 2009) Book Reviews you why you need to join the club and I had the opportunity to hear feminists. Despite being a book essen- pay attention.