3.5 disco balls

Published: August 5, 2014 by HarperAudio
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Category: Nonfiction, Essays, Feminism
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2014)

Bad Feminist, a book of essays by Roxane Gay, is more than what the title may portray. There are essays on feminism but actually not as many as I thought. The beginning starts out discussing the author’s love of competitive Scrabble. I kind of was like “where is this going?” but realized this may be the way the author was allowing us to get to know her. (Since I was listening to the audiobook I didn’t have the breakdown of sections or essay titles. I would come to realize later that yes, those essays were her “Me” section.)

Gay’s essays touch upon various subjects such as body image, gender inequality, sexual assault, race, stereotypes in literature and film, and how media presents these subjects.

It is a thought provoking read and a conversation starter. It highlights very important subjects and makes you reflect on your own thoughts: I sometimes found myself thinking “hmm, I hadn’t thought of it that way before” or that she stated more eloquently similar thoughts I had. Read More »