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"Our brand of feminism is different from what has gone before" said Ellie Levenson, author of The Noughtie Girl's Guide to Feminism, to be published in July. "However, feminism clearly has an image problem. What we need to get across is that you can be feminine and a feminist." -- Independent on Sunday
"Without oversimplifying, [Ellie Levenson] offers a survey and synthesis of what has already been achieved and what remains to be done - although she's not afraid to strike out into more controversial territory at times. A fine book, and regrettably still a necessary one." -- Leicester Mercury
"She is a good example of the younger breed of feminists, women who are not exactly on the front line but who still make a contribution to the debate." -- The Times
"A generation has somehow grown up without a clear idea of the breakthroughs the feminists made, so Levenson's book is timely." -- Spectator
"Without oversimplifying, [Ellie Levenson] offers a survey and synthesis of what has already been achieved and what remains to be done - although she's not afraid to strike out into more controversial territory at times. A fine book, and regrettably still a necessary one." -- Leicester Mercury
"She is a good example of the younger breed of feminists, women who are not exactly on the front line but who still make a contribution to the debate." -- The Times
"A generation has somehow grown up without a clear idea of the breakthroughs the feminists made, so Levenson's book is timely." -- Spectator
Review
"Witty look at the F-word for those who support equal rights but are less keen on man-bashing and bra-burning."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I think the author has missed an opportunity to bring feminism into the 21st century. She does make some very good points about feminists not being man hating harpies and that you can be a feminist and still dress nicely, but from that point on this is really a very simplistic and patronising read. If the book is meant to be humour then it failed dismally. If it is meant to be a sensible guide to life for anyone in the age group 18-30 who may not consider themselves a feminist but believes in equal rights then it failed.
To me, admittedly I am not the right age group for the book, it seemed to be saying to the reader - don't bother your pretty little head about anything serious just carry on dressing in a trashy way and go and find yourself a man and in the meantime if you get harassed by any men you should take it as a compliment. If she is really serious this takes us back before the second wave of feminism. The author does make a very big issue about calling herself Ms and not taking her husband's name which I think is a little outdated. Most of the time there is no need to insist on any sort of title in everyday life.
Where I really part company from the author is over the issue of rape. No it isn't funny in any shape or form and it is traumatic to its victims. It is socially unacceptable to make jokes about disability, skin colour, or any victims of any other crime - so why is it acceptable to make jokes about rape? A male victim would never be the subject of a joke. The author fudges the issue of domestic violence and conveniently forgets to point out that women can be aggressors as well as victims.
I do agree that it is not always appropriate to fight over the trivial things but then she makes a big thing out of not doing her husband's washing - why? If you're filling a washing machine it takes effort to leave out anything which belongs to another person - what is the point? She suggests women should conform to stereotypes or they risk being ostracized especially when it comes to appearances. She doesn't like the fact that women are expected to remove body hair but still continues to do it - why? I know the stereotype of a feminist portrays her as butch and hairy and dressed in dungarees but the author completely misses the point that appearances are a personal issue and not one on which society or any other person should have the casting vote if the individual is to live at ease with themselves.
I found the book shallow and irritating and the examples she uses from her own life show how very far she has to go in order to think of herself as entitled to play an equal part in society with men. There are some good points buried in the dross but these are hard to find and I would recommend that anyone looking for thought provoking books on feminism needs to turn to the second wave authors such as Naomi Wolf and Germaine Greer whose writing is still relevant today. Of the current writers, Rosalind Gill, Nina Power, Jill Liddington, and Natasha Walter are all excellent reading.
To me, admittedly I am not the right age group for the book, it seemed to be saying to the reader - don't bother your pretty little head about anything serious just carry on dressing in a trashy way and go and find yourself a man and in the meantime if you get harassed by any men you should take it as a compliment. If she is really serious this takes us back before the second wave of feminism. The author does make a very big issue about calling herself Ms and not taking her husband's name which I think is a little outdated. Most of the time there is no need to insist on any sort of title in everyday life.
Where I really part company from the author is over the issue of rape. No it isn't funny in any shape or form and it is traumatic to its victims. It is socially unacceptable to make jokes about disability, skin colour, or any victims of any other crime - so why is it acceptable to make jokes about rape? A male victim would never be the subject of a joke. The author fudges the issue of domestic violence and conveniently forgets to point out that women can be aggressors as well as victims.
I do agree that it is not always appropriate to fight over the trivial things but then she makes a big thing out of not doing her husband's washing - why? If you're filling a washing machine it takes effort to leave out anything which belongs to another person - what is the point? She suggests women should conform to stereotypes or they risk being ostracized especially when it comes to appearances. She doesn't like the fact that women are expected to remove body hair but still continues to do it - why? I know the stereotype of a feminist portrays her as butch and hairy and dressed in dungarees but the author completely misses the point that appearances are a personal issue and not one on which society or any other person should have the casting vote if the individual is to live at ease with themselves.
I found the book shallow and irritating and the examples she uses from her own life show how very far she has to go in order to think of herself as entitled to play an equal part in society with men. There are some good points buried in the dross but these are hard to find and I would recommend that anyone looking for thought provoking books on feminism needs to turn to the second wave authors such as Naomi Wolf and Germaine Greer whose writing is still relevant today. Of the current writers, Rosalind Gill, Nina Power, Jill Liddington, and Natasha Walter are all excellent reading.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Levenson claims that she knows little about the second wave of feminism early on in her book, however she should have written that she knows little about feminism all together. Most of the book I found irrelevant to my experience as both a woman and a feminist. Levenson speaks purely from her White upper class backgound and largely ignores any other perspective. Some parts of the book I found offensive for example her stance on rape and that we should feel secretly pleased at sexual harrasment and intimidation from men on the street.
I found myself not in an intellectual dialogue with an interesting author but in a one way diatribe with a woman whose biggest worry is social faux pas. A good read for the Daily Mail Readers amongst you.
I found myself not in an intellectual dialogue with an interesting author but in a one way diatribe with a woman whose biggest worry is social faux pas. A good read for the Daily Mail Readers amongst you.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought `The Noughtie Girl's Guide to Feminism' because I thought it might provide some insights into how feminist thought has progressed over the last ten years. The realisation that I might not be getting quite what I'd hoped for came fairly early on when Levenson says, in the Introduction, that it isn't necessary to place her book in any kind of feminist context. She then proceeds to lead us through 200 pages of crass, patronising, mediocre ideas that might relate to women but do little to progress our cause. As an example, she spends a paragraph or so discussing rape and concludes; `I think we do women an injustice when we say that rape is the worst thing that can happen to a woman. It is, after all, just a penis.' After criticising Fay Weldon for her critique of The Spice Girls, she refers to Germaine Greer as a `rent-a-gob' and spends the vast majority of the book discussing superficial details rather than issues that matter.
If you want an informative and interesting book about modern feminism, I'd recommend `Female Chauvinist Pigs' by Ariel Levy; a woman who isn't concerned about making her ideas palatable or apologising every time she talks about being a feminist.
If you want an informative and interesting book about modern feminism, I'd recommend `Female Chauvinist Pigs' by Ariel Levy; a woman who isn't concerned about making her ideas palatable or apologising every time she talks about being a feminist.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Got me thinking, laughing and page turning
I have been meaning to read The Noughtie Girl's Guide to Feminism for a long time. It has what I like in a book - accessible, fun, witty, challenging, and every few pages I wanted... Read more
Published 10 months ago by MariG
Everyone should read this!!!
This is a fab book that everyone (male and female) should read, whether they consider themselves feminists or not. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Laura-jane Evans
Just don't.
I could write an entire essay about what was wrong with this book, but in brief: she thinks we should feel pleased at sexual harassment and intimidation from men on the street,... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Cath
Fun and witty, but also well informed
Feminism is more important in 2010 than ever before. Yet less people are proud to call themselves feminists. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2010 by J. A. J. Mullinger
Gripping, light-hearted read with some interesting insights
I romped through this book and thoroughly enjoyed hearing Ellie Levenson's views and insights into present day feminism. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Marianne Perree
I loved this book
I would definitely recommend this book as a thought-provoking and entertaining read. The author has a very engaging style and the book is a combination of anecdotes and considered... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by K. Groucutt
Bloody women
I think it's extraordinary the amount of vitriol that the author of this book has received. I found it unfailingly funny, thought-provoking and original.
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Adam Cracknell
Funny feminism
A witty and engaging introduction to feminism, for women, and men, who don't necessarily consider themselves to be feminists. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by Annie Reader
An interesting take on feminism
This isn't a book for 'card carrying' feminists, but if you're someone who doesn't identify yourself as a feminist, who is curious about the subject and would like a more modern... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by Quinda
Trite, dumb and upsetting
Before anyone buys this book please realise that Ellie Levenson is a woman who has gone on record as stating that rape jokes are funny and has implyed, very strongly, that women... Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by Sarah Thane
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