Book Review: Full Frontal Feminism

Book Title: Full Frontal Feminism
Author: Jessica Valenti
Published: 2007
Pages: 248
Category: nonfiction: politics, feminism

With a month between one semester ending, and the beginning of another, I tried to be very careful in picking out my reading material. I wanted something fun but also informative (though I’m sure with a couple more weeks to go, I will find some fluff to read as well). And armed with a bookstore gift-card I made my way on a rainy Thursday to the Community and Culture section of a nearby Chapters.

I wasn’t super impressed with the amount of books on the Gender Studies shelf, but I did manage to find Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti, who founded Feministing. And I loved it. This book is full of important information, presented in a frank, no-nonsense format. Valenti has things to say and she says them, with emphasis. I loved her straightforward approach to issues that many people avoid being straightforward about.

Valenti did an excellent job of laying out the issues, and explaining what they are and what we can do about them. The book is written in a way that it seems like you are having a conversation with an author, very personal and personable. And she swears a lot. It’s kind of awesome.

While most of the information directly relates to politics in the United States, many of the same issues face Canadian women. Especially in light of much of the rhetoric in the current political campaigns leading up the May 2nd election in Canada.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone. And everyone.