Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Women's Guide to Why Feminism Matters

Excellent, excellent "starter kit" to feminism!

I have only rave reviews for Jessica Valenti, and for this book in particular. I have read others by her and like them all, but what is especially great about "Full Frontal" is that she takes formative examples from her other books (such as laws that protect pharmacists if they refuse to dispense birth control because they feel it's morally wrong, or a thorough analysis of the pervasive and invasive "Girls Gone Wild" phenomenon) and puts them into a context that rings true with young people. I say people because Valenti is quick to point out that feminism isn't, nor has ever been, an exclusively female issue. Sexism also affects men, in a hugely negative way! In fact, Valenti is quick to debunk the stereotypical myth that ALL feminists are man-hating, bra-burning (to use her word) "dykes." From flailing reproductive rights, to lies incorporated into public school sex-ed curriculum to guilt young women into chastity, to the disturbing prominence of father-daughter purity balls, to the history and present of the feminist movement, Valenti provides an accurate, unapologetic, appropriately impassioned, and hilarious overview of the importance of feminism today. What is even more impressive is that she also dedicates an entire chapter to empowering her readers with small things that can be done every day to push the feminist agenda forward. Indeed, as she persuades her readers, feminism is alive and well, but must always be fought for. What a revolutionary idea for someone like me, a young woman brought up to think it is so uncool to be a feminist! I recommend this book to anyone who is new (or needs a refresher course) to the basics and necessity of modern feminism.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I did not have high hopes for this book, as feministing.com is usually no more than a link or two to a newspaper article and some sort of catchphrase, but Full Frontal Feminism still managed to disappoint me. It deals only vaguely with feminist issues and gives a brief summary of them but no real analysis or solutions, is full of obscenities, personal attacks of people who somehow wronged Valenti in grade school, and makes out like feminism is all about guilt-free sex, with scarcely anything about equality or safety of women. Valenti gives barely even a nod to issues faced by poor women, women of color, lesbians and transwomen. She also goes on and on about 'We young women,' but last I checked, she was 28. How much does a 28-year-old, upper middle class woman with a master's degree (she brags about that, too) really understand about the struggle young women are facing, especially poor women and women of color? Well, if this book is any indication, next to nothing. It's condescending and pointless. Oh, and the cover! For a book that's supposed to be about feminism, why is there a disembodied, naked, female torso on the front? Objectifying women is objectifying women, whether you claim to be a feminist or not. If you're looking for a book that will help you make excuses to have sex and teach you new swear words, this is it. If you're a young woman looking for a good introduction to feminism, put this down and get something worth reading instead.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Something all young women should read...

I've only read a few chapters of the book and already, I'm entranced by Ms. Valenti's quintessential masterpiece and her modern and unique take on Feminism. It certainly breaks down the walls and stereotypes of society and the media about sex, young women, and the ideology of feminism. Ms. Valenti weaves powerful words, facts, and humor altogether in this single book. I am definitely going to look into her other works! Call me a Jessica Valenti fan!

I highly recommend reading Full Frontal Feminism!!

This book was very well written and very imformative. As a feminist who never realized that I was such. This book made me realize that I truly was a feminist, and now I'm proud of being labeled as such!

Love it!

This book is awesome! If you have ever wanted to know more about feminism this is the book to read. I took a seminar at school and one of the presenters had this book... I got it as soon as it was over. This book has changed all of my views on feminism.

A reviewer

It was so in your face and easy to read. I loved it!

a must read for men and women alike

This book is expertly written. It's a style that keeps the reader engaged as if talking to a friend. And it talks about real issues that women face and presents it in a manner that makes you think. If you're a person that's afraid of the truth and like a whole lot of fluff...this book isn't for you. But if you're a strong man or woman looking for a good read and even if you're not so sure about feminism but are willing to learn something about it- this book is for you. But I must warn this book isn't an in-depth book. It's meant to scan over the many areas of feminism to get you a start- to get you to think. And it does it quite well.

Not your Mom's Feminism

I love love love this book! I'm a college student but I'm not a big reader. I could NOT put this book down!! She's makes so many great points in a languge younger generations can relate to. You may be taken back by the word 'Feminism' but if you love the idea of equality you'll adore this page turner. Chapter by chapter, I had a stronger sense of self and valid points to help support it!

A must read, no matter who you are!

As quoted by Jessica herself this book really IS 'Self help times one hundred,' she really explains feminism in this must have book, affirming numerous issues most of us have already thought of ourselves but never put together! I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!

A reviewer

I have always held feminist ideals, but had never actually read any feminist text before I saw Jessica Valenti on the Colbert Report. After seeing her interview, I decided to pick up the book. It was amazing. The way it was written was very matter-of-fact with no condescending tone or fluff. It felt like I was having a conversation with a friend while I read it. Every point made in this book hit me close to home, because every point made in this book is something that will potentially effect every woman alive. Full Frontal Feminism opened my eyes to a movement that I didn't know I was a part of. After reading this book, I am proud to call myself a feminist.

FFF Doesn't Live Up to Its Racy Title

Jessica Valenti is a part of the feminist blogger elite, and for good reason. The blog that she was part of establishing, Feministing.com, gets a lot of traffic and is well-known among internet savvy, young, hip feminists. Full disclosure: I read Feministing on a somewhat regular basis. Having read Valenti¿s writing on the blog ¿ which tends to be oversimplified and, quite frankly, bratty ¿ I was hoping her analysis in book form would show at least a tad more depth. Unfortunately for Valenti, there¿s a downside to fame it opens you up for public criticism. If Full Frontal Feminism is supposed to be the spark that ignites young women to identify as feminists and hop on the movement train, then women are in deep trouble. Valenti writes like a feminist version of Ann Coulter, and let¿s face it, Ann Coulter is hardly known for her intelligent commentary. Flamboyant and egotistical, much of Valenti¿s commentary is trite, at best. She makes sweeping generalizations (¿When you¿re a feminist, day to day life is better. You make better decisions. You have better sex.¿), repeatedly calls her opponents juvenile names ('The consequence of having the last name Buttars is apparently being a huge a.........'), confuses ¿truth¿ with ¿opinion,¿ and has apparently done very little actual research to prove her claims, as there is little to no citation of her assertions. At times, she doesn¿t feel the need to make an assertion at all, responding to the opposition with a facile yet grandiose ¿Puke,¿ a deliberately ironic ¿Yeah¿ or a pithy and useless ¿Terrifying¿, as though she has made her case. And despite hackneyed attempts every now and again to mention other marginalized groups, the truth is that this book overwhelmingly reflects the viewpoint of its white, middle class, (primarily, if not entirely) heterosexual, entitled, American, liberal feminist writer. Valenti doesn¿t give her readers credit that they can do the thing she most wants them to do: think, analyze, and be critical. This is apparent in the fallacious style by which she presents her perspectives. My personal favorite ¿ taken straight from the right wing, talk radio instruction manual ¿ is when Valenti uses the ¿straw man,¿ a common misleading bait-and-switch tactic, to ¿prove¿ her point (e.g., contending that anti-abortion advocates simply hate sex). A close second is when she uses the most extreme cases as though they weren¿t the exception to the rule (e.g., making the case for all women to have access to Emergency Contraception because rape victims should have access to it). Perhaps Valenti believes that young women won¿t be moved unless they¿re completely scared to death. Fear is a powerful motivator, but it belittles the audience in the process. Oh, and did I mention that she uses the book as a forum to talk public trash about petty tiffs she¿s had with other bloggers? If fear doesn¿t sell you on feminism, apparently Valenti believes taking her side in some inane, personal dispute will. Full Frontal Feminism is written in sound bytes, each chapter being comprised of smaller (usually) page-long explanations of a given issue: sex education vs. abstinence only, virginity pledges, expensive weddings, unattainable beauty standards, and other typical feminist fare. Apparently, the television has taken its toll (or so Valenti thinks) on the public because there is no sense of organization or logic to the structure of the book. And solutions? Those must have been left for someone else to tackle because you won¿t find them here, at least not outside of the standard volunteer, give money, and vote. Now I know I¿ve pretty much run this book into the ground, but I do want to say that I get what Valenti is trying to do here. And it¿s a really smart idea. She wants to reach out to young women who don¿t yet identify as feminists and let them know that it¿s okay, cool even, to be down with the F-word. She wants to tell them that they already believe in feminist ideals and h

A fantastic primer for young women!

Full Frontal Feminism provides a fantastic and accessible primer on current feminist issues. Even if you don't agree with Jessica Valenti's politics, this book will give you things to think about. Valenti doesn't talk down to her readers, and doesn't draw conclusions for them. Very thought-provoking for anyone who identifies as a feminist, thinks they might be a feminist, or wonders what it means to be a feminist.

Honest, Refreshing and Real

I wish I had been given this book at 13 in order to begin reversing a fear and shame-inducing Catholic education. Full Frontal Feminism is a candid and personal look at what feminism means to the author, as well as how it's relevant and necessary for all young women. Jessica Valenti writes in a conversational, non-condescending and clear way about WHY and HOW feminism gives young women the analytical tools to reclaim their bodies and their communities. Yes, Jessica isn't afraid to bring up the scarier aspects of being female -- harassment, assault, anti-choice politicians -- but as shreds the patriarchy she is promoting feminism as a vibrant movement and desirable ideology for young women. Kick ass.

Fabulously original ! An excellent read.

I got my copy a few days ago and couldn't put it down. It's smart, sassy and shockingly candid. Written in a way that makes you feel as though a friend is speaking directly to you, the book covers a bunch of topics like pop culture, health, reproductive rights, violence, education, relationships, etc. and is really informative but not overly technical. From start to finish, Full Frontal Feminism, is the book I wish I had had growing up. So far, I¿ve bought 4 copies because every time I showed it to someone I didn¿t have the heart to take it back! Read this book, you won¿t be disappointed.

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