I can only imagine how that formed me into the person I am today. I try not to think about the damage it's done. I also thought back to my school days. Almost all the stories I heard at school were about men's heroic deeds in government and war. Thank you men.
But now I've moved onto a new subject. This year, I've made an effort to seek out books, TV shoes, and movies that feature strong female characters. I've become such a snob about it. I just
don't want to hear another story about a man. Especially a white one. Ugh. Enough is enough. I get it. You're great.
It's been wonderful to have women's stories floating through my head all day long. I can feel myself changing.
I noticed the way I stand can be slouched over and the way I talk can be meek and extremely self depreciating, especially around people I'm intimidated by. I'm trying to stop that. Also putting my hands into the sleeves of my sweatshirt when I'm cold. It's so childlike. I actually do that! I now put my hands in my pockets. I'm also trying to stop complimenting women on how young they look. Just doesn't feel right anymore. I've stopped calling a group of people "guys", unless they are guys. Those are the top things I've noticed. Subtle things. I'm sure there are more.
Here's the books I've enjoyed in the last few months. I read them quickly so brainwashing would be the most effective. It worked.
Bad Feminist (Interesting)
Wild (Fun read)
A Year of Magical Thinking (So good)
The Color Purple (THE BEST. How did this book escape me for so long?)
The Girl on the Train (beach read, not really my style. Felt like I should read it because my friend were.)
Helen Keller: The Story of My Life (LOVEEEEEE)
The Member of the Wedding (kind of boring, but effective.)
The Handmaid's Tale (How did I miss this in High School? So good.)
You're awesome! I don't like using the word "guys" either. I read Helen Keller and loved it. I'm on the waiting list for Wild and The Girl on the Train. I'm cheap and will only use free reading apps.
ReplyDeleteKeep writing!
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Lucky for me we read lots of books by women and people of color in HS (in SLC! Thank you, IB English, Paula and Aisha!). I still remember the day a bit had the gall to say he couldn't relate to Annie John (awesome book!) Because it's a coming of age story about a girl. After we'd just read Portrait of am Artist and David Copperfield! The teacher was so smart. Didn't say a thing. Let the other students (like me) point out how lame that was.
ReplyDeleteA boy had the gall. Hate you, auto correct.
ReplyDeleteI love witnessing your gradual evolution into a proud feminist. This is so healthy for your children, too.
ReplyDeleteI need to finally read the Handmaid's Tale!
This post just made my night! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Love it! I've always been a die hard feminist! Xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove!
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome! I love sharing in your journey towards feminism and finding your voice. Rock on, woman!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story with us! I was excited to go to the Ordain Women website the other day and see your profile. Here's mine: http://ordainwomen.org/project/hi-im-sarah-6/
My Mom got me a subscription to BookWomen and it's been a great resource for books written by and for women. The group also goes on retreats together - which I think would be so fun. Happy reading!
http://www.womenspress.com/main.asp?SectionID=10&SubSectionID=706&ArticleID=3534&TM=72771.3
Love that pic. Where is that? Happy reading about amazing women.
ReplyDeletein the north woods in central park. i never knew it existed until i took that pic. always discovering new things
DeleteSharon - It looks like men are getting the better of you!! You are much better than that. So stop whining, be yourself and rise above the bigotry. And when all else fails remember "behind every great man there's a woman" ha! ha! ha! What a load of CRAP! D
ReplyDeleteP.S. "Helen Keller" and "The Color Purple" were Fran's favorite books.
I discovered The Handmaid's Tale just last year, too, and I couldn't believe how good it is.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. Would love to hear about your future readings, too!
As a (proud!) Feminist and an English teacher, may I recommend everything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, bell hooks, Jhumpa Lahiri's "Unaccustomed Earth", and Gabriella Hamilton's "Blood Bones and Butter"! Also, I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely second the Adichie recommendation, she's wonderful. Americanah was my favourite. Xx
Deleteok-- i'm on it!! next on my list. :)
DeleteIf you like BBC, there are some great shows with strong female characters like Bletchley Circle, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, and Bomb Girls. Also non-BBC are Covert Affairs, and Commander In Chief. The downside is that these are all mostly white women, which is a whole 'nother issue...
ReplyDeleteLove Miss Fisher! (And Dorothy's feminist awakening deserves some bonus points.)
DeleteAnna
You might enjoy "The Dance of the Dissident Daughter" by Sue Monk Kidd. It's her personal spiritual journey to the sacred feminine.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of this book. checking it out now. thanks!
DeleteApparently stories by and about men are also more prominently recognised in other fields too. I found this statistic about literary book prizes rather interesting: http://nicolagriffith.com/2015/05/26/books-about-women-tend-not-to-win-awards/
ReplyDeletethanks for bringing this to my attention. sooooo maddening!
DeleteYou might enjoy Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Shatz
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Rad-American-Women-A-Z-Trailblazers/dp/0872866831
Check it out!
OMG this is awesome. totally getting this.
DeleteDo you know who Sybil Ludington is?
ReplyDeletenope. looking her up now though
DeleteShe was a more badass Patriot than Paul Revere, who had a tougher ride than he.
Delete"I just don't want to hear another story about a man."
ReplyDeleteOh my, thank you! This "happened" to me a few years back and I went on a woman writer reading spree (or strike?). The Handmaid's Tale was between one of the first books I read and still is one of my favourite books ever (even went to hear Margaret Atwood give a talk (a big deal as it took place in a neighbouring country)). Now I just try to keep somewhat equal proportions between men and women writers.
One of the things I noticed after the experience- sometimes now I get really annoyed by how men portray women or how they have written woman's pov, like, in a lot of cases they don't ring true or come out as something that a man thinks a female character would think (hope, I could convey the thought; sorry, not eng is not my native language).
Also, have been a semi-regular reader of your blog for a long time and really love your posts and wit :) Anna
thanks so much.
Deletehave you read Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? It's brilliant :)
ReplyDeletenope never heard. thanks for the suggestion. going to check it out :)
DeleteWhat a great idea! Margaret Atwood is my favorite author. She's a total badass. I highly recommend checking out the Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante. They follow the course of a friendship between two women and are ferociously intelligent.
ReplyDeleteok--thanks so much for the suggestion. totally going to check them out :)
DeleteCan we get this post printed and into circulation in all major newspapers? Full page ad in NY Times? I went to the MOMA in October and it was just saturated with male artists and male povs. I was so disappointed. But Pierce Broson apologized to me for blocking my view, so at least there's that.
ReplyDeletehaha thank you.
DeleteThank you for tis post! Wow. Just thank you.
ReplyDeleteMay I suggest you the author Nancy Huston? She is a Canadian writer who (beautifully) writes in French, even if her mothertongue is English. She translates her own work in English. Her books and essays are so powerful, "Fault Lines" is especially breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteI WANT YOU ALL WHO HAVE DIFFERENT KIND OF PROBLEM TO PLEASE BE CARE FULL BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL SCAM, THE ONLY TRUE NSPELL CASTER IS DR EWAN OF COVENANTSOLUTIONTEMPLE@GMAIL.COM
Hi every one i want to express my self on how i got my ex back , My name is mellisa lopez, I live in UK, we got married for more than 11 years and have gotten two kids. thing were going well with us and we are always happy. until one day my husband started to behave in a way i could not understand, i was very confused by the way he treat me and the kids. later that month he did not come home again and he called me that he want a divorce, i asked him what have i done wrong to deserve this from him, all he was saying is that he want a divorce that he hate me and do not want to see me again in his life, i was mad and also frustrated do not know what to do,i was sick for more than 2 weeks because of the divorce. i love him so much he was everything to me without him my life is incomplete. i told my sister and she told me to contact a spell caster, i never believe in all this spell casting of a thing. i just want to try if something will come out of it. i contacted Dr Ewan for the return of my husband to me, they told me that my husband have been taken by another woman, that she cast a spell on him that is why he hate me and also want us to divorce. then they told me that they have to cast a spell on him that will make him return to me and the kids, they casted the spell and after 1 week my husband called me and he told me that i should forgive him, he started to apologize on phone and said that he still live me that he did not know what happen to him that he left me. it was the spell that he Dr Ewan casted on him that make him come back to me today,me and my family are now happy again today. thank you Dr Ewan for what you have done for me i would have been nothing today if not for your great spell. i want you my friends who are passing through all this kind of love problem of getting back their husband, wife , or ex boyfriend and girlfriend to contact Dr Ewan, if you need his help you can contact him through his private mail: covenantsolutiontemple@gmail.com and you will see that your problem will be solved without any delay.
I recently talked with an older woman, just casually, about life. Instead of exclaiming, Oh girl! she would say , Oh Woman! I loved it.
ReplyDeleteCool! Another really interesting book about women and written by a woman, dealing with some similar issues is the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. And, of course, any Margaret Atwood. :)
ReplyDeleteThe typo tv "shoes" in this post is kind of ironic. Freudian slip?
ReplyDeletepodcast. Podcast. PODCAST!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings to all, i don't really think my name is necessary here because there are lots of fake spell casters out there and i just can't believe the level of scam going on here,i lost my Greg few months ago and did everything possible to get him back but proved abortive until a close friend of mine spoke to me about spell casting and gave me the email address of Dr. Ajala and i decided to give him a try and unbelievably to my surprise it actually worked and i can cheerfully announce to all out here that there are real spell casters but just outnumbered by the fake ones. Please try Dr. Ajala and i tell you there wont be regrets. Under 48 hour i got my Greg back and for me to get this good loving from my man then i think its worth it..his email is docalaja@aol.com
ReplyDeleteRegards
Please, please read Elena Ferrante. "My Brilliant Friend" captured female friendship in the most true way. I immediately sent a copy to my best friend, my mother, and my two sisters.
ReplyDeleteSo exciting to read about your journey.
ReplyDeleteI hear you about having to sit through movies and tv shows and books about men. I am especially annoyed by the highly intelligent but socially awkward men saving the world (even though I still like Sherlock) - my antidote: The Good Wife (among others).
A book that totally changed my life a while back was "Doing Gender - Doing Difference" by Sarah Fenstermaker and Candace West. Though it's a sociological approach and not a novel, it is such an amazing account of the way inequality of women transformed and the shapes and structures it nowadays inherits, with interesting and relatable examples of their studies.
Also: number 3 :)
http://pamelaclark.tumblr.com/post/87113711124/35-practical-tools-for-men-to-further-feminist
A friend just gifted this book to my daughter for her 1st birthday. It make me pretty happy. Your daughter and sons! need it. Rad American Women from A-Z by Kate Schatz.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon! Please move "The Invention on Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd to the top of your list. It hits at everything. It's become one of my all-time favorite books (top 5 easy) and I'm going to make all four of my kids read it when they are older. It opened my eyes to not just slavery, but also the suffragist movement (and how religion was used to justify both slavery and oppressing women). SO GOOD.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love reading your blog, even though I'm still practicing as a Mormon, I appreciate your outlook and honesty.
happy reading!
Michelle, xoxo
Thanks for sharing these great reads! I recently finished Roxane Gay's Bad Feminist. I really liked a lot of chapters, especially regarding her opinion on trigger warnings, but also cringed on a lot of her more extreme feminist thoughts... Overall I would recommend it. It was nice to see a modern feminist piece out there. Anyone else read it? What'd you think?
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested in Persephone books (publishing house)- They put out wonderful, underlooked titles from the mid 20th century ALL written by WOMEN- YES. They do publish the occasional man, but it's only when they're writing about strong female leads. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteAnother plus- the books look and feel just as fab!
My Husband left me for another woman, i am so glad that my husband is back today, with the help of Dr Brave, He is Powerful and Genuine, My name is Becky Miller , I live in California,USA. I'm happily married to a lovely and caring husband ,with three kids. A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce.he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{bravespellcaster@gmail.com}. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past seven 9 months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our relationship was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster. So, i will advice you out there to kindly visit the same website { http://lovespelldrbrave.weebly.com/. } if you have any problem contact Dr Brave ,{ bravespellcaster@gmail.com }, thanks you Dr Brave, i will always be testifying about your good work.
Deletefuck off becky
DeleteThis is not really book related, but there is a brilliant tv series called Pappano Classical voices, recently showed on the BBC in the UK, and there are some pretty badass ladies featured there - all opera singers from past and present times. Check it out, so good. I also just finished A Book of Common Prayer by Didion, I haven't read the year of magical thinking (I am scared, ha!), but I recommend that one, if you are looking for amazing lady characters. Rosa x
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHello Every one that read my testimony i know that this are websites for comments and i don't want to abusive here or may be you think am here to make advert i just want to share this life experience with you all most of you might not believe in spell casting or think it evil which is never so that was what i also think at the first stage but when i get close to it i knew it never evil or bad even in the Bible there were spell caster who served God and also performs Miracle. just give it a little step of faith and things will change back for you. I really want to thank Dr Aluta for saving my marriage. My husband really treat me bad and left the home for almost 1 month, i was sick because of this and not my self any more so i told my friend about my husband situation then she told me to contact Dr Aluta a spell caster that he will help me bring back my husband then, i contacted him he told me that my husband is under a great spell of another woman. They cast a spell of return back of love on him, And he came back home for good and today we are happy family again. SHe helped me bring back my husband and i will want the world to contact him if you need any help here.(1) If you want your ex or divorce partner back.(2) if you always have bad dreams.(3) You want to be promoted in your office.(5) If you want a child spell or any disease you want it to get cured. you an reach him on his email traditionalspellhospital@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are both directors and shareholders in our family business. We have been married for 20 years but my husband is now going for a divorce, i agreed in the first place but i later realized what happens to my family and what rights will I have in the business if my husband divorce me, and i have worked so hard for my family and this business, i was incomplete and wondered what to do because he already went to court. I browsing on the internet when i saw a post on how a spell caster called Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack helped someone bring back her ex, so i wondered if he can help me, i gave him the try and contacted him at his email nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com, he told me not to worry that everything would be alright, i gave him the chance to cast the spell, he told me that in 48 hours my husband will come back and beg me, i never believed it at first, surprisingly completing 48 hours he came back and started to beg me not be to be annoyed about what he did, and now we are happy again. Thank you Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack today my home is restored back if you are going through similar problem you can contact him at his private email {nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com} Jessica Galan USA.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are both directors and shareholders in our family business. We have been married for 20 years but my husband is now going for a divorce, i agreed in the first place but i later realized what happens to my family and what rights will I have in the business if my husband divorce me, and i have worked so hard for my family and this business, i was incomplete and wondered what to do because he already went to court. I browsing on the internet when i saw a post on how a spell caster called Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack helped someone bring back her ex, so i wondered if he can help me, i gave him the try and contacted him at his email nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com, he told me not to worry that everything would be alright, i gave him the chance to cast the spell, he told me that in 48 hours my husband will come back and beg me, i never believed it at first, surprisingly completing 48 hours he came back and started to beg me not be to be annoyed about what he did, and now we are happy again. Thank you Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack today my home is restored back if you are going through similar problem you can contact him at his private email {nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com} Jessica Galan USA.
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you are moving (again)? So exciting!
ReplyDeleteA broken marriage can be one of the most painful things to heal from and can take a very long time to heal. During these times it can feel like the whole world could light up in flames and it still couldn't compare to the pain inside. My name is Nicole Cottrell form UK, I have been in great bondage for almost 2 years suffering in the hands of a cheating husband, we were happy and leaving well until he meant his old time girl friend and he started dating her outside our marriage before you knew it he stopped caring and taking care of his own family to the extent that he was planning to get married to her and divorce me, i cried and reported him to his family but he never listened to any one but to cut my story short i came in search for a real spell caster who could destroy their relationship and make him come back to me and our 2 kids on my search i saw people making testimony on how their marriage where restored by Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack i pick his email and i narrated my story to him and he agreed to help me and after performing a spell on the second day both of them had a quarrel and he beat his girlfriend up and he came home begging for me and our little kids to forgive him that his eyes are clear now that he will never do any thing that will hurt his family again and promise to be a caring father and never cheat again. I am so happy that i did not loose him to the girl. all appreciation goes to Chief Nwaluta Mallam Zack for he is a Great spell caster and to whom this may concern if you have a cheating husband or wife or you need your ex lover back again. you can as well email him on { Nwalutaspelltemple@gmail.com } and this man made me to understand that there are only 8 real spell caster in Africa.
ReplyDeleteI am Maria David from Spain When I eventually found testimonies about this spell caster DR OJEKERE how he helped many people to get their lovers and broken homes back,I read on how help some get pregnant, Lottery, even heal any type of disease i contacted him through his email address greatestlovespelltemple@gmail.com because my boyfriend whom i really love with all my heart and also love me too, but suddenly change and turned his back on me and hated me with passion I was absolutely desperate to get my boyfriend back. Life without my boyfriend was a real mess for me and my parent I wanted a dramatic change and I thought magic could be the solution. After discussing the resolution with DR OJEKERE, he gave me hope that he will restore my relationship back because he already engaged me. I felt confident that he will actually make my boyfriend to return home and he did! It’s fantastic what this great spell caster have done for me, his help is priceless! I don't know what I would have done without DR OJEKERE. did his job so well he is organized and highly functional, i believe he is the best spell caster i can count on when it comes to all kinds of spell, I was floored that his spells worked, if you need help, contact he via email:Again his email address is greatestlovespelltemple@gmail.com I assure you things will turn around for you
ReplyDeleteI just read this article and it reminded me of you. Not that I think you need help with anything - it's obvious you've sorted everything out yourself, but more for when you work as a Social Worker and try to help others.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ldsliving.com/Surviving-a-Faith-Crisis-with-the-Help-of-Church-Members/s/80563?utm_source=ldsliving&utm_medium=email
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ReplyDeleteHey guys! How to get your ex lover back fast!! What a great joy in my heart and i thank Dr.Unity for bring back my lost boyfriend after he left me and for another Girl. I’m Angela Miranda from UK a banker by Profession, After being in relationship with Brown for 3 years,he broke up with me, I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to someone online and she suggested that I should contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that don't believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I search for real and powerful spell caster and i came across a website that suggested that Dr.Unity can help get ex back fast and stop a divorce or breakup and so on , So I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he told me what to do and i did it then he did a (return Love spell) for me. 28 hours later, my boyfriend( Brown )came back to me crying and begging for my forgiveness. Today I'm so happy and i want to recommend this great spell caster to anyone that truly needs an urgent solution to his or her broken relationships and marriage. Simply contact the great "Dr.Unity" If you have any problem contact him and i guarantee you that he will help you., email him at: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com ,you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348071622464 ,you can also visit his website:http://unityspelltemple.yolasite.com .
ReplyDelete