Jade Keller

I was so excited to come across this reading challenge the other day. Having just finished reading the work of Inga Muscio, I decided to challenge myself to read only works by women for an entire year. I especially wanted to try to pick up books by women of color. But I had just finished reading Alice Sebold’s memoir Lucky and her novel The Lovely Bones, and was thinking I’d like some structure to my reading list when I came across this challenge. From November 1, 2009 to November 30, 2010, the Women Unbound challenge asks us to read both fiction and non-fiction works by women. The mission is to encourage “the multi-disciplinary study of the social status and societal contributions of women and the relationship between power and gender.” I’m going for the Suffragette level: to read at least eight books, where at least three of which are non-fiction. Since I go through about a book a week (thanks to my new bus-riding habits), I think I should be able to manage this!

I’m most excited because not only do I have a stack of fabulous new books and ideas before me, I am relishing the opportunity to discuss what I’m reading with my fellow sisters.

To start off the challenge, the organizers have posed the following three questions, which I’ve answered here:

1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?

To me, feminism is about achieving not only equality, but also liberty: the freedom to be who you are and choose the life you wish to lead, to offer your own unique contribution to the world. It involves both work and home, as well as social interactions with others – not the least of which, other women. I advocate women supporting women, rather than judging them, as we are often wont to do. I suppose it does have to do with the way we dress and act, though I’m not for affecting any particular style of clothing as long as it is comfortable and makes you feel good about yourself, or behavior as long it is true to your values and does not harm others.

2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

The term is so loaded these days, and I’m not sure I consciously apply that label to myself. I’m a ‘humanist’, I guess. I don’t support one race or gender over another, but seek to promote inclusion and understanding, so that we might all understand our need of each other. As Desmond Tutu once said, “I am, because other people are.” I’m a ‘thoughtist’ in the sense that I advocate thoughtfulness, not only in understanding others, but also in understanding ourselves.

3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?

Wow, there are so many challenges. But I suppose they all reduce to this one thing: fear. Fear that we are not good enough, fear that we cannot do as well as someone else, fear that someone else will see our faults, fear for our loved ones, fear of rape, fear to stand up against oppression, fear of being the only one left standing. It changes and morphs over time, but the root is the same.

So, on that note, here are some of the books I’m thinking I’ll pick up:
Fiction:
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
Beloved – Toni Morrison
The Pakistani Bride – Bapsi Sidhwa
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society – Mary Ann Shaffer
Alias Grace – Margaret Atwood
The Red Tent – Anita Diamant
The Book of A Thousand Days – Shannon Hale
Born Confused – Tanuja Desai Hidier

Non-fiction:
Deals with the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot – Pearl Cleage
Woman Native Other – Trinh T. Minh-ha
Ain’t I a Woman? – bell hooks (or maybe: Feminism is for Everybody)
The Sum of Our Days: A Memoir – Isabel Allende

I’m sure I’ll be adding to and amending this list as I look more closely at the books (and spend more time perusing the bookshelves). But it’s a start! And as I finish reading them, I’ll post my reviews and thoughts here on Tasting Grace.

Please join the Women Unbound challenge too! I look forward to discussing all these things with you! The Philogynist level only requires two books. Two books! In one whole year. You can do that.