Feminism from A-Z

Summary: Feminism from A-Z is a beginner’s guide for anything and everything feminism. It discusses the concepts of sexism both in history and in the current day, feminism, and how to be an intersectional feminist. Aimed specifically at teens, the story outlines how feminism is relevant to their lives and different actions they can take to combat sexism in their everyday lives. 

Critical Evaluation: While most people would claim that they believe men and women should be treated equally, our society is still steeped in sexism, gender roles, and the power of the patriarchy. The sooner that young adults learn about the grip these practices have on all people and the negative ways in which we are all affected, the sooner they can start to question circumstances in their own lives and make better decisions not only for themselves, but for the world. Feminism from A-Z is the perfect place to start. 

Because the book is directed at teens, it uses language and metaphors that they can understand. It does so by urging teens to examine what has been taught to them throughout childhood, and by introducing concepts that may be new to them such as intersectionality and privilege. The “A-Z” format of the book allows those reading to focus on one subject at a time, or flip back and forth between the chapters that interest them. 

Gayle E. Pitman’s use of evidence helps to back up her arguments and also allows teens to see real life examples of both sexism and feminism. She uses items like news articles, magazine clippings, art, literature, celebrity experiences, advertisements, historical events, and more to make what she’s figuratively discussing become literal. Not only does this help convey her themes, but it also breaks up the text and gives the reader something else to consider or look at. Each chapter contains a “try this” section that has activities listed for teens to take part in to connect more deeply with the content. These include exercises to combat body negativity, toxic masculinity, and more. The types of exercises vary, so young adults are sure to find something that appeals to them whether they enjoy writing, art, reflection, or other activities.

Throughout the book as well as at the end, Pitman provides resources for further reading and studying. Teens who enjoyed the book and want to learn more about feminism are then well equipped to get started after reading this straightforward, information-full guidebook. 

Reader’s Annotation: Feminism from A-Z is the perfect beginner’s guidebook for any teen wondering about how to be a feminist and fight back against sexism.