Vitriolic Reviews: Half the Sky

 I read this book for my feminist bookclub (which seems currently incapable of picking a time to actually sit down and discuss it). So instead I will have some thoughts about it for the invisible masses of the internet. Or something.

My initial reaction to this book was two-fold. I find it extremely useful that the authors make every effort to get readers off their bums and doing something, even tiny little somethings, to help women all over the planet. One thing this book does well: condemn the low priority assigned to developing and ensuring women's health, economic well being, and educational opportunities around the world. The amount of money that is donated towards women and young girls around the world pales in comparison to say the 1.5 BILLION dollars spent on Abstinence Until Marriage  Sex 'Education' in the United States. Immediately it makes the facts about the status of women (read: shitty, as always) worldwide and gives you immediate ways to help out.

The Feminist Soapbox

How much are we obligated, as feminists, to remind our friends about certain sexist realities?

Yesterday I found myself talking to a close (male) friend about the strange work politics at the non-profit where he works. We got involved in a discussion about the gender balance on the board. He mentioned that there is only one woman and we joked (sadly) about how it was too bad that she happened to be white and straight because they had missed out on really getting a token showfigure in her. It's always important to display your one female, non-white, non-straight etc. etc. to prove that the company is not homophobic, or sexist, or racist or any ist that you feel like calling them out on. It's important to be pc after all. My friend certainly understands that sexism plays a role in the workplace.