How Hot is Feminist Theory? 2015 Recommendations

Around a month or so ago, I recommend some classics, so to speak, from my favourite feminist heroines. As somebody who is a lover of feminist theory, I want nothing more than to see it become more frequent in popular culture and see more of you lovely readers tip-toeing out of their comfort zones into the world of Feminist Theory. Therefore, when we created this blog, I decided that every few months (or every month) I would share what I'm looking forward to. 

Firstly, I'm highlighting these beautiful republications of some of the best feminist works. At £4.99 each, these extracts are perfect for beginners wanting a taste of theory and look adorable on your shelves! I've read Wolf's The Beauty Myth a few years ago and it was a fantastic read and really opened my eyes to some underlying ideas (esp. in advertisement marketing.)

Next is Rebecca Solnit's Men Explain Things to Me which is out September 1st in the US and is already out in the UK! This is by far one of the top titles on my to-buy list for the year. 

Rebecca Solnit's essay 'Men Explain Things to Me' has become a touchstone of the feminist movement, inspired the term 'mansplaining', and established Solnit as one of the leading feminist thinkers of our time - one who has inspired everyone from radical activists to Beyonce Knowles. Collected here in print for the first time is the essay itself, along with the best of Solnit's feminist writings. From rape culture to mansplaining, from French sex scandals to marriage and the nuclear family, from Virginia Woolf to colonialism, these essays are a fierce and incisive exploration of the issues that a patriarchal culture will not necessarily acknowledge as 'issues' at all. With grace and energy, and in the most exquisite and inviting of prose, Rebecca Solnit proves herself a vital leading figure of the feminist movement and a radical, humane thinker.

Thirdly, we have Hot Feminist by Polly Vernon out in a tiny 35 days! The idea of modern feminist is fascinating for me and this seems like a great read for young women who may feel that feminism is outdated and does not apply to them.  

Hot (adj.) : (Of a person) Attractive 'a hot chick' Fem-i-n-ist (n.) : A person who supports feminism, the movement that advocates equal rights for women Polly Vernon, Grazia columnist, Times feature writer (hair-flicker, Brazilian-waxer, jeans obsessive, outrageous flirt) presents a brave new perspective on feminism. Drawing on her dedicated, life-long pursuit of hotness - having dismissed many of the rules on 'good' feminism at some point in the early 90s - she'll teach you everything you ever wanted to know about being a feminist when you care about how you look. When part of your brain is constantly monologuing on fashion. When you check out your own reflection in every reflective surface. When your depilation practices are pretty much out of control. When you just really want to be fancied. Hot Feminist is based on a principle of non-judgment (because there's enough already), honesty about how often we mess this up, and empowerment through looks. Part memoir, part road map, it's a rolling, raucous rejection of all those things we're convinced we shouldn't think / wear/ feel/ say/ buy/ want - and a celebration of all the things we can. It is modern feminism, with style, without judgment.

Lastly, we have Do it Like a Woman: ... And Change the World by Caroline Criado-Perez. This hits shelves in 21 days and talks of how being a woman changes everyday. 

Every day, all around the world, women are reinventing what it means to be female in cultures where power, privilege or basic freedoms are all too often equated with being male. Here, Caroline Criado-Perez, one of the most vocal and tenacious campaigners of her generation, introduces us to some of these pioneering women. We meet the first woman to cross the Antarctic alone; we meet a female fighter pilot in Afghanistan; we meet a climate change activist who scaled new heights; we meet a Chilean revolutionary turned politician; we meet the Russian punks who rocked out against Putin; and we meet the Iranian journalist who dared to uncover her hair.

Comment below and let me know if you've read any of these and if there's anything you're looking forward to this year!