Listen Up: a review

In Barbara Findlen’s book, Listen Up: voices from the next feminist generation, Findlen combines multiple essays from different young feminists to give an insight into the multiplicity and complexity of womanhood. Many of the feminist writers she sources come from different backgrounds. There are essays from writers with experiences with race and ethnicity, sexuality, sexual violence, and the workplace. Similarly, she includes essays about beauty standards, religion, diversity, tradition, and politics. Findlen uses this combination of essays to allow young feminists to have a voice and a way to express themselves within the world. Barbara Findlen’s Listen Up: voices from the next feminist generation must be read by anyone who considers themselves a feminist. Barbara Findlen examines feminism throughout time and realizes, “we do not yet live in a society where each child is free to become his or her best self. This is our unfinished business” (Findlen xvii). For each young feminist out there who does not feel that they are represented within the media or the feminist movement, Listen Up is a great read. The book is controversial and non-traditional, which suits the new wave feminists and the modern feminist movement in America. Personally, when I read the book, while I could not finish the entire thing, I found myself wanting to stop time and read more. The essays were shocking and controversial and talked about all of the things school has taught me not to talk about. If you consider yourself a feminist, if you want to read something refreshing and different, read Listen Up.