Comments on: Feministe Feedback: For a feminist starting over

By: Bianca

Bianca — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:11:51 +0000

I recommend: The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf. It will make her think differently, make her angry (in somewhat of a good way), and make her feel better all at the same time.

By: Glitterina

Glitterina — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:05:55 +0000

I would like to second the recommendation of “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin DeBecker. Many important lessons here… this is one all women should read, whether they have been abused or not.

By: BlueSky

BlueSky — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:25:22 +0000

My fave feminist self help book is probably “Too Good for her own Good: Searching for self and intimacy in important relationships” by Claudia Bepko and Jo-Ann Krestan. I used to co lead empowerment groups based on this book, sort of a feminism 101 with a focus on women’s lives… good stuff! Harriet Lerner’s “The Dance of” series of books have always been good. They are not explicitly feminist, and I haven’t red them thoroughly, but on perusal I also liked “Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men” by Lundy Bancroft and “Getting free” by Ginny Nicarthy.

By: wall-flower

wall-flower — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:22:55 +0000

I like a different bell hooks book (I haven't read Communion) called All About Love. It's clear hooks has actually read a lot of self-help books and is responding to them from a feminist perspective.

By: Han

Han — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:04:41 +0000

Y’all are amazing. Thanks so much for your helpful answers! I really appreciate it. :)

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:10:23 +0000

I'm going to recommend "Self Esteem" by Matthew Mckay. It's not specifically geared towards women, but it's the most comprehensive and effective self-help book on the subject that I've seen so far. Good for your mother for leaving the relationship, and good luck to you both.

By: tiggrrl

tiggrrl — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:52:29 +0000

Try the book “Women and Self-Esteem: Understanding and Improving the Way We Think and Feel About Ourselves” by Linda Tschirhart Sanford & Mary Ellen Donovan. It’s touchy-feely enough to suck her in as a bridge from the Dr. Phil-type stuff.

By: lisa

lisa — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:20:30 +0000

I really like bell hooks’ “Communion: The Female Search for Love”. The tone is a little matronly for me (at age 26), but it reads like a self-help book with a strong shot of feminism. Also it’s really for middle-aged women who’ve already experienced difficult or abusive relationships. Hope it helps.

By: denelian

denelian — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:20:12 +0000

i also suggest that you contact a local women’s shelter or similar organization. not only will they have lots of suggestions as to books, but they tend to have smaller pamphlets and such that are easier to get through and make getting the message easy, and they probably have lots of people who will reinforce those messages easily. also should have lists of GOOD counselors.

By: Auntie

Auntie — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:18:04 +0000

Having not read it in many years (which probably predates my liberal mindset) I can’t say for SURE that it’s totally a feminist book, but it does a lot for empowering divorced women, especially those who were in long-term marriages.

It’s called “Cutting Loose” by Ashton Applewhite…