This book leaves the reader saying, " I am a feminist. I swear".  What you expect to get when you read Jessica Valenti's book is just what the title suggests, "Full frontal feminism!"...no buts no ifs and no apologies whatsoever for naming yourself as a feminist. When you read it you understand why she also calls it a young woman's guide to why feminism matters. It helps those that are on the path to understanding feminism, to not only understand feminism but also relate to why it is important to be one or recognise that you are one but has been using excuses to say that you are not. In my opinion, full frontal feminism is a must-read for all young women out there whose (mis)understandings on feminism are informed by backlash than the actual feminist movement or what feminism really stands for. Valenti is not afraid to tell it as it is and brings out the sassiness that lots of young women would identify with while at the same time injecting us with a dose that makes you want to get up and start doing something about injustices against women. Reading this book felt like taking a refresher course on feminism. It is definitely a fantastic and solid intro to feminism for young women as Hernandez (Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism) asserts in her review. Some things shocked me but most of the time reading it just made me laugh! 

Valenti is sincere in her introduction of the book that she does not offer all answers. In fact, the book provides the reader an opportunity to refelct on lots of issues that continue to happen thus making the world miserable. As a young woman, it makes you realize that there is so much to do to make this world a better place for everyone - espeially our sisters, daughters, mothers and all those that have been subjected to any form of discrimination for being female or other choices they have made. She acknowledges that Full Frontal Feminism is not exhaustive of all things feminist but her take and invitation to young women to embrace feminism for everything it gives to and does for women. I agree with her that there is a lot of feminism out there - you need to check it out. Valenti shares her beliefs in this book which for me read like a simple personal charter that any person can develop and live by. Those beliefs though bring out what has been considered as feminist principles. The book demystifies and brings feminism closer home to young women. Full Frontal Feminism is witness to the fact that lots of young women do not have enough sources of information teaching them and showing them how great feminism is.

You may be wondering about why feminism matters or what makes it cool. I will just give you a glimpse of what you are likely to find in Full Frontal Feminism and what you may be missing by not being a feminist. Are you still wondering about Femi-what? Ok, Valenti talks about the sterotypes about feminism and the fact that there are also many definitions of feminism all of which I also agree can be quite confusing. She goes on to quote a dictionary definition: fem-i-nism - 1)Belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes 2) The movement organized around this belief (Valenti, p13). I would like to imagine that anyone reading this review has at some point questioned certain things in society. For instance, that there are parents who prefer to send their boys to school and marry off their daughters so as to use the dowry to pay for the boys' schooling. There are times you see something happening and you just want to get up and do something about it. Perhaps you are thinking that that alone does not make you a feminist. Then my friend, you need to read Full Frontal Feminism. What Valenti asserts is that most young women know that something is off. And even if we know that some things are sexist, we're certainly not ready to say we're feminists (p5). She calls on young women to get past the "I'm not a feminist, but..." stuff. If you are not afraid to name yourself as a feminist you will recognize that "stuff" as soon as you hear it. "I' m not a feminist or anything, but it is unfair that sanitary towels are expensive"...this is the stuff I am referring to and the kind that Valenti talks about.

The Young Women's Leadership Institute is known for a popular shirt that reads: THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE. It is a popular feminist shirt that is found in different countries and within feminist circles. I wear mine with lots of pride. Even President Obama wore one to show his solidarity and commitment to women's rights in the United States. The truth is you never really know what a feminist looks like. The good news is that we are everywhere. The question of how a feminist looks like is central to some of the stereotypes that people have on who is and who is not a feminist. I tell you my sisters, all those are just stereotypes and Valenti addresses that as well. It is a call to be proud of who you are and what you believe in. My daughter has a shirt that reads: Proud to be a girl. Full Frontal Feminism reminds us why we need to be proud of who we are.

Throughout the different chapters of the book, Valenti addresses stereotypes on different aspects of understanding feminism from the media and pop culture, to sexuality and choice, to motherhood and contraception, to sex and pleasure among others. By the way, she also talks about masculity and agrees that men can be feminists. Sexism damages the lives of men in as much as it affects women. Think about it. Each time someone tells a boy not to "throw or hit like a girl" or calling a man a sissy or "pussy"- the not-so-subtle message is that there is something inherently wrong with being a woman. As Valenti asserts, this is a message we could all live without (p196).

I suppose Full Frontal Feminism would not be complete without talking about the herstory of the feminist movement. If you have often wondered about first, second and third wave, you will understand it from a very simple perspective from reading Valenti. Sigh....sigh...!! this movement has come a long way. When people talk about first wave feminism, they are talking about women who fought for the vote. The second wave is probably the most known period in feminist history but also one of the most misrepresented. You may have heard of the famous "bra-burning" campaign and other issues associated with that. Valenti says it is actually a myth, it didn't happen the way it is always presented. This is also the period when so much was done by feminists to fight discrimination and especially create awareness on violence against women. In case you are wondering, the second wave was in the seventies. So girls, where were you then? The third wave is the most exciting for me. I see myself and a lot other young women I know as being part of the third wave in our continent. As Valenti says it also has a "bunch of unsavory stereotypes attached to it." We are supposed to be the "flighty, unserious feminists because we like makeup, wear high heels and talk about pop culture" (p172). Valenti asserts that it may seem silly but this is what makes third wave kind of fabulous. That we are working on the serious issues but also understand that things that do not necessarily seem integral (fashion for instance) are important to us too.

Labelling the feminist periods by waves is based on what happened in the United States of America however feminism is for us too in the Global South. You may be saying oh but those waves do not apply here; we are Africans. Yes, we are Africans - all you need to do is trace the history of resistance to any kind of oppression in Africa; from slavery to colonialism, matters related to globalisation and neocolonialism and the present day forms of violations and discriminations, and you will have your answer. The fact is that most African women were and are still fighting their individual battles and not getting recognition at all.

If you are ready for feminism 101 check out Full Frontal Feminism- you will love it!