JAnais Holland

Feminism Annotated Bibliography

RWS 1301

Adichie, C. N. (2013, April 12). We Should All Be Feminists [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc
Although a lot of the ideas and experiences in this talk are based off of a completely
different culture, many of the experiences are still very similar and still extremely relatable. This
supports my community problem because it shows that feminism is needed everywhere and
sexist mindsets are still a very real mindset all over the world in numerous countries. This
explains the very basic ideas of how women are oppressed just for being women and their
expectations as a gender.
Bates, L. (2014, January 17). Everyday Sexism [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhjsRjC6B8U
This video in particular supports my community problem because it explains first hand
experiences that many women go through having to deal with everyday sexism. Whether it range
from cat calling, invasions of personal space, or the ignoring of a very serious problem dealing
with harassment or assault, this video highlights all of those points and also emphasizes that
those incidents happen so often that they begin to become normalized and fewer people are
speaking up about them on the daily. Not only does it provide many numbers, but it also provides
real life examples as well. Although this is based in the UK, that is just another reminder and
example as to how equality and feminism are needed everywhere and that these unequal acts
happen on the daily in many different countries. This helps to bring awareness to various
audiences and provides many examples of everyday sexism.
Berlatsky, N. (2014, June 5). Can Men Really Be Feminists? The Atlantic. Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/06/men-can-be-feminists-too/372234/
This article also supports my community problem because it is also being told from the
viewpoint of a man saying that men can be feminists. This excerpt really gets the point across
that feminism or equality of the genders is beneficial for both genders. Whether it comes to the
empowerment of a gender or the belittling of another gender, Berlatsky really touches on points
that are sure to hit home with a lot of people. This helps with my topic because it shows those
men who dont think feminism is for them, exactly why feminism is for them. Also, it highlights
the coming together of genders in a different way than that of a few other articles.
C Morris. (2011, November 14). A degree in sexism [Web log comment]. Retrieved from
http://www.thefword.org.uk/2011/11/a_degree_in_sexism/

This article coincides with my community problem because it presents examples that
many people are familiar with. Whether addressing catcalling, invasions of personal space, or
sexist jokes, this article really brings different experiences from different people all together. By
shedding light on everyday sexism, this article can help to inform others and be a valid resource
to refer to with any doubts on what feminism can change. Sexism isnt going to stop anytime
soon but with something like this, more people are becoming more aware and they are making
micro changes out in the world. Also, by addressing that the author thought that everyone
thought the same as her in terms of equality of the genders but then later finding out that
feminism is a foreign concept, really highlights the misogyny, gender standards, and sexism that
still continue to this day.
Coates, T. (2013, December 26). Why Im Against Daddy Days. The Atlantic. Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/12/why-im-against-daddy-days/282657/
This article shows a completely different perspective than that of which is usually seen
speaking about a feminist topic. This is written by a stay at home dad who believes that the
taking care of a child should be done equally by both parents. He believes that it is okay to have
the wife be the breadwinner and that it is more than okay to have the woman be the only one
working bringing in more, if not all, of the money for the house. It is expressed that both parents
can split the housework and parenting while still maintaining a normal relationship without the
specific gender roles that have been defined by society.
Cooper, B. (2013, June 28). Dark-Skinned and Plus-Size: The Real Rachel Jeantel Story. Salon.
Retrieved from
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/28/did_anyone_really_hear_rachel_jeantel/
This story supports my community problem because it shows that not only is gender seen
and used as something to set someone apart, but so is race. Feminism is about the equality of
everyone regardless of gender but it would also include race being that feminism is all inclusive.
This article based on a testimony of a colored woman helps to educate the masses on another
aspect of feminism. This sheds light on colored communities regardless of gender. This also
allows people to see the kind of discrimination that is still occurring today out in the real world.
Gay, R., (2012, September 22). Bad Feminist. VQR A National Journal of Literature and
Discussion. Volume 88. Retrieved from http://www.vqronline.org/essay/bad-feminist
This journal supports my community topic because it discusses some basic ideas of
feminism. But, this article also shows how even though some people are feminists, they are not
perfect feminists. This goes into the depths of how there are so many different categories when it
comes to feminism and how each of those can be filled. Of course this article also discusses

some of the misconceptions feminism has to it. Although someone may not be the perfect
feminist, it is better to be a feminist than not a feminist at all.
Gay, R. (2015, June 22). Confessions of a Bad Feminist [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxt_MZKMdes
Now this talk highlights all of the beliefs a feminist has but how a feminist can find it
hard to be a perfect feminist in this would. It shows very real examples of how anyone who
defines themselves as a feminist can still struggle to be 100% because of certain things society
throws at them. It stresses basic ideas of equal pay for equal work, safety of womens own being,
and it is all inclusive because without inclusion, feminism is nothing.
Gay, R. (2013, July 5). What Men Want, America Delivers. Salon. Retrieved from
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/05/what_men_want_america_delivers/
When it comes to how women are portrayed and looked at in society, the music industry
plays a very large role in that. This article is the proof of that. All of the musical examples given
in this article are from artists who are well known and reach massive audiences. This makes it
much easier for the messages in each song to come across and to alter the worlds view of
women. What men want, America delivers and a huge part of that is the music industry.
Green, L. (2014, April 23). Why Im A Feminist [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwJRFClybmk
This relates to my community problem by very openly stating all of the basic problems as
to why feminism is needed throughout the world. This video highlights many unknown facts and
sheds light on many practices and beliefs that are still being used today that continue to set both
women and men back. While pointing out facts such as the pay gap or how boys and girls are
raised and taught differently, it also points less obvious things such as the government
regulations on a females body versus regulations on a males body. This alone can help to shed
light on the very basic concept of feminism because it speaks the very real truth. My community
problem is to educate the unknown on what feminism is and this video can absolutely do that on
its own.
Kay, J. (2014). 7 Reasons Why 2014 Was a Great Year for Feminism. Feminist.com. Retrieved
from http://www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/genwom/7reasons.html
This article completely supports my semester topic because it gives seven very basic but
gigantic reasons as to why feminism is making a breakthrough. This breakthrough ranges from
sexual assaults finally being recognized in a court of law to some celebrities with large fan bases
reaching out and really educating the public on what feminism is. Not only that, but many people

came together in order to share their experiences of sexism and misogyny and to really spread
the word. There is no better way for this community project to have some light shed upon it
rather than to have so many different experiences and so many breakthroughs already, making
the process of getting the word out much easier for my project.
Kimmel, M. (2015, October 6). Why Gender Equality is Good for Everyone - Men Included
[Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n9IOH0NvyY
This video backs up my community problem by explaining why gender equality is good
for everyone, men included. In this talk, the speaker highlights points that make it more
acceptable for men to be okay with being feminists and points that make it more obvious that
women should already be feminists. While having a little twist on it as a privileged white male,
Kimmel gives examples of experiences hes had with other feminists which involve things like
race and privilege. Also, it is made a point that when a man says something, it automatically
becomes more factual and acceptable as compared to when a woman says it. This talk promotes
the idea of feminism, coming from a males perspective, and shows that gender equality really is
beneficial for everyone.
Leonard, S. (Winter 2013). The New Feminism. Dissent. Retrieved from
https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/introduction-new-feminism
This article supports the community problem of educating the unaware on feminism
because it addresses some basic points of feminism and how it is needed today. This article also
addresses how women have been and are still being held back in the workforce in todays time as
well. In particular, this article focuses on the most modern form of feminism. That has to do with
equality in the workplace and it also focuses on the future of women by bringing about ideas and
facts from the now. To focus on the pay gap, or the basic idea of being underpaid for a certain
amount of work and how women can advance in the workplace, this article touches on all of that.
Mabuse, N. (2011, July 27). Breast Ironing Tradition Targeted in Cameroon. CNN. Retrieved
from http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/27/cameroon.breast.ironing/
This absolutely supports the community topic of feminism because it shows a prime
example of how women are at a major disadvantage in society. Although this is not a practice in
the United States, it is still relevant because the general public should know how women are
treated worldwide in order for the idea of feminism and equality to fully register and for a
change to begin. In this article in particular, the practice of breast ironing is done to young girls
in order to make them less desirable to boys. Girls are physically mutilated in order to prevent
further assault or attention from happening to them. This supports my community topic by
widening the range of people the topic can appeal to as well as widening the audience that it hits
on an emotional level.

Shire, E. (2014, July 24). You Dont Hate Feminism You Just Dont Understand It. The Daily
Beast. Retrieved from http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/24/youdon-t- hate-feminism-you-just-don-t-understand-it.html
This newspaper article supports my community problem in the fact that it highlights very
basic misconceptions that come with feminism by addressing a certain anti-feminist blog. In that
blog, women are addressing reasons that they dont need feminism in a very uneducated and
misinformed way. However, in this article, rather than bashing the ignorant blog, the author takes
a positive outlook and takes the opportunity to begin to inform both men and women about the
concept of feminism and how it is beneficial for everybody. Also, it questions common sense
concepts for those non feminists such as, voting rights, body owning rights, liberation, equal pay,
and a few more to really bring into perspective the positive side of feminism. This article is an
advocate for the idea of feminism and it does not allow the negatives from anti-feminist
movements define, but lets it guide them.