I need a topic for my feminist book review!

[starlight235]

I have to write a book review essay on either 2 books or 1 book and a few articles that has helped in understanding feminism from 1790's-1940's. I would like to take a religious angle but I am having a hard time getting a focused topic. Any suggestions would be great!

[Rosetta]

Does it have to cover the whole period or can you narrow it down?

If the. latter how about the Suffragette Movement.

Vera Brittain's Testament of Youth is quite interesting, she put her feminism to practical use (Vera Brittain is the mother of Shirley Williams Ex Lib/ Dem MP and now in the House of Lords so there might be scope to compare and contrast)

Good luck!!

[jno]

I don't think religion has had a whole lot to do with feminism over the years, excapt when feminists denounced Christianity and the church as patriarchal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_theology

http://www.users.csbsju.edu/~eknuth/xpxx/index .html

[starlight235]

Religion is actually its own section in my course and that's what really got me interested.

Religion was one of the main things that started the first wave feminism - that and lack of education.

Men were using the Bible to prove that women were inferior and so women got angry and either denounced Christianity or many just chose to give it a new interpretation- much of which is accepted even today.

Rosetta- thanks for your suggestion! Unfortunately I can't use it though as there are already three people in my class doing that exact topic.

[ailie]

That period covers Crimea & WW1, what about the opportunities taken by women when men were fighting.

[Sgt.Rock]

Good point allie. To balance the arguement, maybe your essay could cover why feminists were allowed to stay at home when men were sent to their slaughter.

[Rosetta]

Ok, how about taking it a bit further back and using examples of the work of the Quakers. They were prominent in social reform in their time and there were some women among them active in the reform movementseg Elizabeth Fry.
It would depend how you define feminism, in a way Quakers were more to do with poverty and social class, but certainly the work of women like Elizabeth Fry was was considered unwomanly, as was of course the work of Florence Nightingale. Whilst they didnt have the tag of feminism, they were putting into practice the idea that women could do other things than just sit at home and do needlework.

Female novelists also bucked the trends of social norms. George Eliot had to use a male nom de plume to get published.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Ps, whilst not wishing to sound harsh, when you get to uni you will be expected to come up with ideas like this for yourself. Have more confidence, you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[starlight235]

Actually I am in university and I have come up with my own idea as of yesterday. I was just was looking for interesting ideas that might spark an idea for my project.

And not to meaning to sound harsh in return, but it isn't very constructive to anyone to criticize people for asking for help on a site designed for just that.

Although it is a much too common thing on any website like this. And it is even more common to get much more so snide or rude remarks just for asking an innocent question.

I appreciate the suggestions everyone has given and for not giving any such angry remarks. It is a rarity to not encounter even one person who has nothing entirely negative to say especially on a topic as controversial as feminism.

[Rosetta]

PPS please note my final sentence encouraging you to have more confidence in yourself.
My apologies if I implied anything else.