Social Justice Literature

[PsychicTaco115]

So I read this book called The Heart of Whiteness

Spoiler: Said book

Overall, I think it was a good read about said privilege and whatnot

So I was wondering if there were any other books about social justice; feminism, racism, etc.

Before anyone recommends it, I'VE also read The Feminine Mystique. I dunno if it's something that needs to be said but why not?

 

[Pink Gregory]

The Female Eunuch?

I really don't know.

 

[JoJo]

Well, if you're looking for another book about racism, I hear Mein Kampf is pretty well known. Apparently not as well written as you might expect however.

 

[Euryalus]

Well, if you're looking for another book about racism, I hear Mein Kampf is pretty well known. Apparently not as well written as you might expect however.

Hitler was as bad at writing as he was good at oratory if Mein Kampf is any indicator.

OT: There's a good book about Feminism and its relation to islam written by Fatima Mernissi. It's called The veil and the male elite.

It's pretty interesting... also the only book I can think that you'd be looking for?

...Maybe?

Also, are you actually going to read these? You never read Meditations when I recommended it xD

 

[Eamar]

It's not so academic, but I can definitely recommend Fifty Shades of Feminism. It's not so much a discussion of feminism, rather fifty women from all sorts of different backgrounds and walks of life each writing a few pages about their interpretation of feminism. The first chapter is actually by a woman in the games industry, so it's doubly relevant.

It's really good for hammering home just how personal feminism is and how many different interpretations there are. No one person is likely to agree with every chapter, but it's a great reminder of how you are completely free to make your own version, which is what the editors are trying to encourage.

The book that first really got me interested in feminism and aware of its history was an anthology of feminist writing, including extracts from important feminist writers such as Simone de Beauvoir, Virginia Woolfe and Patricia Hill Collins, along with some commentary and historical context for each. Unfortunately I can't find the exact book, but there are millions of similar volumes out there if that's something you'd be interested in - just Google "feminist anthology" or "anthology of feminism".

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

If you want a really interesting take on feminism, one of my favorite empowerment books is The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune. She was an occultist of the early 20th century and wrote about women not so much from a sisterhood point of view (like modern feminism) but from an internally driven self-awareness of the power of one's femininity. She was heavily influenced by Carl Jung so, in essence, her writing speaks of reconnecting women to the Goddess archetype.

In contrast to some forms of feminism, Dion Fortune illustrates how men can benefit from confident women who unabashedly use their feminine mystique to their advantage. It's obviously not a sexless feminism - quite the opposite, in fact. VERY much the opposite.

Overall, The Sea Priestess is an interesting look at early feminism. The only drawback is that the book's meaning (as I described above) is delivered through heavy allegory. Fortune's brand of spiritual-sexual feminism was rooted in occultist philosophies, and groups like hers didn't operate above ground for fear of prosecution under Britain's then-enforceable Witchraft Act of 1735. The last person prosecuted under the act, which was repealed in 1951, was Helen Duncan in 1944. Though the courts only dug up a minor provision of the Act to convict her on counts of fraudulent mediumship, her case lends credence to the fear that occultist groups had of prosecution in Dion Fortune's time.

--------------------

Regarding Mein Kampf, I think it's safe to say that Hitler had a knack for writing as Van Gogh had an ear for painting.

 

[Harpalyce]

It's only an essay, but I'd always recommend "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh. It's a quick read and it's one of those things good to have in your arsenal, so to speak, and it's easily available online. In fact, jpz719, here it is: https://www.isr.umich.edu/home/diversity/resources/white-privilege.pdf This will explain the exact point that you're, uh, kinda making but still happens to be wrong, lol.

 

[flying_whimsy]

Regarding Mein Kampf, I think it's safe to say that Hitler had a knack for writing as Van Gogh had an ear for painting.

Your post was really informative and definitely gave me some things to add to my reading list, but that last comment had me laughing until my sides hurt.

OT: I had the benefit of having a fairly open-minded upbringing combined with a ludicrously self-aware collegiate community, so I've been in an egalitarian camp since I knew what equal rights actually meant. I have a hard time getting into the literature or rhetoric around the issue because I either get really pissed off at how poorly treated people can be and have to stop, or I butt heads with some overzealous person that would prefer to take away my rights as a way of somehow teaching me a lesson.

I do feel social justice literature should be required reading; however, it's just hard to sort out the truly good stuff from the hateful stuff. Then again, I also feel that the first step to eliminating some of the systemic discrimination would be to ban college fraternities and sororities.

 

[shootthebandit]

To be brutally honest im getting bored of this now. Every second thread is about racism (granted I made a few recently so im a bit hypocritical) and sexism.

I think we could fit the whole social justice rhetoric into a small pamphlet that says "dont be a dick" maybe with a few extra bits such as "you see that person with different coloured skin, dont be a dick to them", "you know that guy who goes to a different church, or actually visits a church, or doesnt follow any religion. Dont be a dick to them because they have different beliefs". "You see that women over there shes not just a 'fuck bag' (that sounds a bit harsh but its relevant) maybe get to know her instead of just wanting to bang her". "You see that guy, he isnt just a sperm donor or an ATM. Maybe you should get to know him first"

Social justice without the needless tedium. If ive not covered all of the bases them simply use the same format "you see that [insert reason why person is different and associated stereotype] dont be a dick to them because the are different for [insert aforementioned reason]"

In essence "dont be a dick". Use google and actually look up different cultures and dont rely on the daily mail or fox news for your information. Also dont use someones devotion to you for your person gain (in fairness of equality women are just as bad for using men as men are to women)

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I must say, Taco, this thread is much more fun if it's read in the same tone of endless dripping sarcasm as your Fedora and Friendzone threads.

I especially like the "Literature" bit.

 

[Darren716]

To be brutally honest im getting bored of this now. Every second thread is about racism (granted I made a few recently so im a bit hypocritical) and sexism.

I think we could fit the whole social justice rhetoric into a small pamphlet that says "dont be a dick" maybe with a few extra bits such as "you see that person with different coloured skin, dont be a dick to them", "you know that guy who goes to a different church, or actually visits a church, or doesnt follow any religion. Dont be a dick to them because they have different beliefs". "You see that women over there shes not just a 'fuck bag' (that sounds a bit harsh but its relevant) maybe get to know her instead of just wanting to bang her". "You see that guy, he isnt just a sperm donor or an ATM. Maybe you should get to know him first"

Social justice without the needless tedium. If ive not covered all of the bases them simply use the same format "you see that [insert reason why person is different and associated stereotype] dont be a dick to them because the are different for [insert aforementioned reason]"

In essence "dont be a dick". Use google and actually look up different cultures and dont rely on the daily mail or fox news for your information. Also dont use someones devotion to you for your person gain (in fairness of equality women are just as bad for using men as men are to women)

*slow claps* Someone give this person a medal I think they just solved all of these "issues". I remember back when most of the gaming threads on this site weren't about how Ubisoft are horrible people for not including a female character, hell right now I'm looking at the list of the top 5 most commented articles, numbers 1 and 2 are about the Assassin's Creed Unity fiasco, number three is a video about link being a female which contained numerous potshots at Ubisoft, and number four is about men's rights activists (and surprise surprise three of the four I mentioned were written by Jim Sterling or Moviebob. This site, and much of society in general really needs to stop complaining about how one group of people might be more "privileged" than another instead of actually doing something about it by trying to work at improving their position. It's because of people like this that social justice warriors like Anita were able to waste so much of people's time and money simply by playing to their quilt and by acting like victims, then low and behold when they try and present proof they disable all ways of communication so that people can't call them out. Now let me get one thing straight, I'm all for equality across the board, I just feel that many SJW's take it way to far and try to make people feel guilty for either things they can't control, things that happened hundreds of years ago, or things that are so minute and meaningless.

 

[someperson1984]

I'd hardly call this book academia. Saying someone is born with some inherent responsibility or advantage for the simple reason they're white is the exact same racism as saying someone is born with an inherent disadvantage because they're black, or asian, or whatever.

Saying someone has a societal advantage or disadvantage because of their race or gender isn't racism or sexism, but rather an acknowledgement of the pressures and prejudices ingrained in people by a society that still hasn't fully moved on from its history of open and accepted discrimination. It's not really the fault of a child born white and male that, in general, American culture will treat them better than someone who is a woman/person of color. It's just the way the system was set up by men long dead, and we as a society need to learn to move past it.

 

[epicdwarf]

Why read books? Books are made by the WHITE PRIVILEGED to brainwash you into THINKING. The ONLY thing that should be read is tumblr social justice blogs. Join the tumblr social gorilla forces and STOP these white republican rich ableist racist transphobic homophobic xenophobic ziest nazis for DARE having a different opinion than US. Macklemore and his totally not anti-Semitic costumes will LEAD THE WAY!

 

[geK0]

To be brutally honest im getting bored of this now. Every second thread is about racism (granted I made a few recently so im a bit hypocritical) and sexism.

I think we could fit the whole social justice rhetoric into a small pamphlet that says "dont be a dick" maybe with a few extra bits such as "you see that person with different coloured skin, dont be a dick to them", "you know that guy who goes to a different church, or actually visits a church, or doesnt follow any religion. Dont be a dick to them because they have different beliefs". "You see that women over there shes not just a 'fuck bag' (that sounds a bit harsh but its relevant) maybe get to know her instead of just wanting to bang her". "You see that guy, he isnt just a sperm donor or an ATM. Maybe you should get to know him first"

Social justice without the needless tedium. If ive not covered all of the bases them simply use the same format "you see that [insert reason why person is different and associated stereotype] dont be a dick to them because the are different for [insert aforementioned reason]"

In essence "dont be a dick". Use google and actually look up different cultures and dont rely on the daily mail or fox news for your information. Also dont use someones devotion to you for your person gain (in fairness of equality women are just as bad for using men as men are to women)

Give this man a nobel prize! he just single handedly abolished sexism and racism!
Good job, friend!

 

[Thyunda]

I'd hardly call this book academia. Saying someone is born with some inherent responsibility or advantage for the simple reason they're white is the exact same racism as saying someone is born with an inherent disadvantage because they're black, or asian, or whatever.

Then evidently you don't understand what white privilege is. White people in America and in the UK are born with the advantage of being part of the ruling majority (even if they're the minority in numbers) and so will go about life without the chance of being discriminated against for their colour. Black people in the US are disadvantaged because there are a lot of people, some of whom are in life-altering positions of power, who don't like it when people are black.

 

[shootthebandit]

*slow claps* Someone give this person a medal I think they just solved all of these "issues"

Not sure if slow clap is sarcastic or approving, or if medal is gold or chocolate?