The Radical Potential of Getting in the Way
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A renowned feminist thinker argues we need to get in the way of happiness, our own and other people's, to build a more just world Do you refuse to laugh at offensive jokes? Have you ever been accused of ruining dinner by pointing out your companion's sexist comment? Are you often told to stop being so "woke"? If so, you might be a feminist killjoy--and this handbook is for you. In this book, feminist theorist Sara Ahmed shows how killing joy can be a radical world-making project. Presenting sharp analysis of literature, film, and influential feminist works, and drawing on her own experiences as a queer feminist scholar-activist of color, Ahmed reveals the invaluable lessons of the feminist killjoy, from the importance of asking questions to the power of the eye roll. The Feminist Killjoy Handbook offers an outstretched hand to feminist killjoys everywhere and an essential intellectual guide to the transformative power of getting in the way.
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I picked this up off the new books shelf at the library bc I was like “yeah! great cover! great title!” but I think this is more aimed at an academic audience and semi-specifically a British academic audience? Like despite the way that it's formatted into “killjoy truths” and little Buzzfeed like segments there's like a lot of Judith Butler quotes and discussions of phenomenology that left me dazed and confused. Like I'm a well-educated person but also I intentionally did not choose to pursue a career in academia. For me I would have preferred to just read like a zine or Buzzfeed summary of this. But still some very important ideas and validating phrases in here for sure.