I appreciate this anthology so much. As a black feminist I find "problematic" things I enjoy in my life and before reading this anthology, I thought there was a need to abstain or purge myself from these things- which is the furthest thing from the truth. I am informed enough to enjoy what I enjoy and still be a feminist. It is all part of my individual experience.

Picked this up at Busboys and Poets on a whim - because I can't be trusted to 'kill time' at a bookstore, okay?An essay collection by a diverse mix of writers, trying to address the diversity of feminism today. The most interesting point was made in one of the introductory essays (or possibly a concluding one?) talking about the collection as a whole. I don't recall which 'big name' feminist was writing, but the point was made that older 2nd wave feminists see some of the 'reactionary' responses...

The greatest gift we can give one another is the power to make a choice. The power to choose is even more important than the choices we make.(from the foreword by gloria steinem)as with any anthology, some pieces are stronger than others, but i really enjoyed this collection. rebecca walker coined the term "third wave," and these essays are largely about the authors making sense of their roles in that new wave of the mid-90s, embracing ambiguity, and challenging the "feminist status quo" with th...

We live in a tricky time as feminists, when in one hand the lives of women and men are full of choices (and feminism was/is all about choices), but it is also a time when I hear the question, "Are you a feminist?" a lot less than I used to hear it. On one hand, feminism is alive everywhere, but on the another, the word itself seems to be slowly withering with the passage of time.Now that I'm taking a Women's Rhetoric class for my graduate degree, I'm able to take some time reflecting on the exte...

I was assigned several essays from this book during a class I took senior spring, “Moral and Philosophical Issues of Gender in Society” and picked it up at the beginning of quarantine to read cover to cover, out of a persistent curiosity as to what all the other essays said and because I really love reading feminist essays. The editor of this anthology is Rebecca Walker, who coined the term “third wave” and was the daughter of writer Alice Walker. I love reading in 2020 these essays which were p...

This is one of the books that inpsired me to call myself a feminist. It is a collection of essays from people of many different walks of life reflecting on feminism and is a great look at what feminism looked like in the mid nineties. It's worth the read.

"The essay “Virtual Identity”, by Mocha Jean Herrup, is included in a compilation of essays called “to be real”, edited by Rebecca Walker. The essays are written by women of various races, sexual orientations from various socioeconomic backgrounds reflecting on their experiences and, ultimately, relationship with and thoughts on ‘feminism’ as it has played out in their lives, shaped their experiences, and/or changed their perspectives. “Virtual Identity” struck me as particularly relevant to th

not a fan of the third wave feminisms that focus on reclaiming barbie, lipstick, lady razors and high heels as if they were taken away by second wave feminists.

Corny.Also (it may be the prude in me)-- but I found discussions about sex and sexuality "tired" and cliched. When I finished reading some of the essays, I had to stop and think about the role of sexuality as it relates to women's issues. It's not as if I think sexuality shouldn't be discussed and doesn't matter. I do. But. I sometimes feel as if some Feminist perspectives about sexuality are blissfully naive and disconnected from the reality of the experiences of everyday women. I think that fe...

I don't know if any individual essay gets five stars from me, but the breadth and daring of this collection definitely does.

A little dated in places, but a handful of the essays stand out with their themes of intersectionality and decentering the white western narrative. Many of the essays address topics we are still working on 15 years after publication. Overall, a good read that melds a history of 3rd wave with the themes that have carried through to current feminist practices.

Essential reading

This wonderful collection examines various women's relationships with feminist issues in a confessional style. At first it feels a bit scattered, as - unlike many 2nd Wave essays - the essays incorporate class, race, and sexual orientation into feminism itself. But when combined with Gloria Steinam's forward, Angela Davis's afterward and Rebecca Walker's introduction, the role of these confessionals becomes much more clear. This is not a blue print or an outline of the 3rd Wave's political agend...

It has been a while since I read a collection of feminist writings. This book was very interesting in that it is written for, by, and about third wave feminisists. Most of the essays were blase except for the two written about the pretense and the downfall of a woman's life due to marriage. It isn't as bleak as it sounds, but totally worth it to read those few essays. There was also an essay written by this woman who is turned on by violence and rape scenes/stories. I could only stomache a page

i bought this forever ago when i was in college, and finally got around to reading it. it's a compilation of essays written by feminists from several walks of life. the one message i got the strongest from the book was that there were no "rules" or "right way" of being a feminist. and while i do consider myself one, i just wasn't jiving with this book. in all honesty, i skipped a lot of it.honestly, i think the biggest issue i had with this book is that is just seemed a bit outdated. i believe i...

To everyone who also consider themselves a feminist, this might interest you: "To be Real" edited by Rebecca Walker is an amazing collection by a diverse group of authors. There was a great diversity, women of color, queer (LGBTQ) authors, and men were included. It was a refreshing read. The book is also almost 20 years old, I was a little shocked to find out because they seemed to be talking about the world as it is now (which says something).(I will post a longer review later, I'm in a rush no...

As I began the book my initial feelings concerning the essays were ambivalent, but soon turned to dislike. However the last half-to-two-thirds of the book truly redeemed itself, and I found myself slightly sad when it ended. Some of the perspectives are definitely challenging, but I came to understand this challenge as integral to the book. I was not going to finish the book, and I am truly glad I did.

excellent collection of writings from feminists, really great for a budding feminist. i must admit though, after reading Rebecca Walker's recent article about her mother neglecting her and feminism being to blame for a generation of unhappy childless women, i am not such a fan of hers. i am disappointed in her as a feminist and a role model.

I enjoyed the diversity of the authors which ranged from a straight married couple who dealt with the issue of what last name to use in a creative manner to legends of the feminist movement who reflects on how far the journey has taken us as well as how far we have to go. Walker did a good job of pulling together different voices to present different outlooks. I may not have agreed with all the statements made but I came aware with an appreciation for the author's outlook.

All at once, I felt at odds with myself, content, and slightly guilty. This book overachieved its goal in reminding me that there is no one way to change the world or to be that change, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind ever since.