This post is slightly political.

I'm trying to tone down the politics on my blog. It seems that I've offended some people in the past few weeks - not on my blog (that I know of anyway) but in real life, so I'm making a conscious effort to self-censor in order to maintain my tolerant and open-minded persona. I mean, I guess if I call myself a tolerant person, I have to be open-minded about close-minded people, too, right? Was that offensive? I don't mean it to be.

Anyway, I just couldn't resist putting up these links about feminism. The very word "feminist" seems to have a negative connotation for some people, and I would like to offer some information that might help us all to understand it a little more.

So, if you're interested, here are some great resources (possibly some "gentler" alternatives to my links to Bitch Ph.D. and Twisty).

Alternet is featuring an article about a new book by the executive editor of blog feministing.com, Jessica Valenti. I am definitely going to check this book out from the library as soon as I have a spare moment to read something that hasn't been assigned by a professor. If you do nothing else, at least read the excerpt of her book (available at the Alternet.org link). It's a quick, easy read and I promise you'll learn something.

You should also check out the feministing blog. It's great.

And if you have a few moments, read a little about the death threats that Kathy Sierra received on her blog. Makes one reconsider the advisability of having their real name on their weblog.

For those of you who may want to delve a little deeper, may I recommend this book:



I have not actually read the whole thing, but it's a short book (as the title implies) and it's a very comprehensive introduction. We're all busy, so books like this that require little time investment and give big returns are great!

Another great resources is Ms. Magazine. If you've never read it, I highly recommend going to the library and just browsing a few issues, or go to your local cooperative bookstore and pick up this month's issue.

Oh, oh! And don't forget the f-word!

Now here's your assignment: In the comments, give me your definition of feminism (if you're brave enough!)

End political post.