The Fire This Time

March 1, 2004
In the '90s, the question on cultural critics' minds, not to mention the cover of Time
, was "is feminism dead?" But before any reporter considers writing an obituary, he or she should consult Labaton and Lundy Martin's inspiring book. It proves that the movement's invisibility to mainstream media is a sign not of demise but of strength. The "third wave" (i.e., this younger, more colorful incarnation of feminism) is operating on a level that doesn't fit nicely into sound bites and commercial pop songs. Labaton and Lundy Martin's eloquent and powerful collection of writings from third wavers demonstrates that, above all, the new feminism is multi-issue. This generation isn't content with seeking reproductive freedom or workplace equality; its members want to tear down the prison-industrial complex, heal the wounds of Puerto Ricans in Vieques and take on misogynist rappers. And that's just the beginning. These contributors use personal stories—like Jennifer Bleyer's account of pining for girl zines in suburban isolation—without dissolving into self-obsession. Seasoned writers and hopeful activists dexterously handle such cultural and political issues as the new hip-hop theater, technology, globalization and the law. And where the text gets thick, it is a legitimate heft; these issues are heavy and too often neglected. Labaton and Lundy Martin don't claim omnipotence: "instead of presenting our readers with our singular vision of what we think the future of feminism is, we present multiple (and sometimes opposing) voices that together constitute a new feminist possibility." This hopeful, fresh collection proves that feminism is very much alive and kicking. (May)

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April 15, 2004
This compendium of essays focuses on the young women of the new feminism known as the Third Wave. This book is not about the feminist topics of reproductive rights and equal pay for equal work, often viewed as "confining" by a younger generation of feminists, but expresses contemporary views on topics such as technology and feminism, transsexual/transgender people and law, women in hip-hop, and influences that countermand corporate media news. The book is divided into two parts, "Changing Minds and Eyes: Media and Culture" and "New Activism in the Global City," and contains a foreword by Rebecca Walker and an introduction and afterword by the book's editors. Labaton and Martin, the former director and cofounder, respectively, of the Third Wave Foundation, let us know from the beginning that their goal is to bring us all closer to gender equity. The book, like the foundation, places emphasis on a multicultural and multiracial agenda. Informative, enlightening, and entertaining, this is essential for academic institutions as well as large public libraries, as an enhancement to existing collections in women's studies and politics.-Melody Ballard, Washoe Cty. Lib., Reno, NV

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2004
Editors Labaton and Martin were involved in the creation of the Third Wave Foundation, a national group of young women activists that eschewed the old feminist politics in favor of "global humanism." This collection of essays posits a vibrant and diversified look at a burgeoning new movement characterized as "young women's empowerment" rather than feminism. The first section focuses on media and culture and explores the images of women in hip-hop music, the girl zines, theater, and technology. The second section emphasizes global issues, including the impact of technology and the globalization of hypercapitalism on the type of work women do, and the growing incarceration of women and their use as nonpaid workers. Without overlooking the issues traditionally defined by feminism--reproductive rights, domestic violence, and equal pay for equal work-- these essays emphasize a broader perspective on social justice and power imbalances centered on race, gender, and globalization.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)