Fireside Books

A powerful indictment from within of the current state of feminism, and a passionate call to arms

From Lilith Fair to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the WNBA--everywhere you look, girl culture is clearly ascendant. Young women live by feminism's goals, yet feminism itself is undeniably at a crossroads; "girl power" feminists appear to be obsessed with personal empowerment at the expense of politics while political institutions such as Ms. and NOW are so battle weary they've lost their ability to speak to a new generation. In Manifesta, Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards show the snags in each feminist hub--from the dissolution of riot grrrls into the likes of the Spice Girls, to older women's hawking of young girls' imperiled self-esteem, to the hyped hatred of feminist thorns like Katie Roiphe and Naomi Wolf--and prove that these snags have not, in fact, torn feminism asunder.

In an intelligent and incendiary argument, Baumgardner and Richards address issues instead of feelings and the political as well as the personal. They describe the seven deadly sins the media commits against feminism, provide keys to accessible and urgent activism, discuss why the ERA is still a relevant and crucial political goal, and spell out what a world with equality would look like. They apply Third Wave confidence to Second Wave consciousness, all the while maintaining that the answer to feminism's problems is still feminism.
Jennifer Baumgardner is a former editor at Ms. She writes regularly for The Nation, Jane, Glamour, and Out.  She is the author of Look Both Ways.

Amy Richards is a contributing editor at Ms. who heads the Third Wave, an activist group for young women.  She is the author Opting In.
They are the co-authors of Grassroots: A Field Guide for Feminist Activism, as well as the founders of Soapbox, Inc., a speakers' bureau representing outspoken experts with a progressive take on current events and culture. Deftly applying Third Wave confidence to Second Wave consciousness, Baumgardner and Richards offer a perceptive indictment from within of the current state of feminism—and an incendiary call to arms. They show the vibrance from which the movement has evolved, detail important political goals that still need to be achieved, and spell out what a world with true equality would be like.
Deftly applying Third Wave confidence to Second Wave consciousness, Baumgardner and Richards offer a perceptive indictment from within of the current state of feminism—and an incendiary call to arms. They show the vibrance from which the movement has evolved, detail important political goals that still need to be achieved, and spell out what a world with true equality would be like.
"Manifesta is a breath of fresh air. At last, Gen X takes on feminism and revamps a feminist manifesto for a new era. A jolt, a resource, a timeline, and a challenge, Manifesta is readable, well-informed, and necessary to any young woman—or man—who craves gender equality."—Naomi Wolf

"[The authors] have sorted out the fruits of this wave of feminism—intended and unintended, media mess and truth—for a new generation. With wit and honesty, Manifesta shows us the building blocks of the future of this longest revolution."—Gloria Steinem

"Great news from the front—feminism lives! Bold, independent, generous, and cautionary, Manifesta leaves no doubt that for a new generation of women the F-word is not only speakable but shoutable and singable. To learn the tune and catch the beat, read this book."—Alix Kates Shulman

"Manifesta is another step toward the empowerment of women. If caring about women matters, this book matters."—Andrea Dworkin

"A reasoned and passionate call to action and an exciting how-to guide for both burgeoning and seasoned Third Wave feminists."—Eleanor J. Bader, Library Journal