No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think about Power
A perfect example of my two passions coming together. It’s crazy how fast September has gone. It is almost October and do you know what that means? It is just the beginning for Gloria Feldt’s new book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think about Power. Order here! On Tuesday, October 5 at 7:30 PM, Gloria will be reading and speaking about No Excuses at the Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle. I am telling everyone I know to come and listen in because it is a great book. It is also written by an amazing woman that still makes me feel star struck. I am still in shock that I am working with her. This whole process has been very fruitful to me. The work can pile on but I am always reminded of why I am doing this. Not many have the opportunity to work with someone that they admire and work on something that they are passionate about. I love books and I love feminism.
In this book, Gloria not only discusses a problem, she also proposes a solution. She lists 9 power tools like, know your history, define your own terms, tell your story etc. I can relate to all of them but the ones I just mentioned resonate with me very much.
Know your history.
I grew up with women that always insisted on education and being a powerful, independent woman. They have been through great adversity and have found the strength to keep on going. I’m going to continue with that strength and resolve, and create a future that will be filled with those survival tactics.
Define your own terms.
This coincides with the one I just mentioned. My mother defined her own terms and removed herself from a bad marriage. She knew that there had to be a better life for her and her two growing daughters. Who knows where we would be if she hadn’t? As a feminist woman of color, I also define my own terms and I am adamant about the life I want to lead. I know that even though feminism doesn’t exactly equal a big paycheck it doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t feel a great passion towards it. I say this because we are in a very rough economic climate where we all can’t do what we want but what needs to be done which can translate into solely working for money rather than for passion.
Tell your story.
In the book, she discusses that women’s writing is controversial and is very vulnerable. Taking a memoir class in college was one of my experiences where I learned this. Reading Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde in that class is a great example. Reading one of my memoirs out loud to others made me very vulnerable but was also very empowering and freeing as well. It’s not about what other people think. It’s about what you can learn from your and each others experiences.
Please visit Gloria’s website at www.GloriaFeldt.com. The new website will be live by the end of this week!
That sounds like a wonderful book. I just got some books by bell hooks. They’re amazing!!!!
Yes I agree!
Nice summary, Dior. I’m looking forward to picking my copy up at the bookstore when it arrives, and I can’t wait to attend the book events in Arizona. Enjoy the launch!
Thank you very much! I can’t wait!
Worst title ever. I’ll probably read the book, but the “no excuses” title does not help those of us who have fought for women for most of our lives, and been told by so many anti-feminist forces that we are just whining and pointing fingers. I understand what the author is attempting to say to her feminist audience, but this is just the sort of crappy title that anti-feminists will latch on to as supportive of their view.
I’m seriously annoyed and disappointed that a feminist writer wouldn’t anticipate this before taking her book to press. Thanks for nothing.
I do appreciate your comment although I don’t agree with it. Interesting that you mention the title since on her blog she says that she wanted to call it Unlimited but the publishers made her change it so it would sound more controversial. I think that if we focus on titles rather than the message, then there is no point. We need to focus on what is important. It’s like judging a book by its cover. I think that if anti-feminists latch on to the title to support their view, then they need better arguments.