F-Bomb: Dispatches from the War on Feminism

In a disappointing debut, McKeon, a journalist who has won a Canadian National Magazine Award, sets out to discover why so many women in the 21st century are uncomfortable with calling themselves feminists or reject the movement entirely. Written with a wry sense of humor, the book begins with a history of feminism, then features interviews with notable antifeminists, including blogger Janet Bloomfield; Diana Davison, who runs the Youtube channel Feminism LOL; and University of Ottawa professor Janice Fiamengo. McKeon argues that the future of feminism has to be rooted in intersectional antioppression work, which acknowledges the interplay between systems of discrimination and oppression. But she focuses mostly on middle-class white women who have rejected feminism rather than on women of color. The book touches on the role of women in corporate culture, McKeon’s own rape, the high-profile charges of sexual assault against former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, rape culture, and even the “pro-life feminist” movement. The book is a good primer for those who haven’t been paying attention to the internet wars between men’s-rights activists and feminists, but centering white cis women’s struggles as the feminist battleground is a troubling choice for someone who lays claim to the title “intersectional feminist.” Agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. (Mar.)