Fight Like a Girl: How to Be a Fearless Feminist

With her guide addressed to a generation of girls who have grown up "denying feminism but embracing its rewards," the youngest woman ever elected president of the California chapter of NOW seeks to make feminism palatable for a generation put off by outmoded images of unshaven legs and burning bras. Echoing Robin Morgan's phrase "sisterhood is global," Seely takes a holistic approach, touching on everything from the exploitation of sweatshop workers (90% of whom are women) and the importance of easing racial tensions within the feminist community to her own struggle against bulimia—she presents herself as living proof of the depth and prevalence of body hatred among women—along with more familiar subjects like Title IX and the politics of abortion. Each chapter in this beginner's guide is punctuated by boxes containing definitions of terms (patriarchy, glass ceiling), brief descriptions of relevant court cases and suggestions for further reading. Seely also includes examples of grassroots activism and ways of getting involved in the movement. Eschewing the exclamation points of today's "Girl Power" in favor of question marks, this is a thorough, thought-provoking introduction, but more informative than inspiring. (Jan.)