Living a Feminist Life

Divided into three primary parts, Ahmed's (emeritus, race and cultural studies, Goldsmiths, Univ. of London.; Willful Subjects) book leads readers through the journey of first becoming a feminist, secondly addressing issues of diversity in the university setting, and thirdly of the challenges met in work and life as a feminist. Interspersed with fascinating anecdotes, Ahmed's discourse leans away from the memoir that might be suggested in her introductory outline to achieve an impressive look at her own experiences and the larger implications thereof. With a winding writing style that requires focus, Ahmed succeeds in her intent if readers are willing to do the work to unpack her layered prose. Fans of bell hooks and Audre Lorde will find Ahmed's frequent homages and references familiar and assuring in a work that goes far beyond Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, capturing the intersection so critical in modern feminism.