Riot Woman: Using Feminist Values to Destroy the Patriarchy - Paperback

by Eleanor C. Whitney (Author)

Growing up immersed in the feminist, DIY values of punk, Riot Grrrl, and zine culture of the 1990s and early 2000s gave Eleanor Whitney, like so many other young people who gravitate towards activism and musical subcultures, a sense of power, confidence, community, and social responsibility. As she grew into adulthood she struggled to stay true to those values, and with the gaps left by her punk rock education. This insightful, deeply personal history of early-2000s subcultures lovingly explores the difficulty of applying radical feminist values to real-life dilemmas, and embrace an evolving political and personal consciousness. Whitney traces the sometimes painful clash between her feminist values and everyday, adult realities -- and anyone who has worked to integrate their political ideals into their daily life will resonate with the histories and analysis on these pages, such as engaging in anti-domestic violence advocacy while feeling trapped in an unhealthy relationship, envisioning a unified "girl utopia" while lacking racial consciousness, or espousing body positivity while feeling ambivalent towards one's own body. Throughout the book, the words and power of Bikini Kill and other Riot Grrrl bands ground the story and analysis, bringing it back to the raw emotions and experiences that gave this movement its lasting power while offering a complex, contemporary look at the promises and pitfalls of Riot Grrrl-informed feminism.

Author Biography

Eleanor Whitney is a writer, editor, community builder, and content strategist who divides her time between Brooklyn, New York and the Mojave Desert. She is the author of Riot Woman, a celebratory look at the Riot Grrrl movement; Quit Your Day Job; and Quit Your Day Job Workbook, which are practical field guides for starting a creative business. She has nearly twenty years of experience working in creative and strategic roles for museums, arts organizations, and tech startups. She holds a bachelor's degree in cultural studies from Eugene Lang College, a Master's in Public Administration from Baruch College, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from CUNY Queens College. She strongly believes that when people are able to actualize their creative goals, our culture as a whole becomes more robust and sustainable. Spread the Word is her fourth book.