Sexy Feminism: A Girl's Guide to Love, Success, and Style

Co-founders of SexyFeminist.com, Armstrong and Rudulph combine their advice in a practical, if unoriginal, guide to living as a "21st-century feminist." With sections on waxing, plastic surgery, make-up, dieting, and more, this book has potential as a starting point to empower vulnerable girls, but it doesn't reveal anything new to those women already aware of society's objectification of them. Although Armstrong and Rudulph almost always conclude that one's reasons behind using stereotypically "anti-feminist" tools such as make-up are what make a choice feminist or not (are you doing it for you or for a man?), many chapters are strongly critical of women who pursue more controversial routes, such as plastic surgery, and this tone will feel judgmental to many contemporary feminists (those who made it past the Cosmopolitan-esque aesthetic, at least). The highlight of the book is definitely the personal stories that Armstrong and Rudulph include, balancing out the rest of the book's judgmental tone. While this book isn't going to shatter any foundations, the catchy style, solid advice, and personal stories make it decent self-help choice to encourage the next generation to become critical and confident young women. (Mar.)