Show Notes

MOXIE

Moxie is a great book to read if you want to engage your teen in a conversation about feminism. Mathieu examines what that can look like in your own, everyday world.

Through her story, Mathieu emphasizes that being a feminist is not only all about equality for women, but also about the importance of speaking up for yourself, and for others.

Consequently, one of the things she shares in her books to highlight feminism is the Riot Grrrl Manifesto:

We don’t want to assimilate to someone else’s (boy) standards of what is or isn’t.

We are angry at a society that tells us Girl = Dumb, and Girl = Bad, and Girl = Weak.

I believe with my wholeheartmindbody that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can, and will, change the world for real.

Discussion Questions for Moxie

Has anything like the “make me a sandwich” incident happened in one of your classrooms?

♥

What does “feminist” mean to you?

♥

Viv’s friend Claudia tells her that Mitchell (a football star) shoved her against the wall and squeezed her breast. If you were Claudia’s friend, what would you tell her?

♥

The boys in her high school start a “March Madness” competition where the boys rank the senior girls into brackets.  Vivian gets frustrated that her boyfriend, Seth, “can’t” ever really understand what it’s like to be a girl. Do you think that’s true, that boys won’t ever “get it”? Here are Vivian’s thoughts about it: Seth is a guy, and he can’t ever know what it feels like to walk down a hallway and know that you’re getting judged for the size of your [butt] or how big your boobs are. He’ll never understand what it’s like to second guess everything you wear. And how you sit and walk and stand in case it doesn’t attract the right kind of attention. Or worse, attracts the wrong kind. He’ll never get how scary and crazy-making it is to feel like you belong to some big Boy Monster that decides it can grab you and rank you whenever and however it wants.

♥

There is a quote in Lucy’s room from Audre Lorde that says “Your silence will not protect you.” What do you think that means?