The Feminist Killjoy Handbook

August 1, 2023
A guide to being an uncompromising feminist in today's world. In her latest work, British Australian writer and scholar Ahmed, author of Living a Feminist Life, offers a guide to thriving as a feminist. A feminist killjoy, also known as a "buzzkill, miserabilist, party pooper, wet blanket, dampener, and spoilsport," is someone who speaks out and calls for change in response to sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or racist comments. "My aim," she writes, "is not to rescue us from the feminist killjoy but to give her a voice," and she hopes to help those "fighting against inequalities and injustices of many kinds." Throughout, Ahmed shares her experiences as a queer female feminist of color as well as stories that others have shared with her, with a particular focus on the responses and types of push back commonly encountered. As the author points out, as feminist killjoys, "we learn about the world from what comes back at us because of what we say or do." Ahmed also references and analyzes literature and films that have inspired her and help illustrate her points. Among the survival tips she shares with fellow feminist killjoys are surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, knowing that you are not always responsible for how you are received, and remembering that there is only so much you can do. As a supplement, Ahmed also includes her collection of killjoy maxims, recommended further reading, and reading group discussion questions for the book. The author notes that she was strongly influenced by Black writer and feminist Audre Lorde and references her works extensively throughout the guide. Although Ahmed makes strong and relatable points, her writing is wordy and repetitive at times. Regardless, feminist and social activists are certain to find the book encouraging. A good reminder that the work of activists is often challenging yet important.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 7, 2023
Feminist scholar Ahmed (Complaint!) delves into popular culture, literature, and philosophy in this fervent manifesto. Arguing that feminists must embrace a “feminist killjoy” ethos (a reference to the way feminists are often perceived as scolds and spoilsports), she draws on the work of theorists, activists, and poets—including Roxane Gay, Angela Davis, and Adrienne Rich—to reconstruct the negative archetype as an empowering ideal. She provides guidance for feminist killjoy activism, citing as an example her own support for students who lodged sexual harassment complaints at the University of London, where she worked, leading to her resignation in 2016. Through a process of analytical inquiry, Ahmed defines numerous “killjoy truths” (“if happiness requires turning away from violence, happiness is violence”; “discomfort reveals worlds”), which are gathered in a section at the end of the book. She writes with conviction and dedication, and while the narrative’s framework is theoretical (deploying such terms as “affect aliens” and “exteriority”), Ahmed brings impressive clarity to a field of study that is often opaque in the hands of others. Admirers of Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts should take note.

Starred review from September 1, 2023

Independent scholar Ahmed's (Living a Feminist Life) latest book combines her signature humor--bitingly funny, in this case--with accessible language and theoretical discourse, making this title as appropriate for university courses as it is for self-identified "feminist killjoys," people who point out sexist comments or don't laugh at offensive jokes. This book explores the historical origins of the killjoy through truths about perceptions; for example, if someone has to shout to be heard, that person is heard as shouting. Readers will gain a clearer sense of why their activism is consistently treated as a problem, rather than a solution, and it will demonstrate what it means to show up--even when society may view that as getting in the way. The book includes details about the author's own experiences as a queer feminist scholar and activist of color. Ahmed also incorporates recommended readings and the work of activists like Audre Lorde without ever becoming too esoteric. VERDICT This book arms readers with a sense of vital energy, often lost due to burnout, compassion fatigue, and microaggressions. Audiences curious about navigating the intersection between feminism and daily life, intellectualism, poetry, and activism will love this title.--Emily Bowles

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.