The Bluest Eye (1970) is the debut novel of author Toni Morrison. It tells the story of Pecola Breedlove and her parents, and reflects upon the familial and societal circumstances that would lead a Black girl to wish she had blue eyes. Introduction: Get to know the debut novel from a legend in modern literature. …
Sociology
Beowulf is a masterpiece of Anglo-Saxon literature, set in sixth-century Scandinavia. The narrative poem recounts the heroic exploits of Beowulf, who battles monsters and eventually becomes king. Introduction: The timeless tale of the ultimate hero. Beowulf, an epic poem of around 3,000 lines, is one of the oldest stories in English literature. We’re lucky to …
Purity and Danger (1966) presents a framework for understanding different societies and religions according to what they find pure and sacred and what they consider unclean and out of place. Cultures organize their experiences, values, and worldview into binary categories: either something is “dirty” and does not belong, or it is pure or holy. Sometimes, …
Barbara Ehrenreich’s bold experiment to work in the lower depths of the American economy while trying to keep her head above water has become a classic of investigative writing. This book review of Nickel and Dimed distills her findings and what they mean for us today. A savvy essayist goes “undercover” to expose the realities …
When the world is in flux and uncertainty reigns, it makes sense to understand exactly what is going awry and what the solution could be. When you’re confronted with the potential downfall of the present day world order and its globalized economic system, there’s not a more beneficial guide than Dambisa Moyo, an internationally renowned …
Headscarves and Hymens (2015) chronicles the many levels of abuse suffered by women in the Arab world and what brave feminist activists are doing about these injustices. These summary describe the various forms of oppression women face, from child marriage to virginity tests, and call for a sexual revolution in Islamic nations. Introduction: Open your …
Women, Race and Class (1981) is a collection of essays that expose how racism, sexism, and classism intertwined in the struggle for women’s suffrage in the United States. With special emphasis on the historical missteps of the mainstream feminist movement, it charts a path for an anti-racist and anti-classist feminism. Introduction: Deepen your commitment to …
Playing The Whore (2014) busts the myths still surrounding the topic of sex work and explores how and why society continues to shame the chosen profession of the sexually liberated. Unfortunately, society’s attitudes and laws often endanger, rather than protect, those who work in the sex industry. Discover why that is and why it’s time …
Over the last century, feminism has become a hot topic in political debates. From an early focus on equal rights and pay, feminism has grown to take a big picture perspective on the patriarchy: a social system where men have dominant roles in politics and the economy as well as moral authority and social privilege. …
