Big Joanie is a British feminist punk band, which includes band members Stephanie Phillips, Chardine Taylor-Stone and Estella Adeyeri.
The quote that Big Joanie has about themselves is very accurate: We’re like The Ronettes filtered through 80s DIY and riot grrrl with a sprinkling of dashikis.
In November 2018, Big Joanie released their album, Sistahs. I’ve been following the band on Facebook for several months. So whenever I get distracted by all of male rock bands, they seem to pop up on the newsfeed – like they know I need some feminist punk music in my life.
Trust me. We all need feminist punk bands like Big Joanie in our lives. I’m always so happy when the members of a punk band are talented musicians and songwriters. I find Big Joanie to be rather charming and intoxicating. My favorite songs on the Sistahs album are “How Could You Love Me” and “Cut Your Hair.”
Please do yourself a favor and check out their music!
There are so many awesome feminist podcasts that I cannot just tell you about five. It’s just not fair to not mention the other podcasts that are so brilliant. There will be a sequel to this post.
The ladies of Feminist Frequency Radio are hilarious. They talk about movies. current events and entertainment news. If you haven’t listened to their podcast, you’re missing out. Their latest show is about The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Feminist Popcorn’s last episode was called “Tradition and Family.” In each episode, the hosts, Samantha and Elizabeth, discuss three movies, which have a female perspective.
Can you imagine living in a world where women can’t voice their opinion? Some people would say that there are many places where women can’t express themselves. They would be right of course.
In the dystopian book, Vox by Christina Dalcher, women in America have to wear counters on their wrist which counts their words. They can only speak about 100 words per day. If they go above the limit, they receive an electric shock. Young girls are not taught how to read and write anymore. Their education is focused on home economics. Home Ec is fine but not everyone wants to sew and bake cookies all day.
Lesbians and gay men aren’t allowed to love who they want. They are imprisoned with a member of the opposite sex until they change. Women who have affairs are publicly humiliated and sent to nunneries or prison farm camps.
Women aren’t allowed to work outside of the home. They can’t even check the mail. Even if their husband is an idiot, he has to make all of the decisions.
Dr. Jean McClellan, a brilliant neurolinguist, was working on a cure for aphasia one day and forced to become a stay-at-home mom the next. After a year, she is brought back to work in order to finish the cure.
She has a lot going on in her life. Her teenage son really believes that a woman’s place is in the home. Her young daughter barely speaks. Jean is also in love with someone other than her husband.
What can she do to save her daughter and other women in America? Will she run off to Italy with her daughter and her lover? Will she stay with her husband and keep wearing the counter?
I loved this book. The plot is not too far off from where women once were not too long ago and where we could end up in the not too distant future. It’s a scary thought. Still, everyone should read this book. I saw one bad review for this book but don’t listen to that jackass. He probably wants women to wear the counters and be silent.
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own. Obviously.
