According to the intro post on the Women Unbound blog, the challenge [...]]]> I was eaves-twopping on Twitter earlier this week and landed smack in the middle of a conversation between Eva, Care, Aarti and others about the formation of a women’s studies reading challenge for the upcoming year.  How exciting!  How timely! How “Yes! Great idea!”!

According to the intro post on the Women Unbound blog, the challenge starts with the dictionary definition of women’s studies, which is:

the multidisciplinary study of the social status and societal contributions of women and the relationship between power and gender

Eva explains:

For nonfiction, this would include books on feminism, history books focused on women, biographies of women, memoirs (or travelogues) by women, essays by women and cultural books focused on women (body image, motherhood, etc.). … It’s trickier to say what is applicable as fiction. Obviously, any classic fiction written by a feminist is applicable. But where do we go from there? To speak generally, if the book takes a thoughtful look at the place of women in society, it will probably count. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to explain in your review why you chose this for the challenge and its connection to women’s studies.

The blog contains continuously updated reading lists; reviews, guest posts, memes, and profiles will be added throughout the year.  Like Serena and Anna’s “War Through the Generations” Reading Challenge, I see Women Unbound growing into a solid resource for this discipline.

The Challenge runs November 1, 2009 through November 30, 2010.  There are three levels you can choose as a reader (books do not need to be read exclusively for Women Unbound, cross-challenges are allowed):

• Philogynist: read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction
• Bluestocking: read at least five books, including at least two nonfiction
• Suffragette: read at least eight books, including at least three nonfiction

Isn’t that clever?!  I haven’t yet decided which level I’ll commit to; I’d love to say Suffragette, but I need to spend some time working on my book list first.  I’ll list my books and link to reviews here:

1. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
2. Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi
3. Woman Made of Sand by Joann Kobin
4. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
5. Don’t Sing at the Table by Adriana Trigiani

I took several of women’s studies classes in college, and this is a great litmus test for me and my lifestyle vs. my ideals of twenty-something years ago.  I’m very much looking forward to revisiting some of the books I read back then, and seeing my reactions to them years later (with years of SAHM-hood under my belt, and parenting/influencing the next generation).  Am I getting too philosophical for an intro post?!?

Oh, and the buttons!  I can call myself a feminist and still have pretty things!  Check out the many gorgeous buttons/widgets that clever people have created for Women Unbound.

Take a look at the Women Unbound blog and see if this might be a good challenge for you.