It is rare, but occasionally, just the right book, written by just the right person, will be published at just the right time. It offers a glimpse into the galvanizing force of women’s collective anger, which, when harnessed, can change history. Highlighting a double standard perpetuated against women by all sexes, and its disastrous, stultifying effect, Traister’s latest is timely and crucial. She deconstructs society’s (and the media’s) condemnation of female emotion (notably, rage) and the impact of their resulting repercussions. Here Traister explores women’s anger at both men and other women anger between ideological allies and foes the varied ways anger is perceived based on its owner as well as the history of caricaturing and delegitimizing female anger and the way women’s collective fury has become transformative political fuel-as is most certainly occurring today.

With eloquence and fervor, Rebecca tracks the history of female anger as political fuel-from suffragettes marching on the White House to office workers vacating their buildings after Clarence Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court. The story of female fury and its cultural significance demonstrates the long history of bitter resentment that has enshrouded women’s slow rise to political power in America, as well as the ways that anger is received when it comes from women as opposed to when it comes from men. But long before Pantsuit Nation, before the Women’s March, and before the #MeToo movement, women’s anger was not only politically catalytic-but politically problematic. In the year 2018, it seems as if women’s anger has suddenly erupted into the public conversation.

Good and mad by rebecca traister