The League of Super Feminists

It’s easy to accept things as they are and to assume there’s good reasons for things to be as they are. Through short chapters looking at commonly accepted beliefs and the introduction of tools and language, Mirion Malle’s The League of Super Feminists shows how questioning the status quo can expose how what many people accept as normal is as made-up as fairy tales. Malle uses conversations between friends captured in speech balloons, accompanied by additional text supporting and reinforcing ideas and messages, to cause readers to engage with ideas ranging from gender roles, representation in media, and romantic expectations promoted by media to increasingly complex subjects, including consent, privilege, and intersectionality.

A diverse group of characters are portrayed in colourful, playful drawings in a style reminiscent of sketches that could be found in a teenage girl’s notebook or diary. Although characters aren’t given names, they feel like good friends, asking and responding to questions that will challenge and change the way readers think.

Malle does an exemplary job encouraging readers to question norms and consider what society would look like if everyone, regardless of gender, race, and ability, were treated equally. With a balance of sections questioning social constructs and providing the tools necessary to create change, along with a good dose of humour, The League of Super Feminists makes thinking critically fun and prepares readers to support others in questioning and challenging beliefs.

Although the majority of characters present as female, much of the content would resonate with youth of all genders. A young boy joins the conversation throughout the book, asking questions such as why it’s important to have female representation on tv, and adding to the conversation around gender roles helping to explain how people who identify as male are also harmed by societal believes and norms.

While teens are the target audience for The League of Super Feminists, the gentle and clear presentation of material makes it a great resource for parents and adults who want to introduce activists as young as eight, regardless of gender, to the topics covered. By reading and discussing chapters together, adults and teens will find future conversations about relationships and sex, among other things, easier.

Topics that can be difficult for even adults, such as consent, intersectionality, and privilege, are presented with clarity without omitting critical aspects. The only missing piece is a section on mansplaining, and I hope there’s a sequel that covers it!

The short section on whether feminists hate men is one of my favourites. Near the end of the book, the ideas and sentiments, found in tweets and comment sections every day, sound absurd after reading and thinking through the previous sections. Readers of The League of Super Feminists will be well-armed with the questions and tools necessary to challenge and change the world for the better!