Segal, Lynne. Why Feminism? New York: Columbia UP, 1999. 240 pp.

by Susan Logsdon-Conradsen

Why Feminism? is an ambitious book, endeavoring to cover the major shifts in feminist thought over several decades. The topics reviewed range widely and cover many of the current debates in the field. Of particular interest is the author's commentary throughout on the conflicts, downfalls, and successes of feminism.

There are several strengths of this book. The first thing that is immediately obvious while reading the book is the author's extensive knowledge. She addresses many different disciplines and their often complex relationship with feminism in a thorough and well versed manner. Segal is not afraid to dive into divisive and intricate issues in a manner that leaves no stone unturned. Although this can sometimes lead to some confusion and rereading on the reader's part, it is refreshing to see someone tackle these issues in their full complexity. Furthermore, real life issues are weaved into the fabric of the book which helps to ground the theories. Another major strength of the book is the hefty notes section (forty pages full of mostly references) which is a good resource in itself.