It's a Jungle Out There: The Feminist Survival Guide to Politically Inhospitable Environments (Paperback)

by Amanda Marcotte (Author) "It's a sick obsession and I know I should abandon it, but it's hard..." (more)
Key Phrases: dating advice columns, bouquet toss, real feminists, Jungle Out There, Nice Guy, Girls Gone Wild (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
For any feminist ever at a loss for words Marcotte offers no nonsense advice on handling sexism with aplomb and deadly humor, from confronting the pay gap to defusing conservative relatives. -- Ms. magazine, Spring 2008

Product Description

For all of you humming “I Will Survive” while watching the political debacles gracing the evening news, when getting an earful from your Limbaugh-loving brother-in-law, or as you’re ducking into the bathroom to avoid the date espousing the wisdom of those Mars versus Venus books, this book is for you.

It’s a Jungle Out There gives all you smart, independent women out there the funny pranks, witty comebacks, and stalwart sources of strength you need in these trying times. With her tongue firmly in cheek and her middle finger stuck straight up in the air, Amanda Marcotte (of Pandagon.net) takes you on a tour through the perils that await any feminist who must navigate day-to-day life in the U.S., from the abstinence-only classrooms to the glass-ceiling of the office world.

Drawing on her personal experiences of dealing with anti-feminists—from her years of blogging about feminism and living in the woman-unfriendly state of Texas—Marcotte brings her wit and distinct lack of patience to the topic of surviving while feminist. She doles out priceless advice along the way on how not only survive but also thrive, and even how to carve out a space for your feminist self in these oft-times hostile environments.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press (March 6, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580052266
• ISBN-13: 978-1580052269
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #504,345 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provocative and laugh-out-loud funny, March 17, 2008

By	ADAM STANHOPE (Kingston, Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was aware at some point that this book was in the works. Imagine my surprise at finding a brand new copy of it in the back of a taxi this weekend. "Keep it," the cabby told me as he dropped me off for my appointment.

I started reading it right away in the crowded but quiet lobby of my "specialist." I must have looked like a fool, trying and failing desperately not to giggle and laugh out loud as I read. Thank god I was called in to my appointment before completely humiliating myself in front of the rest of the other people in the waiting room.

Once at home I could laugh out loud all I wanted. Marcotte is clever and whip-smart. She's fair and her analysis is spot on. Googling her turned up a cornucopia of other material she's written, all of it in a hip feminist voice that succeeds not just because she elucidates with humor, but because she speaks with compassion and care.

Highly recommended.

70 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As someone who actually read the book..., April 2, 2008

By	Amy "RQ" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews

I thought it was hilarious (in a good way), and I don't see how any reasonable person could find a flaw with Amanda's premise -- that misogyny is bad, and humor has a large part to play in how we maintain our sanity. The book cleverly attacks other oppressions besides sexism (racism, homophobia, etc.) and manages to get in a plug for vegetarianism too (two pages that were highly amusing to me because I am a vegetarian).

No, it's not a political treatise. If you want that, buy another book. This book is much more fun than your average political treatise.

54 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smashing success., April 2, 2008

By	Anthony Parisi (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It seems a bit easy to tag Marcotte as "the new Molly Ivins"; they are, after all, both smart feisty women from Texas. However, you if enjoy reading smart, funny writers, you couldn't do much better than Amanda.

Marcotte takes a somewhat jaundiced eye towards the patriarchy, and the book comprises less a treatise against the institution, and more of an attempt to stay sane. You're not going to find great arguments; you will find some great pranks. Know that going in and you'll have a blast.