How to Raise a Feminist Son

"This book is a true love letter, not only to Jha's own son but also to all of our sons and to the parents--especially mothers--who raise them.”—Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre Beautifully written and deeply personal, this book follows the struggles and triumphs of one single, immigrant mother of color to raise an American feminist son. From teaching consent to counteracting problematic messages from the media, well-meaning family, and the culture at large, the author offers an empowering, imperfect feminism, brimming with honest insight and actionable advice.Informed by Jha's work as a professor of journalism specializing in social justice movements and social media, as well as by conversations with psychologists, experts, other parents and boys--and through powerful stories from her own life--How to Raise a Feminist Son shows us all how to be better feminists and better teachers of the next generation of men in this electrifying tour de force. Includes chapter takeaways, and an annotated bibliography of reading and watching recommendations for adults and children. "A beautiful hybrid of memoir, manifesto, instruction manual, and rumination on the power of story and possibilities of family." —Rebecca Solnit, author of The Mother of All Questions

"How to Raise a Feminist Son has practical to-do lists about how to tackle some of the hardest conversations."—NPR“Jha weaves her own fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking, and always beautiful story of raising her own feminist son with careful research, insightful interviews, and helpful advice. This book is a true love letter, not only to Jha's own son but also to all of our sons and to the parents--especially mothers--who raise them.”—Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre  “[A] beautiful hybrid of memoir, manifesto, instruction manual, and rumination on the power of story and possibilities of family.” —Rebecca Solnit, author of The Mother of All Questions “Essential reading for any parent, loved one, or teacher seeking to raise feminist boys in these times."—V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Vagina Monologues and The Apology “Combining the insight of memoir with sound advice, How to Raise a Feminist Son is a glorious map to a better future.”—Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk  "Sonora Jha takes on the hardest questions and the most-fraught conversations with nuance and grace. Here, when addressing the deepest anxieties of parents raising boys committed to a fair and just society, her insights are invaluable." —Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her"A beautiful and honest ode to imperfect parents everywhere who are trying to raise kind, compassionate, confident feminist sons."—Ms. magazine"Jha issues an urgent, fervent plea to raise feminist sons in this trenchant guide. At times touching and always impassioned, this is an excellent resource for like-minded parents."—Publishers Weekly"In How to Raise a Feminist Son, [Jha] has created a feminist manifesto steeped in personal story that seeks to unwind and re-weave the way we make men."—The Rumpus"Part memoir, part parenting guide...combines Jha’s life story and her indispensable advice and is essential reading for today’s parents."—Booklist"By weaving moving, personal stories about her own life and her son’s life together with research and interviews, Jha encourages readers to embrace the difficulties and the joys simultaneously."—Seattle Times"Jha has accomplished something magical here: a blend of memoir, theory, and practical advice that’s as entertaining and funny as it is provocative and enlightening."—Jordan Shapiro, author of Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad

SONORA JHA, PhD, is an essayist, novelist, researcher, and professor of journalism at Seattle University. She is the author of the novel Foreign, and her op-eds and essays have appeared in the New York Times, the Seattle Times, The Establishment, DAME, and in several anthologies. She grew up in Mumbai and has been chief of metropolitan bureau for the Times of India and contributing editor for East magazine in Singapore. She teaches fiction and essay writing for Hugo House, Hedgebrook Writers' Retreat, and Seattle Public Library. She is an alumna and board member of Hedgebrook Writers' Retreat, and has served on the jury for awards for Artist Trust, Hedgebrook, and Hugo House.