ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book takes up the metaphors of intersectionality to consider how best to represent the complex lived experiences of individuals who embody multiple intersections of social identities. It explores notions of whiteness in feminist and gender studies and activism. The book examines how Roxane Gay's Bad Feminist, Lindy West's Shrill, and Jessica Valenti's Sex Object, taken together, present a window into contemporary feminist theory and practice. It examines a topic that is somewhat understudied in feminist and gender studies—humor—in conjunction with online trolling, an issue that continues to be of increasing concern to women and minorities in general. The book suggests that ending the use of phrases such as "violence against women," for the more useful "gender violence," is more inclusive of women, men, and trans-individuals.
