Jessica Valenti

Jessica Valenti is one of the leading voices of modern feminist thought. With a career spanning writing, journalism, speaking, activism and an impressive list of books, Jessica Valenti has been an integral influence on feminist discourse on both a professional and personal level.

Jessica Valenti’s entrance into the world of feminist writing began in her early twenties, when she was just starting out as a freelance writer. In 2003, she created the Feministing blog and grew it into one of the most-visited feminist sites in the world. The blog, started initially as a platform to discuss her own experiences and feelings on oppression, swiftly grew into a respected resource for anyone looking to stay abreast of all things related to feminism.

Among her many books, Valenti has written several influential works centered around feminism. Her first book, Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters, was published in 2007 and quickly became a popular introduction to feminist thought for a new generation of women. In it, she examines the history of feminism and its current status, as well as encourages and reframes how feminist theory can apply to day-to-day life.

The Purity Myth, published in 2009, examines the expectations placed upon women surrounding virginity and sex and critiques the driving message behind “femininity as commodity”. The book argues that such ideals serve to oppress women, and encourages open dialogue and analysis around the issue.

He recently published Sex Object: A Memoir, which recounts her life experience as a woman in a society that perpetuates sexism and misogyny. The memoir reflects upon her own life, detailing her history of harassment, microaggressions and oppression that she faced as a woman, as well as how she navigated these experiences as a writer, activist and woman.

Jessica Valenti has been giving presentations and speeches at prestigious universities, feminist events, and corporate functions since 2003, talking about a wide variety of topics related to feminism. Highlighting her personal narrative and expertise, Valenti encourages those in the audience to take a positive action to challenge the double standard that still exists between men and women in our culture.

Valenti hasn’t stopped with her influential writing and speaking – she’s also been actively pursuing political and legal activism. In 2015 she was one of the plaintiffs in a historic gender discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times. The lawsuit aimed to shine light on their gender wage gap and rid their workplace of gender-based discrimination.

Much of Valenti’s work has focused on creating a dialogue among those who are in immediate need of sexual, gender, and political liberation, and she has continually made the statement throughout her career that feminism is for everyone.