The Mother of All Questions: Further Reports from the Feminist Revolutions

Solnit (Men Explain Things to Me) has compiled a new collection of essays exploring the current U.S. feminist movement. An overarching theme of this intersectional essay collection is silence, specifically its role in suppressing women's stories and experiences. Solnit argues that silence has taken opportunities away from women and has enabled rape and domestic violence. She discusses prominent legal cases, such as those relating to Jian Ghomeshi, Bill Cosby, and the Isla Vista shootings. Additionally, silence (and its counterpart shame) lessens women's freedom and value by taking away their ability to tell their stories. A large portion of this book is devoted to men, specifically how their experiences inform and hinder feminism. The author demonstrates how repression of one's emotions in exchange for power have crippled men. Additional essays address misogyny and rape jokes in comedy as well as varied gender roles in literature, and the role of language in discussions of sexual assault and domestic violence.