Abstract
Franny’s father is a Feminist is a children’s book centering on the experience of a young woman and her feminist father. The book strives to illuminate the impact of male feminism, specifically a father who rejects gender stereotypes, on a daughter’s self-image and self-confidence. The illustrations are colorful and the characters are imbued with personality. For example, Franny is allowed to follow her passions, from working with tools to fishing and ballet. At the same time, her father—burly and bearded—is shown as a sensitive being who braids her hair, cleans up her messes, and cries during movies. It encourages readers to think explicitly about how male feminism dovetails with, and differs from, other forms of feminism. Given its illustrative format, the book provides an introductory way for social workers to engage the young children in their lives—both personally and professionally—about gender equity.
While Franny’s father is a Feminist offers basic insights for children, for an adult reader, there are a number of gaps. First, readers learn about Franny’s father’s upbringing, Franny’s interests, her mother’s role as a working professional, historical figures, and even a bit about activism. It is clear the authors wanted to cover as much ground as possible. However, in doing so, the book’s primary argument—girls can do what boys do—is muddied.
Second, in order to show male feminism, the authors reinscribe traditional gender stereotypes; as noted earlier, Franny fishing and her father’s crying during movies. The underlying assumption is that feminist liberation occurs through engagement with activities that cross-gender stereotypes. A major gap in the book is the acknowledgment of systemic barriers to gender equality and its impact on Franny’s ability to engage in her passions outside the home.
Third, the authors struggle to provide a nuanced understanding of gender. The book assumes gender is static; therefore, all a feminist father needs to do is support daughters when they pursue more ‘masculine' interests. Since present understandings of gender include more fluidity, this static view feels dated. Would the authors’ notion of feminist fathering still hold if Franny were male or genderqueer? Third, the book incorporates information about four historical figures who blazed a trail for other women—Claire Marie Hodges, Sally Ride, Ruby Bridges, and Malala Yousafsai. Although valuable, the transition to talking about these figures and concluding the book seems forced. A smoother transition would help these historical figures better connect to other plot points.
Lastly, the book ends by saying that male feminism is men helping their daughters be confident yet the reader is left asking, is that enough? All of these gaps leave the adult reader wanting more explicit declarations about male feminism.
Books like Franny’s father is a Feminist show the importance of nonbiased male figures in the lives of young girls. This book is a step in the right direction as we continue conversations about varying kinds of feminism and its effect on the day-to-day lives of young people. At the same time, the book illustrates the ambiguities that come from defining male and female feminisms differently. Even more specifically, the book investigates how these varying definitions connect to life as a feminist parent.