A smart, bold look at trap feminism as defined by Sesali Bowen, BAD FAT BLACK GIRL makes no excuses. I am in awe of how relatable this book is. I jumped into it curious to learn about queer black culture, and I’m coming out of it with not only an appreciation for all that I am not (i.e. a queer, Black, sex worker, etc.) but also, surprisingly, a mirror in which I see myself. Women, all women should read this book for its wisdom. All men should read this book for its truth. And it’s not just a book through which men and women can better understand each other—it’s a book that examines sexual and platonic relationships in general from a fierce, empowered perspective we don’t see often enough.

Bowen is an instructor and also the badass Black women who knows who she is and what she deserves. Some of my favorite moments in the book are when she proudly admits that she is not looking to be in a relationship with someone who can't pay their own way--someone who doesn't have the coin to date her. She is not going to wait for someone to get a job. She knows what she's worth, and this is true in the conventional, transactional sense as well as in the self-esteem sense.

I love the trap terminology and definitions. And I love the messages of self-love, confidence, and work ethic. Many times, I found myself saying, "YES!" Exactly. And while I know I can't know the half of it--can never know Bowen's experience--I can revel in her intelligence and boldness. She is not being shy, and I admire everything about this book and its author for being able to put words to the story of this bad fat Black girl who is showing the reader that everything that made her the subject of judgment in others' eyes has come full circle. She's a bad bitch, and I'm behind her all the way.

Listening to this book was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Although I probably could have physically read this book quickly, listening to the author read her own work was quite amazing.

After having read Feminist AF by the Crunk Collective, who’s backdrop of feminism is against 90s hip-hop, Sesali Bowen went in a similar direction, but towards trap music as her backdrop, which presents a whole ‘nother experience if you are familiar with trap music.

Hearing the author read her words and hearing her voice, tone, inflection, emphasis, etc., really brought this book to life for me and I was instantly able to connect with the content of her book in a wide open way. Especially seeing that I grew up in the hiphop and trap music era, surrounded by the Black American ghetto of Cleveland, OH.


Although Sesali Bowen focuses on being fat and Black while growing up under the backdrop of hiphop and trap music, Black women can especially relate to her and how our bodies are constantly policed and criticized for any and everything.

Bowen also explores sex work, feminism, Black queerness, classism, sexism, violence towards Black women, and how gender and race play a huge part in how society views Black women who are not the picture of perfection. I feel like this book is a love letter to Fat Black Badass Black women who can easily identify with Bowen, but also Black women who are not necessarily seen as “fat,” but the misogynoir that is directed towards Black women, I feel like we can all relate to. This is a love letter to all of us who grew up in the hood, who had to focus on survival vs being privileged enough to not have the same or similar issues with socioeconomic issues that people in the hood have to deal with.

Although Black people are not a monolith, I feel like we’ve all had similar experiences because we’ve all been forced into certain spaces and experiences because of our race, gender, socioeconomic status and education level. Another thing I related to with Bowen’s work was her ability to meet us all where we are, but has space for people to be who they are whether highly educated or struggling to make ends meet. Just because you came from the hood, doesn’t mean that you can’t politick and are not educated or have no skill set. We should be able to be who we are without policing our bodies, the way we speak and talk to others, the way we move through situations and handle our finances, and handle societal pressures with dignity and be proud of where you come from and your experiences that shaped and molded you to who you are today.

Bowen talks about trap music in detail and the lyrics that is diametrically opposed to certain issues within feminism. For example, how we can be called ‘bitches and hoes,’ in the music, but not be an actual bitch or hoe and still love the music, still love the attention men/people give you, or actually love being the ‘bitch or hoe’ and being successful in selling yourselves in order to get what we need to get. “We do what we have to, when we can’t do what we want to.” She also proclaims that she is ‘with all the shits and not one to try,” and I love that! Bowen’s work makes me feel aggressively self-determined, and I’m so glad her voice is here to give us another perspective of feminism that is focused on Black women/femmes who has been left out of conversations because they don’t fit the ideal picture of what the society feels is the norm.

I am a trap feminist. I’m with all the shits and not one to try! Though I may be highly educated, I’m still from the hood and can come with it if tried on any given day. That is the magic about us, and especially Black women who are the most educated people in this world. We have to navigate so many spaces and places that we need this perspective to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged because though we may nod and pop our fingers to Megan Thee Stallion’s music, but we can also push our dissertations and handle job interviews, all while code-switching (or not), and check a bitch if necessary when we need to.

This book says to me: “Bitch, I gotchu!” Which is used as a term of endearment and a declaration of solidarity, all while processing how those words are often used to demean and belittle us, but can also be seen as a term of friendship, solidarity, and familiarity. I loved it!

A beautiful voice modern, bold, never look back . It captures the fresh and holds true to a voice , in another day would have been lost . Ms Bowen is part example , part warrior , all striking for its fearlessness and passion. I look forward to the next adventure.

Bad Fat Black Girl is carefully summed up by the author as, “a unique cocktail of integrity, common sense, confidence, empathy, courage, and resilience.”

I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I really enjoyed it. The, “trap feminism” mantra and world as described by the author is one that I could totally identify with. I loved that she took her personal experiences and intertwined it with the current things that are happening in the world. I understood the cultural references and the song lyrics. It all came together nicely. I really appreciated this read.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

An extension and meditation her original essay, Sesali Bowen’s memoir Bad Fat Black Girl is a quick read if you’re feeling nostalgic for the days of Feministing.

Writer/blogger/feminist Sesali Bowen discusses her idea of trap feminism in this nonfiction book. She uses the term "trap" in this book to mean the language, culture, and ideologies of young people in the hood. Touching upon many related subjects related to feminism, including body image, beauty and sexuality, Bowen provides a feminist perspective from a woman from the hood that is not always highlighted in mainstream culture. While discussing these ideas, Bowen shares her personal experiences that have helped shape her thoughts.

This is a perspective on feminism that I hadn't known about before I listened to this book. I know that feminism is splintered into many different perspectives within the cause, but this is not one I had thought about before. What I liked about this book is that Bowen takes the time to break down many parts of trap culture while integrating it into her feminist thoughts. She also provides explanations of terms and phrases used in the hood and in feminism that I didn't know of before. All of it was very thought provoking and I feel like I learned a lot from this book.

I love Bowen's unapologetic views on sexuality. Women are conditioned to think that if we have a voracious sexual appetite or if we have casual sex, it's something to hide or be ashamed of. Bowen emphasizes the need to get rid of this type of thinking, and expands on it by sharing about her time as a consensual sex worker. I found this part of the book particularly fascinating because I share some of the same views she does and I wanted to hear more about the challenges sex workers face.

My favorite take away from this book was when she spoke of having standards and sticking to them. An important part of becoming successful and happy is making sure you set standards for yourself and not allowing others to force you to waver from them. Don't feel guilty for wanting what you want, how you want it!

I listened to this book and I highly recommend the audiobook. It's narrated by Bowen herself and it's always a plus for me to hear a writer read their own work for the audiobook.

⚠️: sexual assault, racism, body shaming

I am not much for non fiction (I like my books to be the made-up variety) but something about this cover and blurb appealed to me.
Am happy I picked up this engaging, entertaining, educational and fun rom through Sesali's youth, discovering herself and her sexuality, unpacking her relationships and how they affect the woman she has become, all tied into how hip hop talks about women and influences how we think about feminism and what it means to be us.
A good read-- something I'd go back and read and note and contemplate if I was big into nonfiction. Since I am not, I will let the intellectuals take over and dissect the text and suffice it to say that I enjoyed this memoir and text on Trap Feminism (although I am unhip so I have never heard most of the songs referenced. Off to spotify!)

I am so happy that every memoir I have been requesting from Netgalley has been AWESOME! This book touched my HEART, this author is amazing, I commend her for talking about everything that she went through, sometimes I caught myself from crying because I couldn’t believe in and in most parts I was laughing so hard, Sesali gives you her 411 on how she did her thing and how she succeeded for HERSELF, not for anyone else. I love the use of lyrics from artists mixed in with the book, and her story. I am telling you guys this book is a Memoir-self help, HANDS DOWN! A MUST read!

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

So first of all, where is this playlist? There’s a lyric reference in the back of the book but where it at?

I don’t spend much time in the music genre of rap but I was intrigued by the title. Trap Feminism. What even is that. Going in, Trap music and hip hop in general i thought was very opposite of what’s typically found of feminism. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of the two subjects and the individual chapter subjects.

At first, I was a little thrown off by how the N-word is used in the first paragraph of the intro (and all throughout) but within the few first pages I was hooked on her observations and perspective of it all. I am not Black but I found education and awareness and respect for my fellow Bad Bitches and I really enjoyed Bowen’s voice and delivery.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amistad and Sesali Brown for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book initially because of the cover and the description. I am not normally one who read non-fiction but I step out on a limb and read this. I was not disappointed. The unique philosophy of trap feminism made it easy for me to stay emotionally invested. This story is told from a vulnerable and raw place, and is mixed with a philosophy of trap feminism which made it easy for me to get emotionally invested and stay engaged. The song lyrics humor and the explanation of the black language were creative and greatly appreciated.

This is definitely a book that should be read by all.

This is an amazing and eye opening book. I would go so far as to say it’s life changing. It will change how you have been taught to think, and change your perception. She is a Trap Feminist, and her story will truly enlighten you.

This is extremely well written and thought out. She’s brutally honest and does an amazing job of educating the reader. She really put her heart into this book and it shows.

She goes into details about her struggles and heard work she did to become who she is today. She speaks about her former sex work, how she’s experienced racial prejudice, fat phobia, struggles with financial insecurity, how she is an advocate for Black women’s healthy sexuality, relationships and the struggles of equality for Black women in the LGBTQ community.

She’s proud of who she is and of her standards. This was a very insightful read, and I look forward to more of her works in the future.

I would like to thank Sesali Bowen, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist, Sesali Bowen (coming October 5, 2021) combines memoir and feminist cultural analysis seamlessly. Bowen centers her own fat Black queer experience, as a memoirist should, and she includes definitions to make her writing accessible to people not familiar with Black culture, and more specifically, trap culture. I challenge white feminists to read it and learn. We gain understanding when we read (and therefore inhabit) the perspective of people who don’t have the same life experiences we have.

Thankfully, Bowen explains trap music and how it fits into the broader genre of hip-hop and defines “trap feminism” at the beginning of the book, centering Black women and female rappers. Generally, the book follows her life experience of growing up fat and broke on the South Side of Chicago and is organized around a different theme in each chapter–from being fat, fighting, and money, to sex, relationships, and the importance of friendships.

Bowen describes how she is fat, and I felt like she was describing me with her detailed description of her specific body shape of being bigger on top and through the waist, with smaller legs–and how it’s sometimes described as being “built bad.” She acknowledges that generally Black people “have a higher tolerance for body fat on feminine bodies than other groups do” but that acceptance has to do more with body shape than size — being hourglass or pear-shaped with a flat stomach is celebrated regardless of size, but fat girls shaped like her are rejected and disrespected. She analyzes the concept of beauty as a cultural standard that maintains capitalist, white supremacist patriarchy and how fitting none of the standards–essentially having lesser value and little of the privilege “beauty” brings–has shown up in the culture and in her life. It’s brilliant and astute and the best description of being the “wrong” kind of fat in any of the fat-positive books I’ve read. (And I’ve been trying to be fat-positive almost as long as Bowen has been alive.)

The chapters on sexuality–her experiences with straight sex, starting young but at her choice, as a professional sex worker, and how she came to labeling herself as “queer” are honest and raw and free of shame. Her rules on relationships are rules I wish had been written years ago–she is so wise for someone still in her 30s.

I highly recommend Bad Fat Black Girl to anyone who wants to understand more about black feminism; fatness and anti-fat bias; gender and sexuality politics; and hip-hop culture in general. I look forward to much more from Sesali Bowen.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantastic read!

Bowen shares her experiences and Trap Feminism - her words for her feminist experience and that of many Black women.

Bowen opens up about her time as a sex worker, her rules in relationships, and the importance of friendships. This book is part memoir, part essay, and full of heartbreaking and eye opening anecdotes. Bowen puts words to familiar feelings and systems that shaped her feminist views and experiences. Each chapter shares the definition of some slang and line from a rap song. It's such a heartfelt and captivating book.

It's a refreshing take on feminism and identity.

I couldn't have loved this book more. You can tell from the first few lines that this author is authentic and choose to write a book that is unlike any else on the market today. Feminism meets hip-hop journalism meets fatphobia, this book does not shy away from a single thing! A fresh take on controversial and contemporary topics. Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed the premise of this book. I typically avoid non fiction but the title and cover alone sold me and I was not disappointed! The raw and vulnerable storytelling mixed with the unique philosophy of trap feminism kept me emotionally invested and intellectually engaged. The humor of the song lyrics and explanations of our (Black) vernacular were creative and appreciated. If you are looking to grow and experience a different perspective or resonate with shared experiences, I encourage every women and man to read this book; you will find aspects that you can relate to and hopefully question your own biases.

"Black women's greatest strength is that we are always more than what everyone says we are, and we've never been afraid to put people on notice about it..."

Sesali Bowen grabbed me from the Dedication and did not let go! In Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminst, Ms. Bowen defines trap feminism and what it means to be a trap feminist. During the height of the Me-Too movement and what seemed to be a re-emergence of the feminist movement, I felt like an outsider because I did not display the same "down with patriarchy" passion the way every woman that was labeled a feminist did. I love trap music despite the misogyny it glorifies and I'm not going to justify that. Sesali's teachings are punctuated with lyrics from trap songs that compliment the beautiful portrait of her trap feminist manifesto. She is speaking to me and I'm sure many others like me. If my being a Bad Fat Black Girl with the nerve to be happy offends, excuse me while I turn up my trap music and dance on your feelings.

PS: For those unfamiliar with trap music, I recommend listening to the songs and artists referenced in the book for a pretty solid introduction.

DNF. Didn’t like writing style. Picked up and put down few times. Just wasn’t for me. Thanks for chance to read this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

4.5 stars. I enjoyed the author's writing and how they struck a balance between highlighting/explaining important issues and including their personality and humor in it. Definitely worth a read.

I grew up listening to female rappers, I could and still can rap every word on Lil’ Kim’s Hard Core album. That album made me feel like a bad ass, as did Queen Latifa, Salt n’ Pepa, Foxy Brown and Eve to name a very few. These women made their listeners feel powerful and in charge. this generation had Nicki Minaj, Meg Thee Stallio and Cardi B to name a few and then it message is still the same. But we’re do late rappers fall, especially in the genre of trap music. Enter Sesali Bowen and “Trap Feminism” and her examination of fat phobia, sexism and the world of hip hop through her own lens. I loved this book and the authors unique voice and perspective. A great read for anyone who loves hip-hop but sometimes conflicted by it and the world it represents.

Fat, black, queer and trap feminist what does that look like or mean? Sesali Bowen takes us on the journey to explain what it means, how it came about and the journey that her life took in order for her to have developed the framework for understanding her life in the way that she does. A fat, black, queer woman gets to tell her own story here and her own story matters. This is an engaging, insightful, sometimes uncomfortable read but it's so very worth it.