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In this selection for the RWR Book Club Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist by Sesali Bown is part memoir, part manifesto, Bad Fat Black Girl brings Sesali Bowen’s trap feminist perspective to life through essays on pop culture, gender politics, sexuality, and body image.
Her voice is bold, irreverent, intersectional — and completely necessary in a world that erases fat, queer Black femmes.
The Book Club Bad Fat Black Girl Reading Guide:
Book Summary
In Bad Fat Black Girl, Sesali Bowen redefines what it means to be feminist — unapologetically fat, Black, femme, and ratchet. Through a collection of essays that blend personal narrative with cultural commentary, Bowen introduces “trap feminism,” a framework that honors pleasure, power, and survival in the lives of women who are often excluded from mainstream feminist conversations.
With humor, intellect, and raw honesty, she explores everything from sexuality and body image to hustle culture, reality TV, and growing up in Chicago. This isn’t a book that tries to tidy up complex identities — it celebrates their messiness. Bowen challenges the idea that feminism has to be academic or respectable to be real, and instead carves out space for lived experience, emotional truth, and joy on your own terms.
Bad Fat Black Girl isn’t just about self-love — it’s about liberation rooted in truth, swagger, and softness
This Book Is Great If You…
- Love cultural commentary with bite
- Want a body politics read that’s not “respectable”
- Are ready to redefine feminism on your own terms
Need a Copy?
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Why I Chose This Book
Sesali Bowen doesn’t ask for permission. She reclaims space and power — and that’s exactly what I hope for every person in the RWR community. This book challenges dominant narratives about health, fatness, and feminism with humor and heat.
Suggested 4-Week Reading Plan
Week 1: Introduction + 3 essays
Week 2: Next 3–4 essays
Week 3: Final essays
Week 4: Reflection
Journal Prompts
- How does respectability politics show up in your life?
- What does it mean to you to be “too much”?
- Where have you felt erased or misrepresented in wellness spaces?
- What would radical visibility look like for you?
FAQ
Q: Is this book PG?
A: Nope — it’s unfiltered, and that’s part of its power.
Q: What does “trap feminism” mean?
A: Trap feminism is a framework coined by Sesali Bowen that merges the realities of Black femme life with the unapologetic energy of trap music and culture. It’s about claiming pleasure, agency, and power — without waiting for permission or centering respectability.
Q: Is this book more academic or personal?
A: It’s personal, bold, and wildly engaging. While Bowen addresses complex topics like feminism, fatphobia, and cultural identity, her style is conversational, story-driven, and accessible. You’ll feel like you’re learning from a brilliant friend.
Q: Do I need to be familiar with hip-hop or trap culture to enjoy this book?
A: Not at all. Bowen provides enough context for all readers to follow along. If anything, it’s an opportunity to learn from a culture that’s often misunderstood or dismissed — and to explore how it intersects with gender, race, and body politics.
Q: How does this fit into the RWR mission?
A: Bowen’s work embodies the spirit of Results Without Restriction: rejecting respectability, honoring embodied joy, and creating space for liberation that isn’t sanitized or gatekept. It’s about living fully, loudly, and on your own terms — something we deeply believe in at RWR.
Keywords
- trap feminist body politics
- Black feminism and fat liberation
- unfiltered memoir
