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Kirsten Leng, associate professor of women, gender, sexuality studies recently published a book with the University of Nebraska Press exploring the role of humor in late 20th-century U.S. feminism.

“Pleasure, Play, and Politics” explores how U.S. feminist activists and artists used satire, irony and spectacle in the late 20th century as part of their political toolkit. Drawing on extensive archival research and numerous case studies of activists and artists, the book highlights how feminists used humor to fight for reproductive justice and equity, decry sex and race discrimination, illuminate and celebrate queer lives, and confront misogyny. In so doing, the book shines a light on activists and artists whose contributions to social justice have long been overlooked.

“’Pleasure, Play, and Politics’ makes a significant contribution to feminist history, cultural studies, humor studies, pop culture studies, and gender studies,” says Linda Mizejewski, professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies and theater, film and media at the Ohio State University. “It is a joy to read a book of rigorous scholarship that is also lively and enjoyable. This is a brilliant and much-needed book.”

Leng is also the author of “Sexual Politics and Feminist Science: Women Sexologists in Germany, 1900-1933” (Cornell University Press, 2018). She currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Women’s History and NursingClio.org.