Is this just happening in the state of Washington where her college friend complained about this or is this happening in All states? Not Sure.
I asked online about this and this is what I found:
begin quotes:
Yes,
books related to women's studies, gender, sexuality, and race are being
systematically challenged and removed from libraries across the U.S.
,
particularly in schools and military institutions. This trend is part
of a larger nationwide increase in book challenges that has intensified
since 2021. Key instances and trends include:
- Military library purges: Hundreds of books were purged from military academy libraries, including titles related to gender studies and feminism. In early 2025, Pentagon schools removed books covering gender issues and diversity for "compliance review," leading to the closure of libraries and the removal of books covering sexuality and gender identity.
- Targeted university programs: In August 2024, New College of Florida discarded hundreds of library books, including many from the discontinued gender studies program. The administration labeled the action "weeding its collection," but advocacy groups described it as a "cultural purge".
- Targeting of Black feminist texts: Critically acclaimed books by Black women, such as those by Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, are frequently attacked and banned.
- Challenges to foundational texts: Foundational feminist and women's studies texts, including The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir and Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective, have historically faced bans and challenges in libraries.
- Role of advocacy groups: Unlike past challenges that started locally, conservative advocacy groups have worked to nationalize these efforts, often targeting books on race, gender, and sexuality.
- Legal and political factors: Laws in some Republican-led states require schools to restrict materials with "sexual content" or controversial themes, often leading to the removal of books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The legal challenges have been complex, with some book ban laws, like in Arkansas, being struck down as unconstitutional.
- Impact on academic institutions: Academic disciplines like Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) face challenges related to funding, institutional support, and administrative hostility towards their curriculum.
The ongoing debate
- Supporters of book removals often claim that targeted books contain inappropriate sexual content or controversial themes.
- Opponents of the bans, including librarians, authors, and free speech advocates, view the removals as censorship. They highlight the chilling effect on intellectual freedom and the selective targeting of materials covering marginalized communities. The American Library Association has documented a sharp increase in censorship attempts since 2021.
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