Green Day under fire for lacking female voice in feminist book

Green Day are under scrutiny following the announcement of their new feminist-inspired book, Last Of The American Girls.

Described by the publisher as “an inspiring homage and handbook for the rebellious everywoman who refuses to capitulate,” fans have raised questions concerning the all-male team behind the book.

Read more: Evan Peters says he’s sitting out ‘American Horror Story’ season 9

Written by bandmates Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, it marks their debut book. However, the trio’s choice of male illustrator in Frank Caruso to bring the picture book to life is being scrutinized.

Twitter user @wedrovenorth questioned the band’s announcement tweet, wondering how “punk” it is to leave women off the editorial staff.

“boys i love u with all of my heart and would happily take SEVERAL bullets for you. but dont you think the main ‘rule’’ to being an independent woman in punk should be to, well, not be told how to live their lives by men who have no experience in what its like to live as a woman??”

Several other Twitter users expressed their opinions on the band and Caruso teaming up for the feminist book.

https://twitter.com/Avelana1989/status/1113480538214371328

While many are echoing these sentiments, fans have come to the defense of the band, saying that the book doesn’t act as a how-to guide for women to live, but rather an illustrated version of the 21st Century Breakdown track.

Twitter user @loxisdead shared a screenshot of the book’s summary, showing the counterargument about the subject matter of the book.

“@ everyone criticizing Green Day because they don’t realize Last of the American Girls is a song—IT’S AN ILLUSTRATED BOOK FOR THE SONG. NOT A BOOK ABOUT HOW WOMEN SHOULD LIVE.” the tweet reads.  

Armstrong recently spoke to Blunt about the book, voicing his desire to empower women and identifying his muse for the project, his wife.

“Then I started getting into more of my own beliefs—anything from a little book of conspiracies to playing vinyl records or something,” he says. “It’s sort of about an empowering, sort of subterranean kind of lifestyle, but at the same time, there’s a new era coming in with the way we all need to live.”

Last Of The American Girls will be available for purchase Oct. 29.

How do you feel about Green Day’s new book? Sound off in the comments below!

See more: 10 pop-punk shows we wish we could have gone to

[envira-gallery id=”194483″]