This Is Woman's Work: Calling Forth Your Inner Council of Wise, Brave, Crazy, Rebellious, Loving, Luminous Selves by Dominique Christina Summary

1. Dominique Christina’s "This Is Woman’s Work" redefines womanhood through 20 transformative archetypes like Ghost Woman and Woman with Cool Hands.
2. Embrace the Shadow Woman archetype to confront repressed trauma and reclaim unexpressed power.
3. The Willing Woman archetype reveals strength in surrender and radical self-acceptance.
4. Ghost Woman archetype teaches survival through persistence ‘in spite of’ systemic erasure.
5. Women with Cool Hands embody healing through intentional acts of care and emotional labor.
6. Dominique Christina frames self-definition as revolutionary work against patriarchal narratives of womanhood.
7. Archetypal exploration helps women dismantle internalized oppression and rewrite inherited identity scripts.
8. This Is Woman’s Work positions creative expression as sacred practice for personal liberation.
9. Christina’s “inner council” framework transforms self-doubt into collaborative wisdom from archetypal selves.
10. The book reframes femininity as fluid spectrum of warrior, survivor, and creator energies.
11. Radical self-definition becomes spiritual practice in Dominique Christina’s decolonized womanhood manifesto.
12. Archetypal integration helps women reclaim multiplicities rejected by patriarchal social conditioning.

About the Author

Dominique Christina, award-winning poet, social activist, and educator, brings her transformative voice to This Is Woman’s Work, a powerful exploration of gender, identity, and resilience.

A two-time Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion and National Poetry Slam winner, Christina’s work is rooted in her family’s civil rights legacy and her dual master’s degrees in education and English literature.

Her acclaimed collections, including Anarcha Speaks (National Poetry Series winner) and The Bones, The Breaking, The Balm: A Colored Girl’s Hymnal, blend raw social commentary with lyrical intensity, addressing systemic inequities and personal liberation.

A sought-after speaker, she has graced stages at TedxMSU Denver, HBO’s High Maintenance, and the Emerging Women Conference alongside figures like Alanis Morissette. Her viral poem The Period Poem cemented her status as a cultural force, with work featured in Huffington Post, Alight Literary Journal, and academic curricula nationwide.

Christina’s writings are celebrated as essential texts in contemporary poetry and social justice discourse.

FAQs About This Book

What is This Is Woman’s Work by Dominique Christina about?

This Is Woman’s Work explores 20 archetypal incarnations of womanhood, such as the Rebel, the Beggar, and the Willing Woman, to help readers reconnect with their inner power. Through poetry, reflective exercises, and personal insights, Dominique Christina guides women to confront societal expectations and reclaim their authentic voices. The book blends creative writing prompts with feminist philosophy, offering a roadmap for self-discovery and creative expression.

Who should read This Is Woman’s Work?

This book is ideal for women seeking to dismantle limiting narratives about femininity, creativity, and identity. Artists, activists, educators, and anyone navigating transitions in career, relationships, or personal growth will find its archetypal framework transformative. It resonates particularly with readers drawn to intersectional feminist literature and fans of Christina’s award-winning poetic style.

Is This Is Woman’s Work worth reading?

Yes—it’s a unique blend of lyrical storytelling and practical self-inquiry, praised for its radical reimagining of womanhood. Christina’s five-time poetry slam champion expertise infuses the text with urgency, while writing exercises make abstract concepts actionable. Ideal for readers who want to engage deeply with both personal and collective feminine narratives.

What archetypes are explored in This Is Woman’s Work?

The book examines 20 inner "wise women," including:

• The Rebel (challenging oppressive systems)
• The Beggar (navigating scarcity mindsets)
• The Willing Woman (embracing radical accountability)
• The Bone Collector (confronting inherited trauma) Each archetype includes writing prompts to integrate their lessons into daily life.

How does This Is Woman’s Work combine poetry and self-help?

Christina uses visceral poetry to unpack complex emotions, paired with structured exercises like "Dialogues with Your Shadow Self" and "Mapping Your Ancestral Stories." This hybrid approach allows readers to engage intellectually and intuitively, bridging creative writing with therapeutic practice.

What makes Dominique Christina qualified to write this book?

A five-time national poetry slam champion and educator with dual master’s degrees in English and Education, Christina draws from her Civil Rights Movement legacy, decade of teaching, and HBO writing credits. Her prior award-winning books (Anarcha Speaks, The Bones...) establish her expertise in feminist historiography.

Can This Is Woman’s Work be used in group settings?

Yes—its exercises are designed for solo or collaborative work, making it suitable for book clubs, writing workshops, or therapy groups. The archetype-focused chapters facilitate discussions about societal roles, creativity blocks, and intergenerational healing.

How does this book differ from other feminist self-help guides?

Unlike prescriptive guides, Christina prioritizes creative excavation over step-by-step fixes. The archetype framework avoids universalizing women’s experiences, instead inviting readers to customize their journey through poetry and ancestral reflection. It’s particularly distinct in its centering of Black feminist thought.

What critical acclaim has This Is Woman’s Work received?

Though specific awards aren’t listed, Christina’s prior work (Anarcha Speaks) won the National Poetry Series Prize. Reviewers highlight the book’s "untangling of hidden geographies" and its utility for writers and activists. It’s also taught in university courses on feminist literature.

How long is This Is Woman’s Work, and what’s its structure?

At 208 pages, the book is divided into 20 archetype-focused chapters, each containing:

• A poetic invocation
• Analysis of the archetype’s shadow/light aspects
• Writing prompts
• Integration exercises This modular design allows non-linear reading.

Does This Is Woman’s Work address intersectionality?

Yes—Christina explicitly ties archetypes to race, class, and queer identity. For example, "The Bone Collector" chapter discusses navigating systemic racism, while "The Conjure Woman" explores reclaiming marginalized spiritual practices.

Where can I buy This Is Woman’s Work?

Available through major retailers like Barnes & Noble and Sounds True Publishing. The ISBN is 978-1649631251, with paperback and e-book formats released in August 2023.