The term "chick lit" is a lot like the term "chick flick" - a term of derision, used to dismiss any genre that appeals to primarily women.  But is that all chick lit really is?

A definition given by many writers of chick lit is that it is a type of writing by, about, and for women.  The stories deal with women's concerns in a way that appeals to many women.  They range from the admittedly silly and frivolous to the insightful and entertaining.  The stories delve into feelings, concerns, and desires many women face in their lives.  They deal with these concerns in a way that validates women's approaches to these concerns, in an entertaining way.  The ways in which chick lit address women's concerns also varies.  There is a vast variety of styles to choose from in chick lit.  In fact, under the term "chick lit" are many sub-genres - everything from fantasy to mystery to psychological thrillers.  I have read stories about a woman who, in trying to remove a birthmark, develops a "third eye" - and sees more clearly than ever before; a woman who solves a mystery in which she is the prime suspect, having been flirting with the deceased just before he died; an allegory of a woman who wants to be taken care of, a la Peter the Pumpkin Eater's wife, and then breaks free of her prison in an unusual way; and many more.  Yes, these are all chick lit!  There is a story for any woman out there in chick lit that will speak to her and validate her feelings.

Most stories in this genre are serious literature, although not always seen that way by academic standards.  However, in his time, Shakespeare wasn't seen as serious literature either!  Unfortunately, it seems as if the chick lit genre is not taken seriously because of its ties to women and their experiences.  This doesn't mean, though, that chick lit should just be dismissed out of hand.  The stories of women and their experiences are just beginning to be told.  Chick lit is a fictionalized account of those experiences, and it should be included in serious studies of women and their worldview, just as "chick flicks" should be, as well.  There is a lot to learn from the way women see the world, and chick lit is one way we have to see the world through their eyes.

I personally love chick lit, and one of my favorites is Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, about a woman after my own heart - a woman for whom shopping is as vital as breathing!  Another is The Devil Wears Prada; I also like Rebecca Wells' series about the Ya-Yas.  Fannie Flagg writes awesome chick-lit, as does Kristen Billerbeck, if you like chick-lit with a Christian perspective.  This isn't, of course, a definitive list, but it'll give you an idea about what's out there.

So if you like chick lit - hold your head high!  You are indulging in a literature - yes, a literature - that celebrates your views, your experiences, and your connections to one another.  And what's so wrong with that??