Read it. Seriously. It should be required reading for every single person alive.
'Everyday Sexism', written by Laura Bates, unstoppable journalist and founder of the online Everyday Sexism Project, is an unrepentant eye-opener. Of all the books about feminism I have read, none have affected me as personally as 'Everyday Sexism'. No other text has made me this angry, upset, horrified, and this gratified to say, "I'm not alone; I'm not the only one who thinks this!"
All texts have made me hopeful as well, and ‘Everyday Sexism’ is no exception.
In the 21st century, the world - the patriarchy - really seems dead set on objectifying, threatening, hurting, humiliating, abusing, controlling, and vilifying women. It seems constructed so that everything in the "free lives" of human girls and women is made unattainable and unsafe for them in general. Above all, the patriarchy wants to silence women and their experiences; to limit them, reduce them to invisibility, pornography and jokes.
To keep them compliant to what is normalised socially.
The consequence is that the problem of sexism/misogyny is now much harder to speak up about than ever before. This system was built by and for men; it caters to them - the winning, historically privileged gender - above all other, divided genders. Patriarchy is designed to make sure that women fail in every aspect of their lives - in order to give life still to old, harmful gender stereotypes and double standards. And retain the status quo.
It is a world against women; turning our society into women against the world.
'Everyday Sexism' bluntly states the importance of statistics, of listening to people's experiences, and in doing so it reveals deeply disturbing, rage-inducing and heartbreaking facts. It is also incredibly smart, witty, and approachable for all. Every argument is addressed, and comments/quotes from the Everyday Sexism Project - bravely posted by real women and men from different walks of life - are looked at and discussed. Laura Bates gets right to the root of the problem of sexism, and how it works in every aspect of our everyday culture. She explains why it is essential for a cultural shift to happen in order to dispel myths and illusions, and create a truly equal society that’s here to stay; one befitting this century.
Because change and hope are possible - we just need to be bigger, better and numerous enough, as a people, to demand them. Together. It is important to remember that none of us are alone.
Every passage and comment in this remarkable book deserves its own frame. However, I'll end my review with a couple of actual posts I'm paraphrasing, but which have stuck out for me because they put it best the ways sexism sadly lives on, obvious and effective:
"My gender is not an insult. I'm sick of this shit."
"We speak up against sexism, we are silenced. We shout loudly enough to be heard, they bring up the harpy-women-be-crazy card. Lose-lose."
This isn't fiction. This is happening even now, every day.
One of the most important texts I've ever felt the need to recommend universally.
Final Score: 5/5
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