2020 EDIT: Changing my rating. Read this review here for the reason why.
While I take away only one star because Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie does bring up some very good points, I cannot in good conscience support exclusionary feminism, by a blatantly exclusionary feminist. Feminism that isn't inclusive isn't feminism, it's the height of arrogance, ignorance, hypocrisy, patriarchal and conservative complacency, and refusing to progress, grow and move on with the times (that is, acknowledging that queer people have always existed - and in the millions, if not billions - and they matter as much as het and cis people). Humans' ability to grow and progress in society is what feminism has always been about.
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. LBGTQ people - including the trans and nonbinary communities - matter, and deserve equal rights. Transphobes and TERFs seem to be so obsessed with biology, genitals and what's between other people's legs - which is invasive and dehumanising. And they call trans people perverted.
To deny anyone basic human rights; to deny the existence of, or to ignore, or to attack, or to tell lies about, people who are hurting no one, who have done nothing to you, who don't affect your life in any way, and who you have probably never met - that is hateful. And feminism isn't about hatred, division and ignorance. Because that's what the patriarchy is about, and we have to be better than that.
Additionally, when it comes to 'We Should All Be Feminists', what is with people, including "feminist" women!, being in favour of the idea that men are inherently physically stronger than women. Even of that were true (it isn't; look up Kati Sandwina and other women like her), so what? How does that prove that women are inferior and deserve to be treated as subhuman? Why does it mean that men are biologically superior to women? What meaningful conclusion can be reached from the "because biology" statement (hint: biology and genetics aren't everything and don't apply to everyone)? What does possessing physical strength have to do with being a leader - being able to run a business, or rule an entire country? It only further highlights how much patriarchal societies are obsessed with violence and aggression. And women do not have smaller craniums and smaller brains; I thought that myth had been debunked over a century ago.
Bigots, keep remembering what century you're in, please.
That's my new review. Have a nice, lovely, safe day.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
'"You know, you're a feminist."
It was not a compliment. I could tell from his tone -- the same tone with which a person would say, "You're a supporter of terrorism."' - page 8.
Lilly Ledbetter Law - “in the US, a man and a woman are doing the same job, with the same qualifications, and the man is paid more because he is a man.” - page 17.
My first five star book of 2016!
This essay, adapted from the author's TEDx talk, on why we need feminism and why it is so important for everyone, happened to be in a bookshop when I went travelling to go shopping. I read it in half an hour, while waiting for my bus back home. It turned a rainy day into one full of hope. I'm so glad texts like this are being distributed and sold publically.
I had read and loved other acclaimed feminist textbooks before, but 'We Should All Be Feminists' is short, basic yet insightful enough to be easily accessible to absolutely anyone in one sitting. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks briefly about the history of sexism, the reasons for sexist human divisions, and her own experiences of sexism throughout her life; giving it a personal, warm, relatable touch, like a letter from a friend.
An important letter which speaks the truth, breaks down the gendered bullshit in certain cultures, and shatters myths that are built and indulged in by the patriarchy and white supremacy working hand-in-hand.
I love Adichie stating how society raises boys to be "manly" in an extremely narrow sense. We raise them to be emotionless, where only anger and dominance are preferred expressions. We raise them to be physically stronger; to be “hard”, masculine, and violently reject anything considered feminine, like crying - a perfectly natural thing for humans to do but is discouraged in males all the time. By social rule, to be in any way associated with girls is the ultimate insult. In consequence, we stifle men’s humanity. I wanted to cheer when Adichie says that by perpetrating this normalised behaviour, we leave men with very fragile egos. And girls are raised to cater to those fragile egos, lest they feel "emasculated" (the author hates this word as much as I do). How ironic that women are generally believed to be too emotional or “crazy”, when at the slightest upset to their ego men are actually shown to overact and become “overly emotional”, meaning angry.
By shaming girls in nearly every aspect, and limiting them in their potential abilities (don't be "too good", they say, otherwise you will threaten men), we also reduce the humanity of boys by teaching them not to be emotional. Unless it's to be violent, and dominant, sexual predators. And that's seen as okay because "boys will be boys". This outdated phrase is dangerous, by the way. It deliberately shifts responsibilities from men and avoids discussions on how we raise them to think they’re above everything - to think they’re more important than women. Let us stop using it for excusing men and boys from facing consequences for their own individual actions.
I too hate how women who are in charge of anything are seen as bitchy and aggressive, no matter what tone of voice they use, and that they even have to "police" their tone to begin with! I hate that women’s appearances are judged constantly; that they’re more often than not seen as just a body. I hate how, from babyhood, girls are unconsciously taught to be ashamed of being female; by “covering up” and not showing “too much skin”, and not to “cause a scene”. I hate that in this day and age, marriage and babies are all that's expected for those who have a vagina. I hate that women are taught to be afraid of pretty much everything, including success, and of not being seen as "likable" (in a female, meaning smiling and submissive). I hate being shown, over and over again, that a man's ego is far more important than a woman's well-being and ambition (seriously, fuck that). I hate how women the world over, in 2016, are still seen as second-class citizens - half the human race is largely, unfairly measured as being less than.
Adichie also puts the point across that culture can and must change in order for all people to be free and happier. It is true that culture does not make people - people make culture.
So let us all stop making assumptions of people based on their gender. Imagine if archaic gender expectations would just die already in the mainstream consciousness - how can anyone object to that, when it benefits all? Patriarchy hurts men as well as women, after all - it is a system which strives us to limit ourselves, to not express ourselves fully, for fear of being ostracized just because of our biological sex.
Intersectionality, and understanding every one person's experience is different, are also key issues the essay refers to.
'We Should All Be Feminists' is up to 50 pages long, and doesn't get into issues such as gender expectations hurting the LBGQ and transgender community. But it is a great start for anyone wishing to understand what feminism actually means, and how it can help in changing the world.
Because the fact that talks like this one exist, proves we’ve still got a long way to go to achieve true gender equality.
Final Score: 5/5
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