International Women's Day
Happy International Women's Day! It's a day of celebrating the achievements of women, big and small, past and present. It's a day to encourage the women in your life to pursue their dreams and overcome any barriers in their way. But importantly, It is a day to highlight the many issues facing women today.
A few years ago, I was someone who believed it when society says "but women are equal". Equal rights is enshrined in law so surely feminism is pointless?! It was easy as a young white British female to accept this and to brand all feminists as "femi-nazis". But this isn't the case.
During my university days, I become more aware of gender imbalances and started taking an active interest in feminist topics. The books below helped remove the wool from my eyes and see that there are real problems facing women in the world. Whilst I may not have noticed my gender acting as a barrier, there are women who do. With every new book I pick up, I learn of a new problem that I hadn't realised existed.
The Five (Hallie Rubenhold)
This book is a biography of the victims of Jack the Ripper. We get to see what life was life for a Victorian woman, especially those who fell on hard times. Throughout, the message is reiterated - they were not just prostitutes. In fact, only 2 of them ever had been, with only one still working as one when she died. I loved how respectful Hallie Rubenhold is towards the women. There was very little on the murders themselves so if you're looking to read about that, find another book. An insightful read.
The Girl With The Louding Voice (Abi Dare)
This story follows Adunni, a third wife in rural Nigeria, who pursues her dream of getting an education. Until I'd read this, I hadn't realised how lucky I am to have been born in the UK. This book covers polygamy, child marriage, abuse and rape. We see how many men see Adunni as a possession, as a body, as a vessel for children, as someone who should just be quiet and sort the house out. A really harrowing read but also eye-opening - I found myself googling afterwards to find out more about the situation for women in Nigeria.
My Dark Vanessa (Kate Elizabeth Russell)
A recent read for me. This story follows Vanessa Wye as she reflects on her first relationship with her English teacher, questioning whether it was love or abuse. At times this book was heavy and uncomfortable as there were scenes of rape, manipulation and poor mental health. For me, it highlighted how abuse can happen to anyone. I found teenage Vanessa quite relatable at times. The author also explored attitudes towards victims coming forward. There are some who brand victims as liars, those who say it's the victim's fault, there are victims who are happy to come forward, those pressuring victims to speak out, and there are those who aren't ready to. Seeing these viewpoints interact with each other made me a lot more aware of how brave someone must be to step forward, but also respectful towards who don't feel they can.
On The Front Line With The Women Who Fight Back (Stacey Dooley)
I herald this book as my feminist awakening. I've seen a lot of Stacey's documentaries (check them out on iPlayer!) so was immediately drawn to this book. What I love is how each chapter covers a different issue facing women. There's femicide to prison life, prostitution to pornography. Stacey then explores each theme, drawing on the stories from women she's met while making her documentaries. I was shocked by parts of this book. The bits that stayed with me most were the parts in Honduras. I hadn't realised how awful and terrifying it must be for women there. A great exploration into some big feminist topics.
Kim JiYoung, Born 1982 (Cho Nam-Joo)
I hadn't realised how naïve I was before I read this. Set in South Korea, we follow Kim JiYoung's life, from baby to adult. I'd seen South Korea as a modern country so assumed it had modern attitudes towards women. At each stage of her life, Kim JiYoung is faced by everyday sexism. She shares a room with her sister while her brother has his own. She's turned down for a job. She's blamed when a man tried to follow her home. She's expected to give up her career and start a family. A really interesting read that feels at times more like a biography.
Invisible Women (Caroline Criado Perez)
If you want some stats, this is the book for you. Caroline Criado Perez explains the gender data gap and how this is affecting women's lives. Again, this book made me angry and surprised. It contained revelations for me, like the lack of statutory maternity rights in the USA, why phones are becoming too big for women to hold, and the fact that women are more likely to be given antidepressants when they suffer from back pain. There's a lot of information in this book, so I wouldn't recommend reading it quickly or maybe even in one go. But it's good for reference and makes you sit back and go "damn, this isn't right!".
• Women in Mathematics (Lynn M Osen)
• Untamed (Glennon Doyle)
• Circe (Madeline Miller)
• Girl Woman Other (Bernadine Evaristo)
• Beloved (Toni Morrison)
• The Scarlett Letter (Nathanial Hawthorne)