Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies
Review by Emma Bowles
‘Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies)’ is a collection of essays written by various celebrities, ranging from Hollywood actresses to teenage activists, exploring what the word feminism means to them. The book is divided into five sections; epiphany, anger, joy, action and education, with a poetry break in the middle. These five sections are what the curator of the book, Scarlett Curtis, calls the “five stages of feminism.” At the end of the book there is also a ‘further reading’ section and a space for you to write your own thoughts which I found very useful.
Each essay is unique and personal, and the diverse backgrounds of women who have contributed ensures that the book examines feminism from lots of different angles and through a variety of different lenses.
My favourite section was ‘education’ which walks the reader through a brief history of feminism, explaining the different waves and movements. It also included studies and statistics on sexism and feminism which were fascinating to learn. There was also a big focus on intersectional feminism and how different forms of inequality can overlap and exacerbate each other.
“A feminist who only fights for the lives of women like herself isn’t fighting for everyone, so I’m going to keep going at this feminist thing until all women have the same access to human rights.”
This is not a book about hating men and burning bras. It is a book about educating people, young and old, on what feminism really is and why it is important. The book focuses on so many topics which are integral to modern-day feminism such as; FGM, motherhood, weight, periods and so much more. I would say it is a must read for anyone wanting to teach themselves more about the feminist movement.
Here are some recommendations for those who enjoyed this podcast:
- Podcast - Feminists Don’t Wear Pink
What does the f-word mean to you? Journalist and activist Scarlett Curtis interviews inspiring women about what feminism means to them, and why it matters. This podcast contains some strong opinions, very honest discussions and women who could change your life. (Description from https://www.spotify.com/)
Available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, and most other podcast platforms
- Book - Girl up: kick ass, claim your woman card and crush everyday sexism by Laura Bates
Hilarious, jaunty and bold, Girl Up exposes the truth about the pressures surrounding body image, the false representations in media, the complexities of a sex and relationships, the trials of social media and all the other lies they told us. (Description from https://www.waterstones.com/)
Available from Amazon, Waterstones, and other major bookstores
- Book- Colonise this! Young women of colour on todays feminism edited by Daisy Hernàndez and Bushra Rehman
In Colonize This!, Daisy Hernandez and Bushra Rehman have collected a diverse, lively group of emerging writers who speak to the strength of community and the influence of color, to borders and divisions, and to the critical issues that need to be addressed to finally reach an era of racial freedom. (Description from https://www.amazon.co.uk/)
*both of these books are from the further reading list provided in Feminists Don’t Wear Pink and Other Lies
