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A review by phases_of_dawn
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
"My own definition of a feminist is a man or a woman who says, 'Yes, there's a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, we must do better.' All of us, women and men, must do better."
"We Should All Be Feminists" is an essay in which the author, starting by criticizing any negative connotations with the word "feminist" itself, gives an introduction to the idea of feminism as a whole. She focuses on the fact that even though a separation of genders and their roles might have made sense in the past, it doesn't anymore - thereby successfully invalidating any arguments having to do with the oppression of women and with gender roles as "culture." ("What is the point of culture? Culture functions ultimately to ensure the preservation and continuity of a people.")
She also argues that since the oppression of women, like any other form of oppression, is so deeply ingrained in our society, those socializations influence our thoughts as well as our actions without us even realizing - which is why it's even more important that we learn about them, reflect and question things and ourselves. When people "don't see gender" (or other types of oppression), it's easy for them to dismiss the ways that marginalized people experience the world differently from them. Therefore, it's not only important to raise girls differently, but boys as well - which is definitely an important point.
In my opinion, "We Should All Be Feminists" can be a good introduction to feminism. It includes great examples that make the concepts easier to understand and it's short as well as easy to follow.
But the author's transphobia (that certain paragraphs in this book hint at/include as well) leaves a bitter aftertaste. Feminism has to include trans women.
"We Should All Be Feminists" is an essay in which the author, starting by criticizing any negative connotations with the word "feminist" itself, gives an introduction to the idea of feminism as a whole. She focuses on the fact that even though a separation of genders and their roles might have made sense in the past, it doesn't anymore - thereby successfully invalidating any arguments having to do with the oppression of women and with gender roles as "culture." ("What is the point of culture? Culture functions ultimately to ensure the preservation and continuity of a people.")
She also argues that since the oppression of women, like any other form of oppression, is so deeply ingrained in our society, those socializations influence our thoughts as well as our actions without us even realizing - which is why it's even more important that we learn about them, reflect and question things and ourselves. When people "don't see gender" (or other types of oppression), it's easy for them to dismiss the ways that marginalized people experience the world differently from them. Therefore, it's not only important to raise girls differently, but boys as well - which is definitely an important point.
In my opinion, "We Should All Be Feminists" can be a good introduction to feminism. It includes great examples that make the concepts easier to understand and it's short as well as easy to follow.
But the author's transphobia (that certain paragraphs in this book hint at/include as well) leaves a bitter aftertaste. Feminism has to include trans women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia