We Should All Be Feminists

We should indeed

As part of the Tea & Sympathy Book Club, last month we read this short yet enlightening book by acclaimed Nigerian author Ngozi Adichie. I must say that this short essay works wonders, or least it did in our group, since both the topic and the length were motivating factors for the group readers; I mention this because in my experience running book clubs, some people tend to be put off by lengthy books as their reading pace is slower than when they read in their native tongues.

This book stems from an equally thrilling talk given by Adichie at TED some years ago. With a title like that, I guess few people would be surprised by its content, as the author's aim is clearly laid out right from the start. The writer's own experience as a girl growing up in her country is used as guide to expose society's inherent sexism and discrimination for the simple fact of being a girl. For her, this must be challenged and in doing so she faces being ridiculed and criticised by those who label feminism as a dirty word and refuse the main principle behind the definition of a feminist: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.

This book challenges stereotypes, raises awareness about an issue that is still a long way from being normalised and, ultimately, serves its purpose as an educational tool that should be a compulsory read in schools and colleges everywhere.