Title We Should All Be Feminists

Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Year Published 2015

Kind of Book Gender/Feminism

How strongly I recommend it 5/10 

My Impressions I was a little turned off by the simplicity of the arguments and language of this book. I felt that it needed to be longer and the arguments more drawn out. It could be though that this book is purposefully very short and basic. A kind of crash course on the problems feminists want to address. The kind of book you can hand to your sexist Grandpa and he can read in one sitting. The kind of book that might cause someone to get motivated to do more reading on the subject.

Date Read March 2020

What question is the author trying to answer? Why should we all be feminists?

Practical Takeaways

  • Teach both boys and girls cooking and housework not just girls

  • Women should not thank their husbands for caring for their children. They should expect it

  • Men need to speak out in situations [ when women are being discriminated against

 

Big Ideas

  • Nigerian people are quick to give unsolicited advice

 

  • The word 'feminist' carries a lot of negative connotations

  • People think feminist means

-you hate mate

-you hate bras

-you hate African culture

-you think women should always be in charge

-you don't wear makeup

-you don't shave

-you're always angry

-you don't have a sense of humor

-you don't use deodorant

 

  • Men and women are different biologically

But

  • Socialization exaggerates the differences between men and women

 

  • In the US, a man earns more than a woman doing the same job with the same qualifications

Because

  • He is a man

 

  • A thousand years ago physical strength was the most important attribute for a leader

But

  • In today's world physical strength is not important for leaders to posses

  • In today's world innovation, intelligence, and creativity are important for leaders to posses

And

  • Women are just as likely to be innovative, intelligent, and creative as men

 

  • We should all be angry about gender inequality

 

  • Anger has a long history of bringing about positive change

 

  •  Society thinks women shouldn't be angry

  • Women are raised to be "liked" and not to show anger or be aggressive or disagreeable

 

  • People are more likely to award men for the same feedback a woman gives

 

  • Society teaches girls to worry about what boys think of them

But

  • Society does not teach boys to care about being likable

 

  • There are many books around the world telling women how to appease men.

But

  • There are few books around the world telling men how to appease women

 

  • Society teaches boys not show fear, weakness, or vulnerability

 

  • Society teaches women not to outshine men (eg. Have more money or success than men)

 

  • Society teaches girls to aspire to get married

But

  • Society doesn't teach boys to aspire to get married 

 

  • Women in our society feel pressure to value marriage above everything else in their lives

 

  • Society pressures women to get married by a certain age

But

  • Society doesn't pressure men to get married by a certain age

 

  • Society praises a girl for remaining a virgin

But

  • Society doesn't praise boys for remaining virgins

 

  • We would be freer to be ourselves if we didn't have to conform to gender expectations

 

  • If women dress too feminine they are not taken seriously in the workplace

 

  • Both men and women are resistant to talk about gender

 

  • Both men and women are quick to dismiss the problems of gender

 

  • Some men feel threatened by feminism

 

  • Many men tend not think about gender or notice gender