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by Robin Sharma
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We Should All Be Feminists summary
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Why Feminism is the key to a better world
12 mins
Brief summary
'We Should All Be Feminists' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie delves into the impact of gender stereotypes on our lives and emphasizes the importance of gender equality to create a more just and inclusive world.
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We Should All Be Feminists
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The are many common misconceptions surrounding the word “feminism.”
Have you ever witnessed an argument when someone used the word “feminism”? Did you notice how people reacted?
Like many other -isms, feminism is a word that provokes a wide range of reactions in people – and many of them are negative. In fact, feminism can often evoke aggression and condescension.
The author experienced this when she was still a teenager – and didn’t even know what a feminist was. When she was fourteen, she had a vigorous argument with a close male family friend. As the argument heated up, he called her a feminist in a way that sounded like feminists were akin to criminals.
And this wasn’t her last encounter with this attitude. At an interview to promote her first book, Purple Hibiscus, the journalist interviewing her advised her not to call herself a feminist.
Why?
Because, he said, women who called themselves feminists were jealous, unhappy and incapable of finding a man. The author has many other similar stories, like a time when she was told by a female Nigerian academic that feminism was a Western indulgence, incompatible with African tradition.
But feminism is not only dismissed by people who are against it. Many people believe that men and women should be equal, but that feminism is no longer necessary because the sexes are already equal. These people believe that women used to be oppressed but now have all the same freedoms that men do.
One of the author’s friends had demonstrated exactly this kind of attitude. He couldn’t understand how exactly women were treated differently – until he witnessed it firsthand.
One night, he and the author went out for dinner. A valet parked their car, and she gave him a tip. But instead of thanking the author, the valet looked at her male friend and said “thank you, sir.” In that moment, her male friend caught a glimpse into the everyday oppression of women.
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What is We Should All Be Feminists about?
In We Should All Be Feminists (2014), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie expands on her much admired TEDx talk to address our deepest misconceptions about feminism. By masterfully interweaving personal anecdotes, philosophy and her talent for prose, she explains how men and women are far from being equal, how women are systematically discriminated against and what we can do about it.
We Should All Be Feminists Review
We Should All Be Feminists (2014) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a thought-provoking exploration of gender equality and the importance of feminism in our society. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With powerful anecdotes and personal experiences, it sheds light on the everyday struggles that women face, making it relatable and eye-opening.
- The book offers a clear and concise argument for gender equality, emphasizing the need for everyone to be involved in the fight for women's rights.
- It challenges societal norms and encourages readers to question and examine their own biases, making it an essential read for anyone interested in social justice.
Best quote from We Should All Be Feminists
The higher [in the workplace] you go, the fewer women there are. - Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai
—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Who should read We Should All Be Feminists?
- Anyone who doesn’t see the need for feminism
- Feminists looking for more arguments and reasoning to strengthen their positions
- Anyone on the fence about the role feminism can play in modern-day society
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We Should All Be Feminists FAQs
What is the main message of We Should All Be Feminists?
The main message of We Should All Be Feminists is the importance of gender equality and dismantling patriarchal systems.
How long does it take to read We Should All Be Feminists?
The reading time for We Should All Be Feminists varies, but it can be read in a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is We Should All Be Feminists a good book? Is it worth reading?
We Should All Be Feminists is an insightful and thought-provoking book that offers a fresh perspective on gender equality. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of We Should All Be Feminists?
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the author of We Should All Be Feminists.
What to read after We Should All Be Feminists?
If you're wondering what to read next after We Should All Be Feminists, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
- Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
- Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
- The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
- Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit
- The Age of AI by Henry Kissinger
- A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
- Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
- The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
- How to be Heard by Julian Treasure