Feminists Don’t Wear Pink and Other Lies – Scarlett Curtis
Scarlett Curtis has curated the voices of many different
women, all of whom are feminists into one thought provoking book in the
Instagram magnet shade of Baker Miller Pink. The voices featured are varied in
background and age and profession, and this will contribute to its success. The
medium of the book is further varied – ranging from short poetry, a letter on
how to raise boys as feminists, mission statements and simple to do lists. We
hear from accomplished actresses alongside women’s rights activists and
schoolgirls, but what they all have in common is their unashamed, unabashed
feminism.
Predictably, I did not enjoy every section of this book – at
times I found the point of view put across a little simplistic, or lazy, or
written in a way as to avoid the real subject. However to contrast that, there
were writers contained that I did not expect to enjoy, who put a message across
in a way I had not considered before, and who taught me something about
feminism when in truth, I was going to skip past their piece. Evanna Lynch for
example, whilst I am sure she is a wonderful person, I was surprised to see her
included, yet her writing on whether femininity impedes feminism was something
I needed to read that I never realised. Jameela Jamil discussing how closely
interlinked toxic masculinity and sexism are lent me a perspective I had never
before considered.
Curtis’ curation dredged up sentiments in myself that I have
felt but not articulated. One particularly pertinent thought for me, is that
when we see people like Lena Dunham or Margaret Atwood being attacked for being
“bad feminists” every headline that promotes this idea demotes the idea inside
myself that I myself am a feminist. It does make you think – am I good enough,
clever enough, passionate enough for this exclusive club? When in reality,
these women are strident feminists, passionate about the cause, yet they are
merely human and making inevitable mistakes. I had always known that I believed
in equal rights for women, and this book reminded me why, and strengthened my
perspective. However, this being said, whilst the book has interesting perspectives
to lend and you may learn something new about feminism, it is not presented as
factual or necessarily educational. It is light hearted and accessible in
approach. There is no preachiness or holier than thou attitude to be found here
– the book truly embodies the championing of women.
Learning to have sex from porn is like learning how to drive from The Fast and the Furious. A bloody horrendous idea. - Jameela Jamil
When I bought this book, I was at first a little hesitant to
bring it into the office to read on my lunch break – I don’t know if this is
because it is pink and girlish in appearance, or because it would
instantaneously label me as a feminist in my male dominated environment.
However – this is exactly why I needed this book. Why should I be ashamed to
label myself as such? And more importantly – why should I be ashamed of bringing
in a pink book when I am the only person in my office who reads!
I will always be the little girl who grew up believing she could make it to the moon, in a world that still debates whether girls should have an education and whether women should have reproductive rights. - Alaa Murabit
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