Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
With all the shit going on in the world, this should be required reading. It's not that long and can be easily read in an evening. Written in first person, this is a letter to a friend by the author. She gives suggestions for raising a strong, feminist girl (and these suggestions could also be used to raise feminist boys too).
Highlights:
"Share child care equally." "...you both made the choice to bring a child into the world, and the responsibility for that child belongs equally to you both." Preach.
"We judge powerful women more harshly than we judge powerful men." A good, recent example of this is Hillary Clinton and all the criticism that got thrown her way last year.
"I have kept my name because it is my name. I have kept my name because I like my name." Loved this since I didn't change my name when I got married. I got a lot of criticism for that choice too. I remember my mom saying something like, "why bother to get married?"
"Teach her that she is not merely an object to be liked or disliked, she is also a subject who can like or dislike." Growing up, it was always be nice!
"The shame we attach to female sexuality is about control. Many cultures and religions control women's bodies in one way or another."
"Teach her about difference. Make difference ordinary. Make difference normal. Teach her not t attach value to difference." I loved this one.
Highlights:
"Share child care equally." "...you both made the choice to bring a child into the world, and the responsibility for that child belongs equally to you both." Preach.
"We judge powerful women more harshly than we judge powerful men." A good, recent example of this is Hillary Clinton and all the criticism that got thrown her way last year.
"I have kept my name because it is my name. I have kept my name because I like my name." Loved this since I didn't change my name when I got married. I got a lot of criticism for that choice too. I remember my mom saying something like, "why bother to get married?"
"Teach her that she is not merely an object to be liked or disliked, she is also a subject who can like or dislike." Growing up, it was always be nice!
"The shame we attach to female sexuality is about control. Many cultures and religions control women's bodies in one way or another."
"Teach her about difference. Make difference ordinary. Make difference normal. Teach her not t attach value to difference." I loved this one.
