The Brilliance Of "We Should All Be Feminists" | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Brilliance Of "We Should All Be Feminists"

62
The Brilliance Of "We Should All Be Feminists"

No, it's not a viral hashtag or a trendy new website, though it might as well be. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's newest book is a slim, unassuming packet of no more than fifty pages, and it's been sitting at number three on the New York Times Bestseller List for weeks now. Adapted from a TED talk she gave in her native country of Nigeria in 2013, it has obviously resonated with a lot of people. One of the reasons for that is summed up quite well by the quote of hers that appears on the back cover:

"I would like to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently."

This is the idea at the heart of Adichie's argument: that we can no longer place the blame for the challenges that women face solely on women. Adichie, a MacArthur fellow who divides her time between the US and Nigeria, describes her childhood as a period of being uncertain exactly what a feminist was, knowing only that it was considered undesirable to be one.

From her early experiences of blatant street harassment to stories of more subtle instances, such as being paid less for doing the same job as a man, she paints a pretty universal picture of the struggles that many women face, while also acknowledging that her particular life experiences (as an immigrant, a woman of color, a successful author, a college graduate) do make her situation unique.

In one dramatic example, she describes being unable to rent a room in a Nigerian hotel, because it is regularly assumed in Nigeria that a woman in a hotel alone must be a sex worker. Here, again, she points out the hypocrisy that's evident in the simple fact that women are harassed and men aren't: "Why, by the way, do these hotels not focus on the demand for sex workers instead of on the ostensible supply?"

This simple and yet revolutionary idea: to cast the responsibility for making feminism work not just on women, but also on men. It is something that she returns to over and over again, especially in terms of female sexuality. "We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way boys are," she says. "We make them feel as though by being born female, they are already guilty of something."

Like Camille Paglia, another prominent modern feminist, she refuses to subscribe to the idea that men need to be viewed as instruments of intimidation. This, she argues, is both insulting to women and damaging to men, and is especially harmful to children and teenagers, who grow up being told that their roles in life are defined by their gender. "We spend too much time telling girls that they cannot be angry or aggressive or tough," she says, "but then we turn around and either praise or excuse men for the same reasons."

Instead, she says, men need to be held accountable for their actions towards women, and need to be aware of the ways, small and large, in which they routinely devalue women, most notably women of color (who, as she points out, are often subject to abuse from other women as well as men).

In the end, it shouldn't be the responsibility of women to defend themselves against a system that is outdated and hostile to them; it's the responsibility of everyone, of every gender, to begin to recognize the hypocrisy and violence that's evident in that system, and to move in the direction of positive change.

As she says, "All of us, women and men, must do better."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

69813
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

3639
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

7720
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments