We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Shockingly (or not if you can see my TBR), I own quite a few Adichie books but I haven't gotten to them yet. I have read this one because I caught Adichie on the Daily Show and I enjoyed the interview. This title is also easy to read in one sitting because it's on the thinner side. 

This book is adapted from Adichie's Ted Talk. For me, Adichie has such a lovely voice. It's one of those accents that could read that Wall Street stock ticker and I'd be content. 

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Title: We Should All Be Feminists
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Page Number: 52 pages (paperback)
Genre: Nonfiction, Essays
Publisher: Anchor Books
Year: 2012

In this personal, eloquently-argued essay—adapted from her much-admired TEDx talk of the same name—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, award-winning author of Americanah, offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness. Drawing extensively on her own experiences and her deep understanding of the often masked realities of sexual politics, here is one remarkable author’s exploration of what it means to be a woman now—and an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists

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“The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are. Imagine how much happier we would be, how much freer to be our true individual selves, if we didn’t have the weight of gender expectations.” - We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is the interview of Adichie that I saw. She's quite funny in it and I liked the questions between her and Trevor Noah. 

In this book, Adichie talks about herself, her friends, and society...and how they're all impacted by archetypes of gender. 

It's an easy read, the prose flows without any hiccups. The deep points she makes about feminism (as well as the toxicity that men encounter  when they try to treat women and themselves better) landed with me softly. Perhaps because I'm also a woman and I deal with the same society and gender constructs. A second read caused these points to hit more painfully.

The brilliance of the book is that Adichie is able to bring a concise, eloquent, introduction to feminism in so few pages. I'm often guilty of over-expounding, so I'm always impressed when anyone can explain fully without overdoing it.  

“But by far the worst thing we do to males—by making them feel they have to be hard—is that we leave them with very fragile egos. The harder a man feels compelled to be, the weaker his ego is.” - We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I'd recommend picking up this book. It's a quick read (although not easy in the sense of subject matter). My favorite quote from her book was "I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be." So poignant. 

I kept this baby (it's survived multiple purges). I think I gave it 4 or 4.5 stars. Most books I read are 3 stars (I like it, I might keep it). Four stars is I love it, I will be re-reading it. I think sometimes goodreads makes it look really bad instead of good. Like, three stars isn't average! My only quip would be that while using specific instances from her life and her friends...it was still generalist with not as much data as I'd like. That being said, I don't believe Adichie had any interest in ever getting into the nitty gritty. 

The book doesn't get into the different waves of feminism  - that would take much longer. Plus, different cultures have different waves of feminist theory. I was honestly shocked (not in the best way) when I met some feminists in the UK. It matches the society issues of the UK for sure. But that would take an encyclopedia (no offense against the Brits). If you're looking into that, you won't find it in this book. 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's website, it lists all her books, social media, and future events. 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has talked about the Harry Potter lady before. I tend to avoid her work because it doesn't really appeal to me anyways. There was some anger because Adichie, who did write and talk about feminism, didn't drag the other lady for filth. 

Is Adichie transphobic? I don't know, I haven't talked to her. But I think gender fluid concepts (the next wave of feminism in some sense) is a struggle for some women 40+ who might be friendly to Lesbian/Gay. Like, the rest of the LGBT+ is a confusion to them. 

I agree with Adichie on cancel culture (has anyone actually been canceled? seriously?) because it doesn't allow growth, but I also read the British lady's essay and thought it was poorly written, not reasonable, and just showcased the trauma that is rampaging her brain. I feel for her, I'll pray for her. But she can also fuck off.  In the video is on Bloomberg, but it was taped before the lady went even further. Maybe it's a reaction, but you are who you surround yourself with. I wonder if Adichie would still agree with her first thought. 

I think something to think about it, feminism in Nigeria is different than feminism in the UK. All these areas of the world are different. It's never so black and white.