When the owner of Topshop, Philip Green, dismantled the store’s Feminists Don’t Wear Pink pop-up bookstand back in October 2018, it sparked a social media firestorm. In a movement that remains so splintered, there is no doubt that when duty calls, feminists will unite and speak out. After Green’s stunt, the sheer popularity of this feminist text is a powerful protest within itself.
Journalist and activist, Scarlett Curtis, has curated a handbook that does not discriminate, lecture or judge- it simply aims to guide its reader through the intricate journey of discovery, education and self-refection.
Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies), £12.99, is a collection of essays, poems and texts from 52 influential women on what feminism means to them. The book is split into five sections; epiphany, anger, joy, action and education, all pinpointing destinations along the journey to unpicking what feminism truly is. The book isn’t short of unique treasures either, like the poetry segment showcasing the work of poets Swati Sharma, Bronwen Brenner, Emily Odesser and Emtithal Mahmoud, book recommendations from Emma Watson and stand-out quotes so loud they’re emblazoned across entire pages.
If that wasn’t enough, royalties from every sale of the book goes to Girl Up, a global movement aiming to empower and aid young women leaders in standing up for gender equality.
Curtis recruits an impressive number of familiar faces to contribute to this book. One being Kiera Knightley, who writes about her experience of giving birth, describing it as the moment her “body split”. Knightley’s piece is both profound and raw, coming from a place of sheer anger at the belief that women are weaker than men. Actress and activist, Jameela Jamil, kicks off the anger section of the book with her ‘tell him’ essay. Unsurprisingly, you can feel the frustration screaming off the pages as she writes about teaching young boys to respect women. Curtis also enlists Youtuber, Zoe Sugg, who writes about her tips for starting up a business as a woman navigating the industry.
A stand out however is Doctor Who actress, Jodie Whittaker’s segment, in which she interviews her mum. Whittaker light-heartedly chats to her mother about when she realised she was a feminist and discusses how furious she felt in times where the term ‘feminist’ was used as an insult towards her. Whittaker ends her piece reflecting on what it would be like for her daughter to be interviewing her on the same topic, contemplating if it would be the same conversation. She answers her own question in a very matter of fact way, writing “I fucking hope not”. Brilliant. In those four words Whittaker beautifully summaries what I think a lot of frustrated women (and men) are probably feeling about the patriarchy.
What this book is particularly successful at is eliminating the long-standing stereotypes often attached with identifying as a feminist. Curtis herself says these assumptions that tarnish the movement, for years made her “most definitely not want to be one”. At the start of the book, Curtis recalls how she thought she couldn’t be a feminist because she enjoyed wearing makeup and dressing in pink. She didn’t fit the ‘burn your bra’ image that had been portrayed for decades. Curtis' quest to eradicate the very notion and the ‘one size fits all’ perception of feminism that she once believed, is both poignant and inspiring.
In the book’s foreword, Girl Up writes “No two people experience feminism in the same way, but each perspective is valid and important” which perfectly encapsulates the core message at the heart of this book.
With its perfect blend of witty and serious, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and other lies) plays a vital role in redefining what it means to be feminist in the 21st century - and if it’s anything like the women in this book, Philip Green and all the other men like him had better watch their backs.
Post a Comment