Fight Like A Girl

An interesting feminist manifesto that will make you think and give you more knowledge on how to feel empowered. This has made me feel very good and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is the first book I have read from this author and it certainly won’t be the last. I have never felt so inspired, alive and empowered as I do after reading this book. There were parts that were difficult to read and parts that were challenging but all in all it was a good book and I only wish it was out (or something similar) 30+ years ago. I would highly recommend giving it a read.

I'm going to start this review by saying that there's a content warning for the entire book. Due to the nature of what Ford's writing about, there is discussion of sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, eating disorders, and probably a few other topics as well. If you're interested in reading the book but are concerned about any topics, drop me a line and I can have a look through for any particular sections or anything like that.

Now, onto the review. This book made me mad. Like, SO MAD! And if it doesn't make you mad when you read it, then I think we probably wouldn't get on all that well. Whenever I see Clementine Ford's name pop up on something, I know it's something I'm going to want to read, and this book is no exception to that.

As a proud and outspoken feminist myself, Ford's writing hits me right where it hurts. She covers a myriad of the ways in which women suffer and struggle in the world compared to men (I'm using binary terms here, but want to make it clear that Ford's feminism is inclusive of all women and gender non-conforming people who are affected by these issues), and it's a difficult read. She looks both at a personal level - issues that have affected her and her loved ones personally - and a more global one, covering some of the truly horrifying statistics around areas such as domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, and mental health. Although these were all issues I was aware of to varying extents, Ford brings them all together, managing to cover a huge number of topics in a relatively small book. She's also coming from a different perspective from similar books I've read previously, which have been written by British or American authors. Ford is Australian, though has lived all over the world, and thus brings a different set of experiences and some different social elements to the book, which I really appreciated.

As a woman in media, and particularly one who doesn't conform to many of the standards expected by the patriarchy, Ford has long been subject to some truly hideous abuse online, and she writes bluntly about that - about the kind of language and threats aimed at her, about how she deals with it, and the reactions she gets when she tries to push back against it (unsurprisingly, these reactions are largely as bad or even worse than the initial abuse). For me, this was some of the most frustrating content to read about, because Ford highlights some of the immense and ridiculous contradictions and double standards faced by women with an online presence - a topic which always makes me want to *headdesk* to infinity because it's all so ridiculous, and yet the people perpetrating the online abuse and attacks are completely oblivious! 

Ford also acknowledges clearly the ways in which she experiences privilege which make it easier for her to navigate the world - being white, being cis, passing as straight due to her long-term relationship with a man (bi-erasure is in and of itself a problem, but can provide its own set of privileges in some circumstances) - and looks at particular areas where intersectional identities cause further problems. Plenty of other feminist writing fails to mention this (and Ford mentions one specific book with which I personally have huge issues), and whilst this in no way negates the need for more books by a more diverse group of writers, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Ford's writing is blunt and to the point. Her style is fairly conversational (a sweary, angry conversation in the pub), and not at all patronising, as can sometimes be a problem with books like this. She doesn't pull any punches with her language, emphasising the book's sharp, angry feel throughout, but it feels appropriate to the subject matter and to Ford's personal connection and level of permanent anger about things. I feel that anger too, and it makes me want to fight back.

Fight Like a Girl is an incredibly frustrating read, due entirely to its subject matter. It's a subject I personally feel very strongly about, and this is a book I would recommend to anyone similarly angry about the huge injustices being dealt with by women all across the world on a daily basis. Just be prepared to feel angry, and maybe have a feminist friend nearby you can rant at when you're done reading.

This for me was a feisty, Girl Power, and life affirming kinda read, that I will be recommending to most women and certainly if you enjoyed the likes of Laura Bates Girl Up, in fact I would liken it to an adult version of that book.
My only criticism would be however it could have been a little smaller, all its points, arguments and information were valid and important but sometimes they were lost in repetitive tangents.
But really that’s a minor flaw because overall this book had me like yes! She has encapsulated her anger and fire so on point and I wanna march, angry mob, shout from the roof with her

I have never reviewed a non-fiction book. This is my first one and Im not entierly sure how to do, so I did it my way :)

Overall

This was one amazing read! It's a mix between a memoir and an opinion, and shifts between being a "laugh out loud" sarcasm to honest and angry. I would like to think it's not an aggressive book, but it makes several points which will make you angry at society and the way the world looks at and treat women.

I considered myself a feminist but after reading this I have clearly not always acted like it.

The book deals not with the standard subjects of equal pay, and equal right. Those subjects is a given. As the author says, it should not be a privilege but a given right. This book deals with the small stuff. How we (all genders) look at women. How we treat women. How we look at feminists. How we behave towards women we don't know.

I learned so incredibly much from this book, and I absolutely love it.

The Structure

This book starts off very angrily which again made me angry. Unfortunately, I was reading this during lunch at work - at one point (5% in) it made me so angry I was agitated and firey for the rest of the day until I went to bed. I had to listen to my audiobook The Silk Road by Peter Frankopan to calm down. Lol.

It clearly hit me.

After this turbulent introduction, the book takes on a new subject for every chapter. It eases you in with a chapter on body weight. Then it goes on to t take about other subjects like female sexuality (hush hush subject and generally bad, but it's not), "the Good Guys", "dicktionary", and it's ok to be angry (cause anger causes change) amongst a few.

Every chapter is build up in a similar way too. First, it's Clementine Ford's experience with the subject, then a general experience by women around the world before she moves on to the way it should be or how we could react and why we should react.

I loved how she included all women not just the ones who are born women. She also includes statistics on the subjects she is talking about and who its relevant to men too. She doesn't exclude anyone and its not a "man-hating" book.

However, this book does not contain a solution to our problems but it creates a very interesting discussion about the current methods and issues.

Favourite Quotes

How we look at women's appearance: "For girls, the pursuit of thinness is so often tied up with the desire to take less space" "Why is the measure of a man's worth the size of his power, while the measure of a women's is the size of her waist?" "Without a man to qualify our existence with an appreciative erection what's the point of even being alive?"

About the fight for male attention: "Men are often oblivious to the fact these power dynamics exist, which is why it can be so frustrating to try and explain it. How do you tell someone what air looks like? Just because you aren't aware of something doesn't mean you don't benefit from it."

Talking about people against abortion: "As far as I'm concerned, these people are terrorists waging a war against woman and our fundamental right to be in charge of our own bodies and destinies, and I will not negotiate with terrorists by operating within their own arbitrary, misogynist set of rules"

About being a feminist: "Unless you're a cis, white, heterosexual man whose minimal expressions of solidarity with women always nets you the maximum number of pats on the head, maintaining faith in the feminist identity can feel like pushing shit uphill while having more giant buckets of shit fired at you from a cannon constructed entirely out of shit"

Reaction to a specific abuse comment on her tweet: " I invite you to count the fucks I give in the field in which I store my fucks where there also happens to be no fucks left because the field is made entirely out of concrete and actually doesn't exist"

About the value of women: "Out bank balance rise and fall based on how fuckable we are, how polite, how docile, how deferential, how eager to please and how willing we are to pretend that this state of affairs is just normal but actually desirable - and all of that happens before we even take into account the value meted out arbitrary according to our skin colour, size, physical ability, biological sex and economic status."

About the good guy: "Sure, most men might not be bad. You're probably not bad. But it takes more than 'not being bad' to be 'actually good'."

All in all: "Bitter is the new black, babes."

Summary

I absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it highly enough to people.

But bear in mind it will make you angry, but it will also make you laugh out loud.

Clementine Ford tackles feminism head on in this book, writing about everything from beauty standards, eating disorders, sex, mental health, rape culture and online trolls. I was actually quite surprised at how in-depth this book is, not only through the various topics covered but how far the analysis goes. I've read quite a lot of feminist books but this is the one I've found the most relatable for a very long time.

This book is unapologetically angry and emotional and I LOVE that. Often you are encouraged to water down your feminism, to make it more palatable for those around you, but reading Fight Like A Girl was incredibly cathartic, Ford is angry and that validates your own anger in a way which is productive and tangible.