Read Like a Feminist: Dear Ijeawele

One of the most joyous things about feminism is that at it’s honest truth, it is actually very simple. You either believe that every person matters equally or you do not, and as such, you either are a feminist or you are not.

Best selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s newest work, Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, remains true to that simple truth. Written as a letter to a friend, the book provides 15 suggestions on how to raise a feminist.

Only 33 pages long, from the introduction to the very last suggestion, Adichie writes in a consistent, thorough, and utterly readable manner. Her suggestions are both simple, and easily applicable to everyday life, even for those not raising a child. Many of her suggestions became posters during the 2017 Women’s Day marches.

Adichie’s suggestions include questioning the language we use and the meaning with which it is imbued, rejecting “likeability”, removing shame (and therefore control) from female anatomy and sexuality, and finding love in an equal and joyous way.

From start to finish, Adichie reminds readers of the importance and practicalities of feminism, discussing everything from house chores, femininity, reading, marriage, and employment.

The readability of Dear Ijeawele is a testament to her ability to share her passion for the subject with humour and hope.

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions is available at all good book shops and online via Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes.

A non-fiction book recommendation: Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie pic.twitter.com/qNepI969oD

— abook4you (@abook4you) May 8, 2017