How To Be a Woman

by Caitlin Moran

[wyvernfriend]

It's an interesting read that I nearly missed.

The title nearly stopped me reading this. It sounds prescriptive. How Caitlin became a Woman would be possibly better, or a variation thereof. This isn't about being a woman but about Caitlin's philosophy on life, at least some of which I agree with. The one quote that I really, really liked is:
"As I have said, in the same way that you can tell if some sexism is happening to you by asking the question 'Is this polite, or not?', you can tell whether some misogynisstic societal pressure is being exerted on women by calmly enquiring, 'And are the men doing this, as well?'
If they aren't, chances re you're dealing with what we strident feminists refer to as 'some total fucking bullshit'"

and there's a lot of it around. This book is excellent at looking at some of the bullshit and calling it just that, but she makes the error of assuming that if it's like this for her, then that's how it should be for everyone.

However, I loved her opinion on shoes, bags and clothes (Word!) and it was refreshing to see someone else who has some of the same opinions as me about a lot of this stuff.

Her milestones aren't my milestones, I'm me, this is not a prescription for everyone but it is a refreshing change to some of the everywoman loves pink, shoes and cute because of biology rubbish that's out there.