We Should All Be Feminists

For a little while now I’ve been wanted to read more feministic literature but I hadn’t gotten round to it till today. I decided that We Should All Be Feminists should the start of my journey through feministic literature. Above all else this book started a desire within me to take up public speaking, to speak for those who have no other means of public communication, to speak to those who otherwise won’t or don’t listen, and most of all, to share, further, and develop ideals that should be globally accepted.

One point in the book that really stood out to me was the mention of the differences between referring to yourself as an egalitarian rather than as a feminist. To quote Adichie, ‘to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women.’

The Finnish translation of this book will be given to every Finnish pupil finishing their primary education this spring. One of the columnists for the Finnish National Broadcasting Company yesterday made some sweeping comments on how ideology is being pushed to children, and complained how this book doesn't really reflect the reality of Finland in 2000s.

So, I decided I need to read it.

And, to a degree, she's right. That is to say, when it comes to Finnish dating culture, people aren't probably as focused in getting married as Adichie describes the Nigerian culture in her essay.

Apart from that, there are plenty of issues that are very much present in the Finnish culture as well as in the Nigerian and American cultures Adichie explores. Gender stereotypes on use of money, professions, role in the family are still alive and kicking. There are still far too few successful business women to act as role models. Kids are still raised to certain, gender specific expectations, and all too often they end up being miserable about it. Victim blaming is rampant in social media and, still, even in official comments about rape cases.

Adichie tells all this using anecdotes and lively language. It's easy to read, fast paced, relatable - and just foreign enough so that there are both recognizable features and differences to make perfect conversation starters. It expands the horizon from Finland to the US to Nigeria.

So, I completely disagree with the columnist. This is exactly the thing that should be given to children in primary school. To help them learn. To make them think.

"All of us, women and men, must do better."