Everyday Sexism Review

Everyday Sexism was the debut novel of Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project and journalist. Described as the ‘more politicised sister’ of Caitlin Moran’s notorious How To Be A Woman, it is one of the most successful pieces of feminist literature since the turn of the century.

The project that was also the book’s namesake was hugely successful, receiving hundreds of thousands of entries from women all over the world. Stories of harassment in the work place, domestic violence, sexual assault, catcalling. Stories from women who had been discriminated against for their race, religion, the way they were dressed, their choice on whether or not to have children, whether they were married/single/in a same sex relationship… the list goes on. A lot of the stories are the same sad tale, echoed again and again, with only the victim and the backdrop changing. Bates’s book includes a selection of these stories, aside her own experiences and opinions with supporting statistics.

Bates’s style and clarity are admirable in the face of the great anger and sadness behind the stories she is telling. It would be easy to seem incoherent or over-emotional, but she is often passionate and always intelligent without falling victim to either of these things, and she gives a voice to millions of women and their struggles, drily pointing out the absurdity behind a great deal of sexism that exists. She is also hugely empowering, championing the kind of feminism I want to see more of: women supporting and lifting one another up, as opposed to dragging each other down. Acknowledging all forms of prejudice – racism, misogyny, misandry, homophobia, ableism – and working together to combat it. As a book, it provides a guide for what modern feminism should look like and is richly informative for both those who are new to feminism and those who are veterans of the cause.

Some of what Bates tackles is difficult and upsetting; it’s not the kind of thing you want to face up to existing in the society (let alone the world) you have to wake up in everyday. But it is important we do so if we want to combat it and loosen the stronghold poisonous prejudices have taken over our society. The exact ideas that are preventing people from achieving their potential for fear of being ridiculed or held back by dangerous attitudes about what ‘real men’ are, or what women are ‘capable’ of. Everyday Sexism certainly went a long way in motivating me not to give in to these prejudices, even though I know they are bound to get in the way as they have for even those I greatly admire and consider strong, intelligent women. Bates herself, for instance, received horrendous abuse in the form of rape and death threats because of her amazing and profound contribution to the movement. These are the sort of outrageous manifestations of sexism that could be detrimental to growth. Imagine how the world would have lost out had Bates caved, understandably, to the abuse.

In short, I would highly recommend both Everyday Sexism and Girl up (her second book which is equally riveting). Both books are essential reading for women everywhere (I don’t think I am the first to state that Girl Up should be compulsory for all secondary school aged girls), and also undeniably for men, as I think if more men were exposed to the issue it would go a long way to combating the idea that feminism is no longer necessary. Bates is something of an icon of mine, whose ideas and work I respect. Everyday Sexism gave a clarity and understanding to my own experiences of sexism, and opened doors to new ideas I have always been vaguely aware of but too afraid to face; I am sure it would do the same for you.