“HOW TO BE A WOMAN” BY CAITLIN MORAN REVIEW

“How To Be A Woman” by Caitlin Moran starts in a Nick Hornbyesque style as she writes about her childhood memories of being chased by yobs through Wolverhampton on her 13th birthday. She is a very refreshing voice for a new generation of women who are all a little confused about where they’re supposed to stand on the issue of Feminism.

Caitlin Moran stomps and swears her way around the subject of feminism, part ladette, part happily married woman. I loved it. It is a funny, brutally honest and uplifting book. She attacks key issues within the battle of the sexes with humour – she wanted it to be like “The Female Eunuch” for our day – but it’s funnier than that and I understood it.

“You really should read this book” I told my 15 year old daughter whilst we were on holiday, “it will make you think”.
“Why? What’s it about” she inquired.
“It’s about why women should reclaim the big muff, what to call your vagina and breasts, why you should wear big pants, whether flirting is acceptable or not, why you shouldn’t spend all your money on a huge white wedding and hen night and her thoughts about having children and abortion. She hates Katie Price and loves Lady Gaga – she thinks she’s an AMAZING role model for you guys”
“What a freak” my daughter replied.
Which led me to assume that she is perhaps a little too young to deal with all the issues, so I gave it instead to my son’s 18 year old girlfriend. She read it voraciously, sniggered a lot and said it has changed her views on Feminism. We had a good discussion about abortion as a result. I like the fact that her book provides such a lot of food for thought through her memoirs and I like her conclusion that in the end it simply comes down to us all being human “just a productive, honest, courteously treated human. One of the guys. But with really amazing hair”.

She argues for “CHOICE. I want VARIETY. I want MORE. I want WOMEN. I want women to have more of the world, not just because it would be fairer, but because it would be better. More exciting. Reordered. Reinvented”.

I agree. There is nothing more frustrating for me than seeing women strive for everything that they want, only to have it taken away when they stop for a minute to do what their bodies are designed to do. Have babies. I note that Caitlin doesn’t really tackle the problem of childcare – which is perhaps because she, as a writer is able to carry on writing whilst being at home with her children. I think childcare is one of the biggest issues that needs sorting BY WOMEN. We need a better plan so that we and our children can have a career and then work out a way to keep it going whilst still being able to spend time with our children. There must be a better way to do that. Surely. For the women of the future, it is essential.

If by any chance you see my review, I have two questions for you Caitlin:-

1. Why didn’t you acknowledge your mother in the “Acknowledgements” section? You mentioned her throughout and she obviously had a lasting effect on your choices….

2. As a divorced woman I have a big problem with your reclaim the furry muff concept. I wholeheartedly agree, but you are lucky enough to have been with the same man long enough for him to find big furry muffs attractive. Today, younger men (and women it seems) find them repulsive, unhygienic and frankly weird. So. When I was initially back in the dating game I inadvertently lost several young boys down there never to be found again….WHAT is the older woman supposed to do? Find an octogenarian? Go with the flow? Argue her case and be strong about it (thus ensuring never to have a boyfriend again?). It’s an impossible situation. HELP!