Recommendations based on "The Wonder Down Under: A User?s Guide to the Vagina"
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By Joanna Biggs
Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by the New York Times, The Week, Vulture, Elle, and The MillionsA piercing blend of memoir, criticism, and biography examining how women writers across the centuries carved out intellectual freedom for themselves—and how others might do the sameI took off my wedding ring for the last time—a gold band with half a line of “Morning Song” by Sylvia Plath etched inside—and for weeks afterwards, my thumb would involuntarily reach across my palm for the warm bright circle that had gone. I didn’t fling the ring into the long grass, like women do in the movies, but a feeling began bubbling up nevertheless, from my stomach to my throat: it could fling my arms out. I was free. . . .A few years into her marriage and feeling societal pressure to surrender to domesticity, Joanna Biggs found herself longing for a different kind of existence. Was this all there was? She divorced without knowing what would come next.Newly untethered, Joanna returned to the free-spirited writers of her youth and was soon reading in a fever—desperately searching for evidence of lives that looked more like her own, for the messiness and freedom, for a possible blueprint for intellectual fulfillment.In A Life of One’s Own, Mary Wollstonecraft, George Eliot, Zora Neale Hurston, Virginia Woolf, Simone de Beauvoir, Sylvia Plath, Toni Morrison, and Elena Ferrante are all taken down from their pedestals, their work and lives seen in a new light. Joanna wanted to learn more about the conditions these women needed to write their best work, and how they addressed the questions she herself was struggling with: Is domesticity a trap? Is life worth living if you have lost faith in the traditional goals of a woman? Why is it so important for women to read one another?This is a radical and intimate examination of the unconventional paths these women took—their pursuits and achievements but also their disappointments and hardships. And in exploring the things that gave their lives the most meaning, we find fuel for our own singular intellectual paths.
By Angela Saini
Taking us on a journey through science, the book challenges our preconceptions about men and women, investigating the ferocious gender wars that burn in biology, psychology and anthropology. The author revisits the landmark experiments that have informed our understanding, lays bare the problem of bias in research, and speaks to the scientists finally exploring the truth about the female sex. The result is an account of women's minds, bodies and evolutionary history. Interrogating what these revelations mean for us as individuals and as a society, the book unveils a fresh view of science in which women are included, rather than excluded
By Monica Sjoo, Barbara Mor
This classic exploration of the Goddess through time and throughout the world draws on religious, cultural, and archaeological sources to recreate the Goddess religion that is humanity’s heritage. Now, with a new introduction and full-color artwork, this passionate and important text shows even more clearly that the religion of the Goddess--which is tied to the cycles of women’s bodies, the seasons, the phases of the moon, and the fertility of the earth--was the original religion of all humanity.
By Various
A collection of writings, speeches, and pamphlets documenting Britain's fight for women's right to voteBringing together the voices of the British women who fought for equal rights and representation - from aristocrats and actresses to mill workers and trade unionists - these speeches, pamphlets, letters and articles form an inspiring testament to the power of a movement.Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives--and upended them. Now Penguin brings you a new set of the acclaimed Great Ideas, a curated library of selections from the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
By AA Association du Vrai Cœur
A collection of Sojourner Truth's iconic words, including her famous speech at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Akron, OhioA former slave and one of the most powerful orators of her time, Sojourner Truth fought for the equal rights of black women throughout her life. This selection of her impassioned speeches is accompanied by the words of other inspiring African-American female campaigners from the nineteenth century.Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives--and upended them. Now Penguin brings you a new set of the acclaimed Great Ideas, a curated library of selections from the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
By Lauren Windle
Is it possible to be a Christian and a feminist?The hot topic of feminism has been well documented and debated in mainstream media and yet, as Christians we come to the conversation from a slightly different vantage point. For starters, we have the benefit of a personal relationship with our creator plus the ultimate handbook in the Bible to work out what is right and just when it comes to equality. So why do many Christians feel the Bible presents a barrier rather than a boost when it comes to championing equality between the sexes?Lauren Windle draws upon her years as a journalist to weave together a wide range of voices on a subject that society has been wrestling with but, in the Church, few are brave enough to probe too deeply for fear of what they might find. This book isn't here to tell you what to think. The views it presents are intended to inform, not form, your opinion on key topics, including: defining feminism, the lessons we teach boys, female preachers, a woman's place in the household, beauty standards and #ChurchToo.Notes On Feminism features contributions from several high-profile women:- Writer and model Katie Piper on true beauty- Olympian Abigail Irozuru on women's bodies- Comedian Cassandra Maria on why people think women aren't funny- Author Tiffany Bluhm on why people don't believe women- Journalist Delphine Chui on why she isn't a feminist.If feminist stirrings feel like a barrier to your faith, let Notes on Feminism help you unpick the confusion and ongoing debate, while keeping God at the centre.
By Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation—the oppression of women and girls in the developing world. From the bestselling authors of Tightrope,two of our most fiercely moral voicesWith Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them a Cambodian teenager sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth. Drawing on the breadth of their combined reporting experience, Kristof and WuDunn depict our world with anger, sadness, clarity, and, ultimately, hope.They show how a little help can transform the lives of women and girls abroad. That Cambodian girl eventually escaped from her brothel and, with assistance from an aid group, built a thriving retail business that supports her family. The Ethiopian woman had her injuries repaired and in time became a surgeon. A Zimbabwean mother of five, counseled to return to school, earned her doctorate and became an expert on AIDS.Through these stories, Kristof and WuDunn help us see that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. They make clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Throughout much of the world, the greatest unexploited economic resource is the female half of the population. Countries such as China have prospered precisely because they emancipated women and brought them into the formal economy. Unleashing that process globally is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the best strategy for fighting poverty.Deeply felt, pragmatic, and inspirational, Half the Sky is essential reading for every global citizen.
By Maira Kalman
From the critically acclaimed artist, designer, and author of the bestsellers The Principles of Uncertainty and My Favorite Things comes a wondrous collection of words and paintings that is a moving meditation on the beauty and complexity of women’s lives and roles, revealed in the things they hold.“What do women hold? The home and the family. And the children and the food. The friendships. The work. The work of the world. And the work of being human. The memories. And the troubles. And the sorrows and the triumphs. And the love.”In the spring of 2021, Maira and Alex Kalman created a small, limited-edition booklet “Women Holding Things,” which featured select recent paintings by Maira, accompanied by her insightful and deeply personal commentary. The booklet quickly sold out. Now, the Kalmans have expanded that original publication into this extraordinary visual compendium.Women Holding Things includes the bright, bold images featured in the booklet as well as an additional sixty-seven new paintings highlighted by thoughtful and intimate anecdotes, recollections, and ruminations. Most are portraits of women, both ordinary and famous, including Virginia Woolf, Sally Hemings, Hortense Cezanne, Gertrude Stein, as well as Kalman’s family members and other real-life people. These women hold a range of objects, from the mundane—balloons, a cup, a whisk, a chicken, a hat—to the abstract—dreams and disappointments, sorrow and regret, joy and love.Kalman considers the many things that fit physically and metaphorically between women’s hands: We see a woman hold a book, hold shears, hold children, hold a grudge, hold up, hold her own. In visually telling their stories, Kalman lays bare the essence of women’s lives—their tenacity, courage, vulnerability, hope, and pain. Ultimately, she reveals that many of the things we hold dear—as well as those that burden or haunt us—remain constant and connect us from generation to generation.Here, too, are pictures of a few men holding things, such as Rainer Maria Rilke and Anton Chekhov, as well as objects holding other objects that invite us to ponder their intimate relationships to one another.Women Holding Things explores the significance of the objects we carry—in our hands, hearts, and minds—and speaks to, and for, all of us. Maira Kalman’s unique work is a celebration of life, of the act and the art of living, offering an original way of examining and understanding all that is important in our world—and ultimately within ourselves.
By Julia Gillard
Then It Was Done. After Staying Silent, I’d Had My Say. At No Time Did I Feel Worked Up Or Hotly Angry. I Felt Strong, Measured, Controlled. Yet Emotion Did Play Its Role In The Energy Of The Speech. The Frustration That Sexism And Misogyny Could Still Be So Bad In The Twenty-first Century. The Toll Of Not Pointing It Out. On 9 October 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard Stood Up And Proceeded To Make All Present In Parliament House That Day Pay Attention – And Left Many Of Them Squirming In Their Seats. The Incisive ‘misogyny Speech’, As Her Words Came To Be Known, Continues To Energise And Motivate Women Who Need To Stare Down Sexism And Misogyny In Their Own Lives. With Contributions From Mary Beard, Jess Hill, Jennifer Palmieri, Katharine Murphy And Members Of The Global Institute For Women’s Leadership, Julia Gillard Explores The History And Culture Of Misogyny, Tools In The Patriarchy’s Toolbox, Intersectionality, And Gender And Misogyny In The Media And Politics. Kathy Lette Looks At How The Speech Has Gained A New Life On Tiktok, As Well As Inspiring Other Tributes And Hand-made Products, And We Hear Recollections From Wayne Swan, Anne Summers, Cate Blanchett, Brittany Higgins And Others Of Where They Were And How They First Encountered The Speech. While Behaviours May Have Improved Since The Misogyny Speech, There Remains A Way To Go And Julia Gillard Explores The Roadmap For The Future With Next-generation Feminists Sally Scales, Chanel Contos And Caitlin Figueiredo To Motivate Us With That Rallying Cry: Not Now, Not Ever! Proceeds From The Book Will Go To The Global Institute For Women’s Leadership (giwl).
By Annabelle Williams
Feel empowered with your finances and discover the route to economic equality in this astonishing dissection of the gender wealth gap'Uncovers the realities of money in the modern world' Stylist'This book will open your eyes' 5***** Reader Review'Goes beyond talks of glass ceilings and gender pay gaps' Dazed'Shocking and brilliant' 5***** Reader Review________Did you know?Nearly 70% of Britain's homeless are women.There are more men called Dave running the UK's top 100 companies than there are women altogether.Women outperform men educationally at every level from high school to PhD - but still get paid less.In this astonishing dissection of the gender wealth gap, financial journalist Annabelle Williams explains why so few women rank among the super-rich and why women are the majority of those in poverty.From the personal - feeling financially confident and liberated - to the political - demanding systemic support and representation - this ground-breaking exposé will empower your financial decisions and arm you with the knowledge needed to demand equality.________'It is refreshing to see Williams challenge well-worn sexist myths' i'Annabelle Williams uncovers the realities of money in the modern world, and what exactly we can do about the fact that women are poorer than men' Stylist'Goes beyond talks of glass ceilings and gender pay gaps to a more nuanced look at the institutional oppression faced by women on a daily basis' Dazed