Anyone read Helen Lewis's new book, "Difficult Women" ?

[Dances]

I'm two chapters in and really enjoying it. Listening on Audible rather than reading, as I can do the housework while listening to feminist history.......

Anyone?

Yes, I've read bits of it and really enjoyed it. Very readable, and extremely well-researched. Having read a lot of feminist history/studies stuff that I haven't got on with in recent years, I am very cheered by this and had been wondering whether to buy it for at least one woman who is currently spending a lot of time indoors: so great to know I'm not the only fan and that she will probably enjoy it too!

Rad
I really like Helen Lewis. As a fan of podcasts, I listened to the New Stateman podcast regularly (actually have just realised that I haven't since she left ) and thought that she was funny, hugely knowledgeable and really bloody logical, qualities I admire. I was frustrated by her TWAW thing but I understand how fucking awful it would be for a woman in her situation to go to Terf territory. She did anyway as there is no middle ground for the TRAs

Anyway, I'm still listening, but it's a brilliant and highly enjoyable book so far and would def recommend. It will be a book club fav and fucking hopefully it will ignite something that will stop us being colonised.

Apols fot typos, on phone

I'm a few chapters in and loving it too. Strong recommend!

She's had to get security at some of her launch events, which shows that you really can say nothing without being deemed 'problematic'. Or 'difficult'!!

I thought she was great on the NS podcast too. She’s also always good on the News Quiz on R4, full of facts but also funny. I haven’t read the book yet but it’s on my list. There’s an Intelligence Squared podcast recently with her and Caroline Criado-Perez, hosted by Samira Ahmed.

She did anyway as there is no middle ground for the TRAs

This reminded me that I must order it. I read a few reviews when it first came out but didn’t get round to buying.

Agree Dances that it is salutary to note the huge amount of abuse Helen Lewis has received from trans rights activists. She has always been my touchstone for illustrating the difficulties in reaching any sort of compromise. The two key things she is concerned are puberty blockers and trans women in women’s prisons yet she is called transphobic and a t*rf.

There’s an Intelligence Squared podcast recently with her and Caroline Criado-Perez, hosted by Samira Ahmed.

Wow, this sounds right up my street! Where can I find this?

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/intelligence-squared/id708371900?i=1000467640321

Sonic it’s this one.

Yes, not quite finished it. Really well researched and really interesting from both historical & personal perspectives. The first chapter, Divorce, was excellent, and in the future any time I hear a woman decrying feminism I'll be checking their use of this hard won right!

Just started chapter 9, Time... Where Lewis starts by asking...Why is it so difficult for feminists to organise collectively?... Selma James & her wages for housework campaigns and just got to the bit about the 1952 'A Woman's Place' pamphlet, seen to be excited about this. Love Women's Place UK so bit of background history to name usage is a real treat. 😁👍

Went to Cambridge book launch at Heffers, Lewis along with Sophie Walker (WEP) who has authored Five Rules for Rebellion. Hosted by Lennie Goodings from Virago publishing who was great at stimulating the conversation. Lewis was her usual excellent self and I left with a lot of respect for Walker who wasn't really on my radar except for her leadership of WEP, which she talked more about.

Both authors noted that they had not been very complimentary about Labour in their books. Walker spoke about the pervasive misogyny encountered when running against Tory Philip Davies in Shipley from male Labour supporters, not nice. #LabourReallyAreLosingWomen

Seem not seen!

and I left with a lot of respect for Walker

I have always suspected Walker's definition of 'women' was not the same as her party's but I expect it will be a long time before she writes her memoirs and we know what actually happened.

Agree nettie
HL has tried to walk the line on the trans stuff.

There is no line. It is the Imaginot Line

Nothing but complete capitulation is acceptable. And then we are allowed to make the tea.

Anyway, I'm enjoying her research. Fuck, the 1st wavers were BRAVE

Just started, a couple of chapters in. It's brilliant. I love her style - free and friendly but utter clarity.

Fantastic book. Thanks for the heads up

I was looking for a useful.soend of my current audible credit, thanks for the recommendation.

Great podcast Bin, thanks. Lewis really knows her stuff, I could listen to her for hours.

Ive just started. Will listen to pod cast too.

Fantastic! Put it in your book club lists. We women need to know and renember what other women have done for us

Big bows to those women

Thanks to Helen Lewis for telling me about them. Some I knew about, many I didn't

Great read

Imaginot line nice!

Will check out book and podcasts. I agree that Helen has tried to tread a difficult path, some of the stuff she wrote at the NS was really thoughtful, and while I didn’t agree with some of her conclusions, I still thought it was brave and amazing to see it published in the mainstream at a time when it was impossible to get anything even mildly GC published.

My DH made this pride of place for my Mother’s Day presents. Can’t wait to start it. Seems like I will have lots of time to do so now. Hope I pick up some of the courage of these strong women and carry it with me for the next few months.

I'm really enjoying this book. Also listening to the audiobook. Just got as far as Harriet Harman and the Equality Act. Really very interesting. Stood in the sunshine in a queue for the shop listening to this - lovely way to while away 2 hours.

I am loving it. Got it after seeing it recommended on here! Up to the chapter sex and I learned something in the first page that I didn't know about Coco Chanel!!! She is in all my daughter 'women who were heroes' type books!

Loving it.