Book Talk: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Tuesday evening while we were visiting my parents, my sister-in-law handed me Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists, a 2014 book based on her TED Talk. I had enjoyed Adichie's 2009 TED Talk, The Danger of a Single Story, so I expected this little book to be filled with the same humor and honesty as that TED Talk. I was not disappointed. Adichie shares snippets of her life in Nigeria that illustrate the disconnect between the cultural gender roles and expectations and the growing call for gender equality. Her stories sound like stories from another century, yet also seem hauntingly familiar. Adichie's graciousness toward those who don't understand her feminism and her ability to speak of the benefits to both men and women of setting aside the expectations that ignore ability and interest when pressuring them into specific roles help soothe the volatility of a difficult and often contentious topic. Whether you consider yourself a feminist or are concerned about the dangers of the push to challenge the societal norms that you are comfortable with, this is an interesting book and an excellent conversation-starter.

Introduction

Having started and restarted my blog several times, I have finally realized that the biggest challenge for me has been the narrow focus of my previous attempts. Writing only about homeschooling is challenging when I also hold two part-time jobs in higher education and have so many other interests, including theatre, music, books, elder care, grandbabies, and frugal living. So this time I am giving myself permission to broaden my choice of topics and embrace the wide range of interests and experiences that I enjoy.

Sometimes that will involve our family, including this little guy here. Other posts may range from book or theatre reviews to musings on being part of the sandwich generation. Writing about homeschooling is writing about life, so I hope you enjoy our journey, even with all of the side trips and diversions.