The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls

The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls - Mona Eltahawy

Genre: Non-Fiction | Memoir | Feminist Literature

Release Date: 17th September 2019

Publisher: Beacon Press

"This book is not the place where you will hear the reasonable argument that patriarchy is bad for men and boys too. It is indeed ... I refuse to focus on and will not plead with those who benefit from my opression to join a fight against a centuries-long systemic opression that not only hurts women and girls but all who deviate from the templace of heterosexual, conservative and mostly, rich men, but kills them."

It is a crime that before I was gifted this book, I had never heard of Mona Eltahawy before. In this manifesto for women and girls everywhere, Eltahawy draws on her own personal experiences being born into an Egyptian Muslim family and her journey of discovery and growth into an unapologetic feminist.

"Women who do not ask for permission are powerful."

Gloriously powerful, rage inducing and striking for any woman who's ever even thought the phrase Me Too, Seven Necessary Sins reads like a passionate speech that was all too easy to read in one sitting and I can safely say a book hasn't reached me in this way in a very long time. Now, some of the content in this book is obvious, yes. A lot of us are educated on the different aspects of feminism, but this book isn't about informing the reader we should fuck the patriarchy, it's about inspiring it. This manifesto gave me the oppurtunity to hear not just from Mona but other inspiring feminists who's experiences and perspectives I may not have the oppurtunity to hear otherwise.

It delves into the many facets of discrimination that accompany the cis-hereteonormative patriarchy. I may face sexism, homophobia and ableism and they can all link - this book gave further insight into the sexist treatment of non-white women, of muslim women, of women who have been somehow 'othered'.

Feeling rage, demanding attention, being profane, having ambition, taking power, using violence, embracing lust - Mona explores each of these sins women are told to stay away from and introduces us to powerful women who smash expectations and don't back down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel a fire in their stomachs and find further inspiration to fight back against the patriarchy.

"What would the world look like if girls were taught they were volcanoes, whose eruptions were a thing of beauty, a power to behold and a force not be trifled with?"

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is from my personal collection and this review has been posted without bias from the publisher or author.

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