Difficult Women

The assertion that well-behaved women don't make history is vividly explored by Helen Lewis, who posits that feminism owes its triumphs to complex, imperfect women who often clashed with one another while fighting for gender equality. Many influential figures in this movement have been either overlooked or sanitized in contemporary society's quest for uplifting role models. Lewis calls for a reevaluation of feminism's history to highlight these challenging figures. Her book introduces readers to working-class suffragettes who resorted to bombings and arson, a princess who investigated women's sexual dissatisfaction, a refuge movement trailblazer who later advocated for men's rights, and a sari-clad striker who alarmed Margaret Thatcher. It also covers a Victorian wife wrongly rumored to be involved with the prime minister and a lesbian politician who caused national uproar. By extending the narrative into the modern era, including the fight for access to abortion services, Lewis offers a raw and ongoing portrayal of women's rights evolution. Through extensive research and interviews, "Difficult Women" delivers a witty, bold, and occasionally startling chronicle, underlining the reasons behind feminism's accomplishments and what lies ahead. The struggle is formidable, and we too must embody that difficulty.