I finished reading How To Be A Woman this weekend. It’s a humourous, up-to-date book on feminism with stories from CM’s life so far. It was enjoyable, revealing and inspiring. It gave me a lot to think about. Depressingly I do happen to work in an undeniably sexist environment. But after reading the book, I did challenge some sexist comments in my workplace yesterday. My challenge was deflected using humour, so I didn’t get the satisfaction of having my point accepted, but it’s a start.

I’ve always felt ever so slightly embarrassed when I’ve seen Caitlin Moran’s stuff, either when she was on TV presenting Naked City in the Nineties or reading specific passages of her book. I’ve always been fascinated by her and her steep rise to fame because she’s my age, grew up in Wolverhampton and isn’t from a rich family. In short, she could have been one of us (I’m referring to my group of friends from school). So when she makes jokes in the book that aren’t funny or when she joked that Richey and Nicky of the Manics needed a wash on Naked City it makes me squirm a little because it’s like she’s representing all women in their mid-thirties from Wolvo. However I don’t want to sell her short and so I should point out that are several very funny moments in the book that made me laugh out loud. How To Be A Woman shows that Caitlin Moran has grown up a lot, been through a lot and is extremely clever. I have to respect her for all those things.

Most importantly, the book has inspired me to get rid of a pair of very uncomfortable shoes which I never should have purchased in the first place. I have big feet and the world needs to start dealing with it.

(17th in 2012)