Laura Bates explores the everyday issues that women must face in a patriarchal world as well as the deep-rooted issues that leave women constantly aware of their surroundings and living in a constant state of fear whether it is something little or something that engulfs their entire lives. This eye-opening book discusses the many ways in which women have been told to change their behaviour to adhere to a patriarchal society. We are taught that it is our fault for unwanted comments, sexual assaults, workplace harassment or murder. Bates goes on to explain that from a young age we are immediately devalued as women, the responsibility is put on women to quieten ourselves to stay safe. The real problem lies with not putting the responsibility on men to make women feel safe, instead women are told how to behave. Bates uses extracts from her ‘everyday sexism’ project where women share their stories about being violated or assaulted by men; to some these stories may be shocking. But to others we know these stories or a familiar version of these stories all too well. This is a powerful piece of work that everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to read this book.
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