Seely dispels the notion that there are secrets to successful organizing by creating a step by step, compelling manual that challenges even the cynical Fight Like A Girl is an uncomfortable read, but also an important one that challenges your beliefs and everything you've ever been taught by your parent and by society. When it's ensuring your voice as a female is heard, respected, fought to have an equal place in society, it's so important to read and be told these things. Make no mistake; Clementine Ford is a change-maker. She’s undoubtedly responsible for introducing feminism to a generation of women who couldn’t quite get behind their mothers’ Germaine Greer adoration, and she’s been at the forefront of the scarily evolving online dangers and abuse aimed at women … Clementine is up there with; Roxane Gay, Lena Dunham, Caitlin Moran, Anita Sarkeesian, Lindy West, Laurie Penny, Margaret Cho, Amber Rose, and so many more firebrand feminists who have taken the modern movement and made it work for them. And if I’m being absolutely honest – I wouldn’t know half those women mentioned above if not for reading Clementine’s columns these last few years, which started conversations for me, and within me … and this book will do the exact same thing for a lot of people. It will make them question everything, even themselves – men and women, boys and girls, non-binary – there is something in this book for everyone.

Exploring such issues as body image and self-acceptance, education and empowerment, health and sexuality, political representation, economic justice, and violence against women, Fight Like a Girl looks at the challenges that women and girls face while emphasizing the strength that they independently, and collectively, embody. Seely delves into the politics of the feminist movement, exploring both women's history and current–day realities with easy-to-follow lists and timelines like those on “Women Who Made a Difference,” “Chronology of the U.S. Women's Movement,” and “Do's and Don'ts for Young Feminists.”Personal and fearless - a call to arms for feminists new, old and as yet unrealised by one of our most outspoken feminist writers. I also loved the chapter ‘A League of Their Own’ – which is close to my heart for Clementine exploring as she often does, the link between pop-culture and feminism. She name-drops the likes of; ‘Parks and Recreation’, ‘Broad City’ and ‘Jessica Jones’ (to name a very few) television shows, for their core focus on the love story between female friends. She brings in Alison Bechdel’s test to discuss women in cinema … and while this whole chapter had me head-nodding along for all our cross-pollination of pop-culture obsessions, it’s also Clementine celebrating these highly visible achievements of women who are bringing feminism to the masses. And in particular; rejecting this notion that women are our own worst enemies; If you’ve studied gender studies or read any feminist books or theory, this isn’t a book that will really illuminate anything or introduce concepts or ideas that you’re not already familiar with. But it’s nice summary and the perfect book for people who want a refresher for 2016, or for younger people who need a good, understandable introduction to what feminism is, and why it still matters. The chapters on men and good guys, and discussion of the White Ribbon Foundation, are brilliant. Clementine is furious and scathing when she needs to be, yet compassionate and encouraging every moment she can be. This book is both a confirmation of sisterhood and a call to arms.’ Swearing aside, she is also a good writer, who expressed in clear and articulate ways some simple truths about being a woman that we sometimes take for granted that everyone understands because it’s our reality, but that more than deserve to be expressed to those who can’t read our thoughts. In fact, I thought this might be a good book for men to read when they wonder why women get pissed at stuff that may seem harmless to them.

Got a teenage daughter? Go out and buy her this book now. While you're at it buy one for yourself and everyone you know. Even better, give a copy of this book to every teenage boy you know. All these resources from the women, books, art, music, I would have LOVED an actual list of their material so it would be easier to find. The bibliography in the end lists the resources the author used, I’m talking about a separate list with the feminists’ own work, now I have to google for myself (yeah I know, minor issue…) Keep your legs closed – on public transport, in the living room, while watching TV, while lying in bed, while lying with someone else. Be the gatekeeper. Know that boys can’t help themselves, that it’s your job to help them learn self-control, but you must never, ever, ever tell them that, because it’s not fair to treat boys like they’re dangerous. Sacrifice yourself so that they might become better people. Be the scaffold they need to climb to heights greater than you’ll ever be supported to reach. Some reviewers have dinged Ford for her crude language and raw anger. I don’t. This book was written for a younger generation—one more accustomed to the F-bomb and sharing their feelings across social media. This generation of feminists is not like mine and that’s a good thing! I hope they are better—as in more effective. They will have different tools, more expansive networks, and (I hope) more men working with them. I’m just sorry they still have to go through the same traumas we did. The Me Too Movement seems to be making a difference. The Kavanaugh hearings for the Supreme Court have tapped a deep sense of outrage which I hope will be reflected at the voting booth. Here’s to hoping the next generation of young women get the respect and opportunities they deserve. I’ve got my fingers crossed and plan to crochet a bunch more pussy hats. With an eye toward what it takes to create actual change, Seely offers a practical guide for how to get involved, take action and wage successful events and campaigns.

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Throughout reading this , Clementine Ford has managed to convey my thoughts into words in a powerful , unapologetic and satirical way .

Although the authors voice was very present in the text, I do wish that could have been done without the ableist language (it feels like the main way to make sure that your voice is present, or it’s a teen speaking in books nowadays is to use words like “crazy” or “schitzo” or “lame” where it does not apply!). Also, describing women as “ballsy”… There are ways to show your presence without being ableist.I was glad to read in ‘Fight Like a Girl’ the genesis of Clementine’s own feminism – with the opening line; “Of course I believe in equality … but I’m certainly not a feminist.” This was once Clementine’s worldview, just as it was mine – and for much the same reasons. I attended an all-girl school with fellow classmates who were hyperaware of lesbian connotations, and assumed the word “feminist” was code for “lesbian” and were more concerned with outward appearance than moral compass. I also appreciate that Clementine quotes from ‘How to Be a Woman’ by Caitlin Moran – the first nod (of many) scattered throughout the book, where Clementine traces her own origin story, much in the same way that many readers tie themselves to the author for their own feminist beginnings. Clementine also discusses in depth, the importance of surrounding yourself with strong, positive female friendships and the impact a support network can have on the female subconscious. One aspect I found fascinating was the conversation which dissects the emphasis being placed upon our physical aesthetic, which determines our popularity and often sense of self worth. It's during those years of discovery and exploration where we need to instill in the next generation of young women, the importance of self confidence, how to assert ourselves and not to be ashamed of our bodies or allow men to reduce our valuation to objectification. There isn’t much intersectionality in this book. Ford wrote based on her own experiences, and she is white, cis and hetero, so that’s what you get. And to be frank I’m not sure I got much new information out of this book. It was nice to read, often funny, often upsetting – but a lot of the topics touched upon were some I have read about and discussed at length before. That doesn’t mean it isn’t nice to read that other women have to wrangle with the same issues and situations: validation matters, and this book is simply Ford sharing her experience to encourage other women to be assertive and demand a better world. Even if I was raised by a feminist mom and have been one of those “too loud, too smart, too sexual, too everything” kind of girl my whole life doesn’t make me a perfect feminist, I have stuff that I will probably keep working on my whole life, and books like this are a good reminder that I should never give up.

Australian women are almost four times more likely than men to be hospitalised after being assaulted by their spouse or partner. Australian women are nearly three times more likely than men to experience violence from an intimate partner. I truly believe that everyone, male and female, should read this book and i will definitely be recommending it to all the women I know. Like many other feminists, young Clementine was your typical girl, brought up in a loving family, together with her older sister and brother. She couldn't quite find her place in the world, being a chubby girl (I know the biggest crime of them all!), until she became a teenager who decided "to take control" by becoming anorexic and bulimic. Interestingly enough, but not unusual, nobody in the family noticed, she was getting lots of compliments for losing that weight to become attractive. Her parents were loving and quite enlightened by comparison, still, they weren't perfect. The mixed messages we give girls, the ever-changing goalposts of what it means to be attractive, of what's acceptable and not acceptable. Just think of how we were parented and how we parent our boys and girls: for the girls - be nice and kind, make yourself pretty, cute, followed by don't go out at night, don't show too much leg, wear a bra, wear girly clothes, of course, not too revealing we don't want people to call/think you a slut. Shave your underarms, shave your legs (why is it so different for men?). The boys are mostly left to be themselves, go explore, be conquerors, be a leader, assertive, encouraged to go after what they want etc.

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My mother played the role of the traditional housewife and primary caregiver in a predominantly female environment, raising daughters while she was being emotionally, mentally and physically abused. We were children of domestic violence and alcohol abuse. This became my inauguration into a male dominated world where battle weary women have previously been defeated and precious lives have been lost. It touches on the tragedy of Jill Meagher and how her brutal rape and murder invoked rage without our community. Fight Like A Girl considers the anguish of domestic violence and violence against women, a chapter that resonated deep within me. I won a signed copy and a t-shirt for asking a question that was read on a live Facebook event. I listened to this via audiobook and I loved it as it was narrated by Ford herself (she's quite good). Fight Like A Girl is possibly one of the best collections of profiles I have read in awhile. From the beginning of modern feminism to present day, Barcella covers a wide variety of women who have made a serious impact on the western world and on feminism. Fight Like a girl is an uncomfortable read, but also an important one that challenges everything you've ever been taught either direclty or indireclty by society mostly patriarchy , misogyny and sexism. The resources, helpful hints about organizing and working with the press, the short bios of companies and fabulous feminists are great!”