A fantastic non-fiction illustrated story of Modern Feminism, Badly Behaved Women by Anna-Marie Crowhurst is a reference-guide and must-read for all. You’ll be sharing every word with all your friends from the get-go.

The plot:

In the early twentieth century, through ceaseless dedication and fearless campaigning, the women’s movement achieved what has previously been unimaginable: a women’s right to vote. Four waves of feminism and a century on, the rich cultural history of this movement is truly worthy of celebration.

Accompanied by stunning photographs, personal testimony essays from key figures and archive material from sources around the world, this multi-stranded, global and ongoing story also examines the flaws of the movement and the future feminism.

A book to read, read again, and read 10 more times after that

I’m not going to stop talking about this book until everyone’s read it (sorry, not sorry). It’s such an empowering book, that you’ll want and need to shout about it from the rooftops.

It’s a great non-fiction, in the sense that it encompasses a lot of the history of feminism from 1900s-present, so doesn’t necessarily require further research; however, it also offers lots of resources, as well as names and groups you want to know more about and then have them on your radar. I’ve decided, in the future, to take every page and read/watch/listen to every resource that’s mentioned.

It’s split into 5 parts, spanning the history, so is well compartmentalised for an easy read. I wanted to read a chapter a day but just couldn’t eek it out – I didn’t want to put it down and just wanted to be wrapped up in all the topics.

It’s rich in culture, especially some things which you are unlikely to learn about in history books – incredibly well pulled-together with rich analysis and straight-up facts which I have memorised in case someone comes at me (come at me, I’m prepared). Honestly, I found myself beaming at this book with some women, and soooo many goosebumps.

What I loved most about Badly Behaved Women was all the emotions it made me feel – I was angry, sad (I even tear’ed up at a few points – some for good reasons, others not good), and overwhelmingly proud – but my key takeaway is that there is still work to be done; specifically with “white feminism”, and the fight for equality for Black women and those that identify as trans women.

Pages 184-185 – HECK. WOW. YESSSSSS. That’s all I’m saying, because you need to read this book.

There are a few quotes which I wanted to share with you:

• “Feminism is the political theory and practice to free all women, physically challenged women, lesbians, old women, as well as white economically privileged heterosexual women. Anything less than this is not feminism, but merely female self-arrangedizement” (Barbara Smith 1979, cited)
• “Calling myself feminist is like calling my own name. I am a witness to the movement as well as a beneficiary of it. I lie quietly in its valley, yet it simultaneously lies within me, with its own particular face and nature and its own particular voice” (Contributor: Diana Evans)

It’s extremely up-to-date, but we all must appreciate that as soon as a book like this goes to print, it’s out of date – so there are a few things which could’ve been added to the ‘2000s-present’ section, and I definitely won’t be moaning if there were more books on feminism by Crowhurst.

This author also wrote The Illumination of Ursula Flight – link to my review here – which is a fiction read, also on the topic of feminism, set during Charles II’s reign.

A book to read, read again, and read 10 more times after that.

On a side note, if you ever come across someone who isn’t a feminist, this book is pretty heavy (legally, I accept no responsibility for however you choose to interpret that sentence).

Badly Behaved Women, Anna-Marie Crowhurst, RRP £20 (hardback); Book Depository 

Pages: 192

Publisher: Welbeck Publishing Group

Genre: Non-Fiction