The New Feminism [Paperback]

This book is an interesting study of feminism as it was at the end of the 1990s. From the perspective of 2010 it seems to me the progress towards an equal society has slipped backwards since the book was published. I was particularly struck by the author's comments about women not worrying about what other people thought of the way they dressed, their faces or the their figures.

Currently it seems the media is obsessed with women's appearances and all magazines are filled with articles about how everyone can have the face and figure necessary to have a successful life. Surveys recently suggested girls as young as 5 worry about their weight and what they wear. Not the situation the author might have envisaged when she was writing this book. She has a new book about to be published entitled 'Living Dolls: the Return of Sexism' which looks at society today in which women's bodies are seen as their only passport to success and it will be interesting to compare society as depicted by both books - published 10 years apart.

Were the 1990s the lull before the backlash against independent courageous women really started? According to the author there was no longer an issue around women with children working outside the home; more and more men were playing an equal part in childcare and domestic chores. What has happened in the 10 years since this book was written?

The book is hopeful and enthusiastic about the prospect of equal opportunities and equal treatment for women in the workplace. She disagrees with the idea that women should portray themselves as victims in order to get what they want and advocates campaigning to right wrongs and supporting other women. She does not agree that you need to live in a certain way in order to be a feminist as feminism should embrace all women - whether living in a conventional nuclear family or in a commune or on their own.

The chapter on work is interesting and thought provoking and suggests that for the sake of men as well as women the hierarchical workforce and linear career structure needs to be changed to allow more flexibility to everyone. She believes that eventually work will need to be structured differently so that work and home life are less compartmentalised. Maternity leave needs to be changed so that it is parental leave and can be taken by either sex - more how things are arranged in some Scandinavian countries.

I found the book very interesting and I couldn't help but compare it to the current situation 10 years later. It now seems as though there has been very little positive change since 1999 and in fact many people's attitudes seem to be tending towards the traditional stereotypes rather than forging new roles for both sexes. Well worth a read - whether you are male or female.

There are other books, better than this one, but if you want a comforting read into the debates and issues current and relevant to feminists and feminism then it is a good read. Personally, I prefer a bit more bite and risk - Natasha Walter is the consumate feminist self-publicist - you can't detract from her immense ability to get noticed and read. Good for her but not as juicy as some of the feminist writers who preceded her and those who have since come forward with new and more dynamic research.

I loved this book! I've passed it around to a number of people urging them to dip into it. For anyone who cringes when they hear the word 'feminism' - especially women - this book cuts through all the jokes and stereotypes and examines what feminism with a small 'f' means now and how it manifests in the everyday lives of women and men. Well written and whilst containing academic information, it isn't a heavy read.

I found this book inspiring and thought provoking even though it is a little out of date now. It has re-kindled my enthusiasm for examining the dynamic of women and yes - I've gone back to using the word feminist without being self conscious of any labels!

I heartily recommend this book to everyone!