Book 2 - On how to be a woman

The joy of reading a list of books that is drawn from a media inspired source means you force yourself to immerse in literature you would normally ignore. I have no problem in announcing that it is because I am a man that I probably would never have picked up How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. This is not to say I am not interested in feminist literature as I have read many including Germaine Greer and Naomi Wolf to name two heavy hitters. The title of the book is what would have put me off, as being a woman is not something I thought I had to learn to be.

Moran’s book is described as a retelling of Greer’s own The Female Eunuch, but from a bar stool. There is no doubt that Moran’s world view is a more visceral and down-to-earth expose of the role of women in the modern world but make no mistake it is no less important in exploring the role of women and ultimately humanity.

How to be a Woman is told through a series of vignettes through Moran’s life from a thirteen year old blossoming Wolverhampton girl through her career as a music writer and TV presenter to columnist and mother of two. She deftly explores themes that are not spoken of enough via the tales of her own life. She traverses pornography, fashion, weight, self-perception, sexism, motherhood, life and death through sometimes hilarious tales of her upbringing. +Daniel  and I knew little of Caitlin Moran as we had not read her contemporary column and were not living in the UK when she was compering The Naked City on Channel Four. I did a bit of research and found she had a fascinating introduction to the music world and got to meet many of my musical heroes spending an afternoon in Camden with Iggy Pop and doing one of the first Bjork interviews on British TV. She has always been a bolshie no-nonsense character and her working class roots come through strongly in her writing.

The theme that begins to appear is that much of the hilarity comes about due to her ignorance of the real world and the lack of suitable knowledge or the reluctance of those around her to talk about issues that should truly matter to those transitioning from childhood to adulthood. She places no boundaries on her subjects but makes it clear these are her perceptions. We learn of her discoveries in women’s knowledge and the heroes that helped her discover who she was. She also makes it clear that as she developed her own perceptions she challenged the ideas of her heroes and eventually did not agree with everything they said. For me this is one of the strong points of Moran’s writings. She is not afraid to disagree with her heroes or to challenge the standard perceptions of the female struggle, going so far as to state that the imbalances women face in the modern world are not merely the reactions of misogynistic men desiring to keep the feminine down.

Moran is the eldest of 8 children and coming from an even larger family I relate strongly to many of her tales. I have six sisters in my tribe and have always felt this put me in good stead in my perceptions of the female world. Moran’s funny and poignant book did not change this view but affirmed some thoughts I had kept hidden for fear that others, especially women, would misunderstand. Daniel and I know women like Caitlin Moran and I feel strongly that if were ever to cross paths we would become friends. She is so like people we know and love. Her no nonsense view of the world was refreshing and I personally believe her book should be required reading for all women. And men as well but I imagine too many would cringe at her explanation of what she calls her vagina and why and her suggestion for all women to taste their menstrual blood.

I was telling a friend that I was reading this book (in fact I was telling everyone) but this friend was reading it as well. She was also enjoying the read but had been warned by an acquaintance that the book went downhill in the second half. I couldn’t disagree more but began to understand why some may think. Firstly there was the reduction of laughs as she describes the horrendous birth of her first child and Moran’s choice of feminist heroes that some people may look down on. All in all I think that there is a fair chance that snobbery is what will encourage some to sneer slightly at the second half of book. I feel she is brave for asking difficult questions and providing her perspective on some answers.

I found myself agreeing with her even when the topics were issues I simply do not have to deal with as a man. I was most happy when I read her summation in that the real search is not about men and women but about being a good human.

All in all I am so pleased to have read the book and already the task of 100 books in a year that my wonderful man Daniel has set us has been worth it. I am sure not all will be so revealing and inspiring but I am readier to complete the task than I was before.