We Should All Be Feminists

Starred review from February 27, 2017
Its tough to imagine anyone other than Adichie narrating the audio edition of her feminist manifesto, which originated as a TED Talk and was later adapted into a book. Many listeners will recognize the Nigerian writer’s voice and words from pop star Beyoncé’s song “Flawless,” which featured sound bites from Adichie’s original speech. Here, those sound bites are put into context and given weight as Adichie lays out her creed. Her voice is both gentle and confident as she takes listeners through the deeply conditioned sexism she has encountered, beginning with her encounters with the label “feminist” growing up and drawing on her own experiences as well as those of other women in her life. She coolly relays the story of a woman in Nigeria who decided to sell her house because she didn’t want to intimidate a man who might want to marry her, followed by another story of an unmarried woman who wears a wedding ring to conferences so that her colleagues show her more respect. Adichie presents these anecdotes in a deliberate, matter-of-fact style. She keeps heightened emotions and urgency out of her voice, instead making use of poignant pauses to let what is she is saying sink in. It’s a powerful message, recorded in a way that will make people listen again and again. A Knopf paperback.

This brief reflection on the state of gender in contemporary society is told in quiet but firm tones by its author. Listeners will shake their heads as she recounts the multiple microaggressions faced by young women in Nigeria. The sexism at the root of each anecdote resonates because the stereotypes are universal. Adichie makes her point with a steady, even tone, and through her strong thesis, she gives voice to the many contradictions women cope with in our contemporary world. Equally important, she challenges men to recognize how these issues limit people of both genders. The entire essay can be listened to at all once during a long drive or wait. Listeners may want to rewind a few of the sections more than once. M.R. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine