She Proclaims

April 13, 2020
Palmieri (Dear Madam President), communications director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, offers a spirited and accessible manifesto for women seeking to combat the patriarchy through both personal and collective action. Inspired by the Declaration of Sentiments drafted by organizers of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, Palmieri rallies feminists with slogans for advancing the women’s movement (“We proclaim that we value women of all ages”), and urges women to “refuse to allow scare tactics to control or silence us.” She encourages women to educate themselves on historical examples of female empowerment, and to demand that large corporations do more to close the wage gap than the token gesture of promoting just one or two women to positions of leadership. In the book’s strongest sections, she condemns America’s culture of patriarchy with anecdotes from her career, including being called to testify in the special counsel investigation into Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, and witnessing Donald Trump appear to “stalk” Hillary Clinton around a 2016 debate stage. Prioritizing optimism and support over anger and frustration, Palmieri reaches out to women of diverse backgrounds, though she occasionally descends into platitudes. Feminists will be heartened by this inspirational guide to fighting for gender equality. Agent: Matt Latimer, Javelin.