Herlands: Lessons From Societies Where Women Make the Rules

by Megha Mohan

A landmark exploration of women-led communities worldwide and what they can teach us about new ways to live, think and govern, from BBC global correspondent Megha Mohan.

'An inspiration for the future' GLORIA STEINEM
'Thoroughly researched and intelligently reported' THE TIMES
'Much-needed and compassionate' MARY ROBINSON
'Fascinating' DIPO FALOYIN
'A must-read' MARCUS RYDER

Society isn’t working for women - or any of us.

But what if the rules were different?

Imagine a world in which women have all the power. A world in which they work together to shape their societies and their futures.

In reality, women's communities have always existed, and continue to thrive. In this vital and ground-breaking book, Megha Mohan goes in search of their roots, discovering a vibrant global history, brought together here for the first time. She also takes us into today's women-led spaces, where women live on their own terms, showing us how we can rethink society for new ways of living, working and collaborating.

Through extensive research and exclusive first-hand reporting and inspired by her great-grandmother’s own matrilineal community in South India, Mohan introduces us to fascinating and diverse groups of women. From the controversial feminist online trolls of South Korea to older women co-housing in Paris and North London and the Rain Queens of South Africa, this is a truly global look at women's community.

Essential reading for anyone interested in our collective histories, cultures, economics and governance, Herlands shows the power and possibility of new ways of living - and leading - for us all.

Genres: Nonfiction

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2026

Reviews

[lille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich liebs! Ein sehr wertvolles Buch für ein Neu-, Anders- und Umdenken von Gemeinschaft und Lebensraum mit soo vielen tollen Projekten aus Vergangenheit und Gegenwart von FLINTA*s, die mich unglaublich inspiriert haben. Dazu wunderbar geschrieben, in einem flüssig zu lesendem Mix aus autobiografischer Erzählung, Fakten, Interviews, Erfahrungsberichten und politischen Einordnungen. Große Empfehlung!!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read - each of the stories from around the world was so deeply researched and reported, and I really enjoyed how the author showed aspects of her approach and interview techniques along the way. I particularly loved the favela chapter and how the characters of the young women were painted. The book me think about the world differently, and feel some hope for the future!

[Nisha Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herlands: Lessons From Societies Where Women Make the Rules by Megha Mohan is a deeply researched and thought provoking exploration of women led communities across the world. The book blends journalism, anthropology, and storytelling to show how different societies function when women are at the centre of social, economic, and cultural life.

Mohan travels through a wide range of real world examples from matrilineal traditions in South India to co housing communities in Europe and women led spaces in South Korea and South Africa. She shows that alternative social structures are not just theoretical but already exist.
What makes the book powerful is its balance between optimism and realism. It does not romanticise women only spaces but instead examines their strengths, tensions, and limitations with honesty. The author’s background as a BBC journalist adds depth, credibility, and a strong investigative lens to every chapter.
Overall, Herlands is insightful, compassionate, and intellectually stimulating. It challenges the reader to rethink assumptions about leadership, power, and community. It is especially compelling for anyone interested in gender, sociology, or social change.
In short, it is a fresh, global, and well researched book that opens up new ways of imagining society beyond traditional structures.

[Seriesbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved science fiction or fantasy books where women are equal to men or societies are women led or focussed. So Herlands really appealed to me – a book looking at women led or women exclusive societies and how this may work for women in the future.
The book is well researched and full of detail, with the author personally visiting many of these women only societies and sometimes with some peril to her safety. The author doesn’t hide the difficulties some of these women face or the fact that some of these enclaves are still run by men. She also explores how pollical and religious changes can affect these havens as well.
This is a truly global book ,exploring women living in villages in South India to farms in rural US and building blocks in Paris to the virtually online community of women in South Korea.
I loved the author’s own reflection on her own experience- she was unaware of her own matrilineal heritage and the fact het great -grandmother gave this up for her love.
Despite the detail, I found this an enjoyable and easy read that was thought provoking.

[Samantha Naila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional read. Megha gives us depth and breadth in these women's stories and got really under the skin of their experiences.

It was refreshing to read from a more nuanced and empathetic perspective. Many of the books I've read over the years on gender, sociology, activism etc has come from a very 'white feminist' perspective and has left me cold with their judgment and condescension. Megha approaches her contributors and situations with understanding and comes across as really wanting to give their side of the story - irrespective of whether you agree with it or not. It's a proper case of ' the reader can make their own minds up' rather than trying to force any one type of opinion or ideology down the reader's throat.

An original book that I will keep on my very small shelf because it's one that offers me new ideas to chew over.

[Vidya Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Herlands by Megha Mohan was an eye opener for me. The author has visited and researched women only communities across the globe & time.For some a world without men ruling & shaping our everyday lives is unimaginable. Yet she has shown us through studying these groups that it is possible and they do exist.Her style of writing makes it a pleasure to read. Highly recommend this book for both men & women to read.

[Mr J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really thought provoking and interesting.