Fight Like a Girl

by Clementine Ford

Personal and fearless - a call to arms for feminists new, old and as yet unrealised by one of our most outspoken feminist writers.

'With wit, insight and glorious, righteous rage, Clementine Ford lays out all the ways in which girls and women are hurt and held back, and unapologetically demands that the world do better. A passionate and urgently needed call to arms, Fight Like A Girl insists on our right to be angry, to be heard and to fight. It'll change lives.' Emily Maguire, author of An Isolated Incident

A friend recently told me that the things I write are powerful for her because they have the effect of making her feel angry instead of just empty. I want to do this for all women and young girls - to take the emptiness and numbness they feel about being a girl in this world and turn it into rage and power. I want to teach all of them how to FIGHT LIKE A GIRL. Clementine Ford

Online sensation, fearless feminist heroine and scourge of trolls and misogynists everywhere, Clementine Ford is a beacon of hope and inspiration to thousands of Australian women and girls. Her incendiary debut Fight Like A Girl is an essential manifesto for feminists new, old and soon-to-be, and exposes just how unequal the world continues to be for women. Crucially, it is a call to arms for all women to rediscover the fury that has been suppressed by a society that still considers feminism a threat.

Fight Like A Girl will make you laugh, cry and scream. But above all it will make you demand and fight for a world in which women have real equality and not merely the illusion of it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Audiobook, Memoir, Politics, Australia, Womens

294 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2016

About the author

Clementine Ford is a freelance writer, broadcaster and public speaker based in Melbourne. She writes on feminism, pop culture and social issues.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ pg 173 (55%)

(WARNING: The following review contains swearing.)

I CAN'T DO IT.

There is enough hate in the world without sitting through another 150 pages of this bitter, sarcastic tirade.

She raises some solid, important points, but it's so thickly buried in sarcasm and vulgarity and anger that I just can't deal with it.

Which is REALLY DISAPPOINTING because what she's trying to say IS FKING IMPORTANT but she's so busy ranting about how the amount of trouble men have caused for her has opened her eyes to how much trouble ALL WOMEN suffer because of ALL MEN that there's just no space for contemplation and reasoning out your own conclusions.

Like I get that the title is suggestive of her coming out swinging but JEEZUZ.

Feminism is a valid movement, but as long as it continues to be fronted by bitter, angry people it will always be difficult for people to take it seriously. We need rational, calm people stepping up and making their points bravely, honestly, and with integrity.

I'm not anti-feminist; I'm not siding with males because I want them to like me, and I'm not selfishly oblivious to the plights of women around the world. I know that women are often subjected to the vile behaviours of entitled men and I have experienced degradation at the hands of men so I FKING GET IT.

But hate and violence is not going to win this war.

I'm so saddened by how visceral my reaction to this book has been. I believe the message 100%, but the delivery is going to alienate a lot of well-meaning people.

I'm done.

My heart hurts.

This was book 19 of my #Dymocks52Challenge refined. You can read more here.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Fight Like a Girl’ is debut non-fiction from feminist and DailyLife columnist, Clementine Ford.

Full disclosure: I have no objectivity where Clementine Ford is concerned. It’s not just that she’s represented by the literary agency I now work for, that I’ve written for the same DailyLife where Clementine is a columnist, or was lucky enough to chair a session with her and Amy Gray at Melbourne Writers Festival this year … it’s that I’ve been reading Clementine Ford’s work for about five years now and she’s so intrinsically linked to discovering my feminist voice and viewpoint – I feel like she’s been there for me, and helped me in a myriad of ways. There’s nothing but admiration and respect here, where Clementine is concerned.

I was glad to read in ‘Fight Like a Girl’ the genesis of Clementine’s own feminism – with the opening line; “Of course I believe in equality … but I’m certainly not a feminist.” This was once Clementine’s worldview, just as it was mine – and for much the same reasons. I attended an all-girl school with fellow classmates who were hyperaware of lesbian connotations, and assumed the word “feminist” was code for “lesbian” and were more concerned with outward appearance than moral compass. I also appreciate that Clementine quotes from ‘How to Be a Woman’ by Caitlin Moran – the first nod (of many) scattered throughout the book, where Clementine traces her own origin story, much in the same way that many readers tie themselves to the author for their own feminist beginnings.

I also loved the chapter ‘A League of Their Own’ – which is close to my heart for Clementine exploring as she often does, the link between pop-culture and feminism. She name-drops the likes of; ‘Parks and Recreation’, ‘Broad City’ and ‘Jessica Jones’ (to name a very few) television shows, for their core focus on the love story between female friends. She brings in Alison Bechdel’s test to discuss women in cinema … and while this whole chapter had me head-nodding along for all our cross-pollination of pop-culture obsessions, it’s also Clementine celebrating these highly visible achievements of women who are bringing feminism to the masses. And in particular; rejecting this notion that women are our own worst enemies;

If women can be convinced to mistrust one another instead of working together, patriarchal order is secure for another day.

Nothing is off-limits in Clementine’s book. She discusses her past abortions, and the ‘Hate Male’ she receives on a daily basis. And she pulls out her visceral critiques and subversions of a society that would rather teach girls how not to get raped, than boys not to rape;

Keep your legs closed – on public transport, in the living room, while watching TV, while lying in bed, while lying with someone else. Be the gatekeeper. Know that boys can’t help themselves, that it’s your job to help them learn self-control, but you must never, ever, ever tell them that, because it’s not fair to treat boys like they’re dangerous. Sacrifice yourself so that they might become better people. Be the scaffold they need to climb to heights greater than you’ll ever be supported to reach.

Make no mistake; Clementine Ford is a change-maker. She’s undoubtedly responsible for introducing feminism to a generation of women who couldn’t quite get behind their mothers’ Germaine Greer adoration, and she’s been at the forefront of the scarily evolving online dangers and abuse aimed at women … Clementine is up there with; Roxane Gay, Lena Dunham, Caitlin Moran, Anita Sarkeesian, Lindy West, Laurie Penny, Margaret Cho, Amber Rose, and so many more firebrand feminists who have taken the modern movement and made it work for them. And if I’m being absolutely honest – I wouldn’t know half those women mentioned above if not for reading Clementine’s columns these last few years, which started conversations for me, and within me … and this book will do the exact same thing for a lot of people. It will make them question everything, even themselves – men and women, boys and girls, non-binary – there is something in this book for everyone.

But more than anything, this book is a balm for the individual reader. Clementine lays herself bare – her mistakes, worst moments, darkest thoughts … she puts it all out there, so the reader doesn’t feel so alone. So I didn’t feel so alone. And for that, and so much more, I thank her.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never did I realise I held so much rage against the devaluement of women until reading Fight Like A Girl. Never have I felt so empowered. So inspired. So alive. Fight Like A Girl awakens the Feminist within, providing a sense of togetherness against a world that often devalues, demoralises and silences women who find their voice. A voice that values women, inspires women and tells us we're worthy and we deserve. Feminism is not a dirty word. It's a call to arms.

We aren't delicate little flowers who need to shielded from experiencing or expressing extreme emotions.

Feminism is a call for equality in what is predominately a world in which men are rewarded, praised and valued. A patriarchal dominance. Clementine Ford addresses what it means to be female, or identify as female and our journey from birth to self realisation. Fight Like A Girl is a compelling and hilarious manifesto to challenge ideals, provoke discussion and ignite passion.

Because the fact is, if we don't stand by and for each other, then no one else will.

My mother played the role of the traditional housewife and primary caregiver in a predominantly female environment, raising daughters while she was being emotionally, mentally and physically abused. We were children of domestic violence and alcohol abuse. This became my inauguration into a male dominated world where battle weary women have previously been defeated and precious lives have been lost. It touches on the tragedy of Jill Meagher and how her brutal rape and murder invoked rage without our community. Fight Like A Girl considers the anguish of domestic violence and violence against women, a chapter that resonated deep within me.

Clementine also discusses in depth, the importance of surrounding yourself with strong, positive female friendships and the impact a support network can have on the female subconscious. One aspect I found fascinating was the conversation which dissects the emphasis being placed upon our physical aesthetic, which determines our popularity and often sense of self worth. It's during those years of discovery and exploration where we need to instill in the next generation of young women, the importance of self confidence, how to assert ourselves and not to be ashamed of our bodies or allow men to reduce our valuation to objectification.

Veracious and unapologetic, Clementine addresses abortion, her own personal journey and the freedom of authority over our bodies. How pop culture contributes to the conversation, in the age of social media where women can experience a sense of community and solidarity, which also allows men access to women within our communities. Once again, men encroaching on our spaces often to reduce the impact and reach of our words while asserting themselves.

Fight Like A Girl reiterates that women are entitled to embrace their anger, to be heard, to create safe spaces and circumvent interactions with those who want to challenge our ideals. Often misogynists and chauvinists who resort to aggression when not being afforded attention.

No Feminist I know gives one iota of a fuck about the problems any man has with how we conduct our own movement. And for another thing, fuck off.

Clementine Ford is a remarkable woman who lends her voice to women universally, to inspire, encourage and empower while being Australia's most prominent modern day Feminist. Confronting, immersive and influential.

[Tania R · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope, nope, nope! I know I am going against the trend here but I could not finish this book. Ford's rants really was a full on assault to all of my senses. She wanted so desperately to let us know she couldn't care less what men thought about her but unfortunately it looks like that very view has influenced every single part of her. Being a feminist myself I could find nothing new, inspiring or positive to take from this book. All I could tell was that she was very, very, very angry. It was a disappointing read and down right depressing.
I just want to say not all women think in the same way, not all feminist have the same views.

[Ruby Bisson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was like an extended FB rant. I agree with almost all of the messages, but disagree with the delivery.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't like angry women encouraging other women to become angry about the myriad of ways in which women are constantly degraded and controlled and put down by men and society in general, probably don't read this book.

If you're a woman who thinks feminism is a dirty word and that you're not in favour of feminism, because you'd rather have equality? READ THIS BOOK OH MY GOD.

WHAT I LIKED
- Clementine Ford doesn't pull her punches
- She discusses her own personal life experiences very frankly and frames them in the context of a discussion about those issues for all women, including eating disorders, abortion and mental health.
- The chapters on rape culture with their focus on rape culture in Australia were FANTASTIC.
- The emphasis on the importance of female friendship in our lives was great
- I also loved how much it discussed the impact that being noticed - and wanting to be noticed -by men can impact on women's attitudes and personalities. Don't be too loud, don't be too shy, don't be too prudish, don't be too slutty or men won't want you.

WHAT I WAS LESS KEEN ON
- It wasn't QUITE as intersectional as I would have liked it to be. Yes, there was plenty of acknowledgement of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly that trans women are women. But a lot of the time, it was very much about the experiences of white women.
- I found that some of the middle chapters with their heavy emphasis on MRAs on social media dragged a bit? And I think it's partly that Ford's experiences of online abuse are a long way from universal, but also because - as she herself argues - the more abuse you hear, the less impact it has on you. So I started out full of rage over the things she gets called on a daily basis, but the more of these abusive comments I read, the more I just wanted to get past the boring insults to the heart of her argument.

So. On the whole, it's an excellent introduction to feminism. But a little more intersectionality would have been even better.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review contains opinions (I'm sure some will be unpopular), some profanity etc. Generalisations will occur.
Oh, by all means, #NotAllMen (insert eye rolling emoji).
The what-about-ists need not comment.



Women are scared they'll be killed, men are scared they'll be laughed at.

It's incredibly liberating reaching my mid-forties and realising how little I care about people's opinions of me. Men's opinions matter even less. I'm heterosexual - I know, quite the tragedy, as I like to joke to most people's astonishment. And guess what, most feminists are not men-haters, although I'm sure some are and I'm certain they have good reasons for that. It actually gives me great satisfaction when occasionally I discover that a certain man, usually a friend's partner, can't stand me. It's usually because instead of fluttering my eye-lashes and gushing over their ... whatever it is we are supposed to gush over - I challenge their sexist remarks, jokes and attitudes and so on - not that I spend that much time in their company, I'm bored out of my mind by sports talk.

Anyway, let's review ...

For those of you outside Australia, Clementine Ford is one of the most prominent feminists in Australia. It's redundant to say I admire her. I like and treasure all feminists, no matter if they're the suave, diplomatic, conciliatory type or the acerbic, cussing, don't-give-a-fuck kind. Feminists come in all shapes and colours, just like women do.

I won a signed copy and a t-shirt for asking a question that was read on a live Facebook event. I listened to this via audiobook and I loved it as it was narrated by Ford herself (she's quite good).

The first word that comes to mind to describe this book is unapologetic.
Like many other feminists, young Clementine was your typical girl, brought up in a loving family, together with her older sister and brother. She couldn't quite find her place in the world, being a chubby girl (I know the biggest crime of them all!), until she became a teenager who decided "to take control" by becoming anorexic and bulimic. Interestingly enough, but not unusual, nobody in the family noticed, she was getting lots of compliments for losing that weight to become attractive. Her parents were loving and quite enlightened by comparison, still, they weren't perfect. The mixed messages we give girls, the ever-changing goalposts of what it means to be attractive, of what's acceptable and not acceptable. Just think of how we were parented and how we parent our boys and girls: for the girls - be nice and kind, make yourself pretty, cute, followed by don't go out at night, don't show too much leg, wear a bra, wear girly clothes, of course, not too revealing we don't want people to call/think you a slut. Shave your underarms, shave your legs (why is it so different for men?). The boys are mostly left to be themselves, go explore, be conquerors, be a leader, assertive, encouraged to go after what they want etc.
Completely different messages.

Ford confesses to having had two abortions, but unlike most other women, besides being unapologetic about it, she's also not wringing her hands to explain herself beside the fact she wasn't ready for a child. She's got zero, zip, nada regrets about them. Case closed. I'm, of course, pro-choice but I can't remember seeing this stance - the narrative around abortion is that, surely, there must be some regret, shame etc. It's kind of refreshing to hear it's not the case for everyone. NB: If you're not pro-choice, I'm not interested in hearing about it - it's never ever going change my views - so don't waste your time).

Ford describes and reads the abuse she gets online, day in and day out, from angry, vile men. It’s atrocious!

Other issues addressed in this book are the rape culture and horrendous statistics on domestic violence.

Here are some statistics to help demonstrate the prevalence and severity of violence against women:

• On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.
• 1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.
• 1 in 5 Australian women has experienced sexual violence.
• 1 in 6 Australian women has experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner.
• 1 in 4 Australian women has experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner.
• Australian women are nearly three times more likely than men to experience violence from an intimate partner.
• Australian women are almost four times more likely than men to be hospitalised after being assaulted by their spouse or partner.


My favourite part of the book was the last chapter It’s OK to Be Angry
I’ll conclude this overly long review with a quote:

Be angry. Be rageful. Be loud. Be unrepentant. Be assertive. Be aggressive. Be the kid of she-beast that trains her fire-filled eye on the male gaze and burns it down. Be everything that women are always told not to be, and commit to giving zero fucks about who may or may not have a problem with that.
It is okay to be angry. It is fucking okay.

This counts towards my Aussie Author Challenge 2019 on http://bookloverbookreviews.com/readi...

[Pandora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I *have* to preface my review with my 'real life' encounter with Ford as an author. A couple of times I had to throw this book across the room when she wrote sarcastically about 'Good Guys' who are really just as misogynist as MRAs. To put it in perspective, a mutual aquaintance of ours (a man) once sexually harassed me in our shared workplace. It was minor, it was a one off, and I don't hold a grudge about it: but, when I brought up a related issue in her Facebook page post about 'Brocialists' (misogyny in left leaning circles), I was 1. Blocked and deleted from her page and 2. she used the fact that we had mutual FB friends to leave a nasty note calling me 'hysterical and passive aggressive' on my private wall.

Thus, going in, I know that Ford is only human, and she might talk the talk, but she doesn't walk the walk.

But to the actual book. Badly needs editing and trimming - at 200 pages, it would have a far more powerful statement. Ford's writing style gets repetitious, and she isn't quite as witty as she thinks she is. If you have *any* background in feminism, you won't learn anything new here at all: although I would recommend it for younger or just-starting-out femmos for sure. It's the kind of thing I wish had been around when I was 17 or 18, but it's feminism 101. For intersectional and gender fluid ideas, Gaga Feminism: Sex, Gender, and the End of Normal is far superior, and in terms of pop culture and fat-shaming, Bad Feminist and Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman are much better books. I had had hopes I might be able to give this to my teenage niece but it's not quite appropriate - for that I would probably go with Full Frontal Feminism. (Still hoping for a really good 'beginner's guide to Feminism from an Australian author.)
Three things I found particularly interesting and wished she had expanded on a bit - her experience with anxiety, depression and a psychotic break, because being 'crazy while female' is rarely explored in the context of political gender debate.
Related, her experience of pre-natal anxiety/ psychosis, and the strange, unknown social territory that surrounds miscarriage, pregnancy and secrecy. Perhaps in a couple of years time, it might be a subject she goes into some length about, because it's a far less discussed topic that most of those she addresses in this book.
Thirdly, I know I'll have to endure some backlash from her extremely devoted social media followers (another aspect of gendered violence - Twitter and email attacks - that Ford writes famously well about), but I'll get by. ;)
At the heart of the matter, I'm going to enjoy *any* book that speaks positively and forcefully about feminism, and dismisses the myth of a 'post-feminist' world. Ford's first effort just isn't among the best of those, but who knows where she could go with a bit more experience.

[Gabrielle (Reading Rampage) · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40nc_...


Reviewing and rating books on feminism is not easy. Partially because I’ve yet to find one with which I agree 100% - and honestly, that’s OK. I’ve learned something from each of those books I have read, and that counts for something, even if there was stuff various authors and I saw differently. This book is no different.

I can relate to a lot of Clementine Ford’s experiences: we are roughly the same age, we were fed similar pop culture, endured similar kinds of bullying, struggled with the roller-coaster of anxiety disorder, tried to find ourselves in similar kinds of schizophrenic definitions of femininity – and subsequently got fed up with it and just decided to be ourselves. I found many of her stories deeply relatable. She swears a lot and she is very sarcastic, and so am I (and I know first-hand how that turns some people off, but hey, they can go fuck themselves).

Swearing aside, she is also a good writer, who expressed in clear and articulate ways some simple truths about being a woman that we sometimes take for granted that everyone understands because it’s our reality, but that more than deserve to be expressed to those who can’t read our thoughts. In fact, I thought this might be a good book for men to read when they wonder why women get pissed at stuff that may seem harmless to them.

And yes, Clementine Ford is pissed. It is infuriating to try to live one’s life in the middle of a flurry of double-standards, of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” choices – all the while watching the empirical evidence of the rigged game piling up but being often ignored or dismissed. It’s not just infuriating, it’s exhausting, too. And because she talks about it, loudly, she has to endure hate mail by the metric ton. I'd be pissed, too. In this book, she discusses body-image, rape culture, internalized misogyny, sex, activism and many other things that need to be an ongoing dialogue if we are honest about wanting equality.

There isn’t much intersectionality in this book. Ford wrote based on her own experiences, and she is white, cis and hetero, so that’s what you get. And to be frank I’m not sure I got much new information out of this book. It was nice to read, often funny, often upsetting – but a lot of the topics touched upon were some I have read about and discussed at length before. That doesn’t mean it isn’t nice to read that other women have to wrangle with the same issues and situations: validation matters, and this book is simply Ford sharing her experience to encourage other women to be assertive and demand a better world. Even if I was raised by a feminist mom and have been one of those “too loud, too smart, too sexual, too everything” kind of girl my whole life doesn’t make me a perfect feminist, I have stuff that I will probably keep working on my whole life, and books like this are a good reminder that I should never give up.

A messy, sometimes repetitive, rant that’s well-worth reading.

[Kate Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, but on the lower side, hence my official rating of 3 on Goodreads.

I'm conflicted about this book. Some chapters are fantastic, such as those on online abuse and the right to be angry. Some are less so, and flounder in what they aim to do.

My overall problems with this book are two-fold: Firstly, it is relentless in its use of sarcasm and over-exaggeration, which gets tiring quick, even for a fan of Ford's writing. This style works well for short, snappy pieces online or in the newspaper, but in a longer form, such as book, it is exhausting to read. I am sad to admit that I found myself rolling my eyes more than a few times. Secondly, it is claimed to be a 'manifesto' and a 'call to arms', yet doesn't quite meet this mark - it appears stuck as a half-memoir, half-manifesto, meaning that it doesn't really achieve either of these. It would have been better if Ford had chosen one of the two and stuck with it.

Unfortunately, I don't think Ford is going to win any new fans or pull any more girls (or boys, for that matter) into feminism with this book. It's not because I have a problem with her being angry (I don't, and am in fact an angry feminist myself); it's more that the book seems targeted towards existing fans, despite the way it is packaged on the back. Which is a shame, because young girls and boys need a book like this to bring them into the feminist fold. It's just this isn't the book for that.

[Giselle A Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this book had existed when I was a teenager. Those who are well versed in feminism are unlikely to learn anything new, but the arguments are neatly summarised here in punchy, confident essays. Some are longer than they should be and it does get repetitive at times, but Clem knows what she's doing and what she's talking about, so as a manifesto it's very strong. I also like that she's dipped back into the personal style of writing she started out with before getting more famous through her Daily Life columns – it's somewhat comforting to know that such an influential and headstrong feminist struggled so much in her younger years, too.

Necessary reading for high school students especially. I feel like it's possibly preaching to the choir, but I'm glad this book exists.

[Amal Bedhyefi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fight Like a girl is exactly the kind of books that you want to start with in your quest for Feminist Books . It's Feminism 101 par excellence and precisely the sort of books that I have been wanting to read for a long time .
Throughout reading this , Clementine Ford has managed to convey my thoughts into words in a powerful , unapologetic and satirical way .
From body-shaming to abortion to "man-hating" to rape culture to mental health , nothing is off-limits in Clementine’s book and nothing is beyond the pale as well , as she openly and honestly shares a lot of her own personal narrative with her readers.
Fight Like a girl is an uncomfortable read, but also an important one that challenges everything you've ever been taught either direclty or indireclty by society mostly patriarchy , misogyny and sexism.
I cried when I finished this book , not because it was emotional, but because it was emotionally draining for it was eye-opening , informative but most importantly inspiring.
A lot of people seem to be bothered by her angry tone and her excessive use of wit , irony and sarcasm . However , that is exactly what makes her Clmentine Ford. She neither embellishes nor dresses up her words to appeal and charm her readers and she unhesitatingly does not lower the tone of her voice so that you hear her till the end . If you really cared , you would look beyond her anger.
I truly believe that everyone, male and female, should read this book and i will definitely be recommending it to all the women I know.
Way to go , Clementine.

[Caz (littlebookowl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

I think this is a book everyone should read. It doesn't shy away from some hard truths, it can be uncomfortable and confronting, it will challenge the way you think in many ways.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 2 out of 5]

There certainly are topics in this book to think about. Clementine Ford makes some good points but overall I thought it was a bit over the top and a little exhausting and demanding. A few pages in had me already thinking this woman holds a grudge not just against men but the world. Such an angry and bitter young woman. Is it really going to achieve anything by ranting and raving constantly about men? This book opened my eyes and I'm sure I have a better understanding of feminism but I certainly don't need to live my life as an angry person. The delivery could have been so much better.

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out Happy Indulgence Books for more reviews!

Fight Like A Girl is an uncomfortable read, but also an important one that challenges your beliefs and everything you've ever been taught by your parent and by society. When it's ensuring your voice as a female is heard, respected, fought to have an equal place in society, it's so important to read and be told these things.

From negative body image, to slut shaming, abortions, female pleasure, mental health and rape culture, Clementine Ford broaches these topics loudly, honestly and unapologetically. While her commentary at times may veer towards seemingly personal vendettas or lean towards the scale of moderately and incredibly offensive, one thing is for sure - women since the dawn of time have been treated like secondary citizens with double standards and it's time to stand up for ourselves.

This is the book that every female should read, and arm themselves with the knowledge that in society, we have to fight louder for our voices to be heard. For the marginalised and less fortunate to be heard. For the female body to be respected and not ridiculed or shamed. For the more fortunate to recognise our privilege that are not afforded to others. For every female and those that identify as one, to band together and raise each other up instead of tearing each other down. We can only start respecting and supporting each other ourselves, before society is expected to follow. And we've got a long way to go.

If you want your beliefs to be challenged, and to recognise how society has worked against you from the very beginning, arm yourself with this book so you can learn, identify, and fight back. Because being a girl, can be powerful too.

[Yumiko Kadota · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Misogyny kills women... misandry just hurts men's feelings"

Wow, what a galvanising book! "Fight Like a Girl" is part-memoir, part-feminist nonfiction. It was first published in 2016 but (unfortunately) still relevant today because we re still fighting the same battles. This book gives you the language to explain those visceral feelings you experience as a woman - whether it's in reaction to misogynistic behaviour towards you, or when you hear negative connotations associated with being a feminist. Ford also equips you with practical advice on what to do next time a man (or even a woman) tries to argue with you or diminish women's issues. This is a good book to have in your tool box! Ford writes brilliantly, and her honesty and vulnerability draws you in. For those who follow Clementine Ford on social media, her trademark hyperbolic style definitely hits you hard in this book. This book is definitely not written for the polite - it's for women who are ready to dismantle the patriarchy head on!

[Mon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ideas behind this book were very good. But I found Ford's writing style stopped them from getting across
My biggest grievance with Fight Like A Girl is the writing. It's a lot of waffle and the main points get lost in a sea of words. A lot of the chapters could be spilt to focus on the specific ideas - which would make it much more coherent.
There were so many good quotes that really moved me which unfortunately got lost in the repetition and crazy writing style

However this quote stood out to me:
"Misogyny kills women. In Australia, it's killing women at a rate of roughly 1.5 women per week. Misandry just hurts men's feelings"

Also The book is what I would describe as 'a lot' which really sums it all up.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am beyond thrilled that the next generation of girls will have this as their feminist manifesto. It will be for them what DIY Feminism and The F Word were for me. Ford is concise, precise and illuminating with her words. She constructs strong arguments and engages deeply. A lot in this book I already knew but it never hurts to hear it again to ensure the rage is maintained. But her argument about the White Ribbon Foundation was completely eye-opening and revelatory. If you're not angry, you're not paying attention. Pay attention - read this book.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s hard for me to separate my thoughts about this book from my love for Clementine Ford, but I think 3 stars is fair. In some ways I loved it, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it, but I’m conscious that I don’t think it really taught introduced me to anything new (beyond more about the author herself). It also veered a bit too close to an online rant in some parts, which clanged a bit.

Fight Like a Girl is an eminently readable, if kind of disjointed and simplistic book – it’s part memoir, part feminism 101, part rant – which I devoured in a few days. I live in the same city as Clementine, am a few years younger than her, had a baby a few months before her, and have followed her on facebook for years. Her story in some ways is similar to my own, and reading the first few chapters was like reading my own life. The self hatred, secret eating disorder, the ‘I just get on better with boys’ and anxiety. Part of what I loved about this book was learning more about the woman behind the social media storms.

If you’ve studied gender studies or read any feminist books or theory, this isn’t a book that will really illuminate anything or introduce concepts or ideas that you’re not already familiar with. But it’s nice summary and the perfect book for people who want a refresher for 2016, or for younger people who need a good, understandable introduction to what feminism is, and why it still matters. The chapters on men and good guys, and discussion of the White Ribbon Foundation, are brilliant.

The main thing is that it made me angry again, which is a good thing. It fired me up, and I’ve got a list of people in my head that I’m going to give it to.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clementine Ford has written an impassioned manifesto for today's feminists. This book is angry, funny, sarcastic, sad, and personal. It covers topics from fatness, body image and eating disorders, to sexual assault and domestic violence, to masturbation to abortion. I identified with lots of the stories Ford shares, both small anecdotes about life as a "human-being woman person" and trajectories of identifying as a feminist and activist. Fight Like a Girl is a great companion to some of the other excellent feminist fiction recently released by Australian authors, like Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood and An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire.

[Rebecca Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying I adore Clem Ford. I am constantly amazed at how eloquently she sticks up for me and all women despite the unfathomable level of abuse she endures. I have found being a feminist to be seriously depressing at times. I have avoided getting into conversations with men who I know will bully me or talk over me or tell me I can't take a joke. I used to fight back, but honestly it's just gotten too tiring.

So, I read this book, and I read Clem's anger, and I thought 'yeah, but no wants to hear this! No one gives a shit!'
I wondered, for a lot of the book, what we were meant to do? What is the point? How do we get change? I was looking for a plan amidst all the (completely understandable) anger. But the point (which does become clear) is that hard thing which I avoid: to speak up. To fight back. That it's ok to be angry. To tell our stories and to tell them without placating men. To know that it is men's responsibility to be part of this change, and not because they get a cookie and a gold star for being a good guy.

Clem does a really good job of outlining the gendered issues in our culture and how much women suffer (and are unsafe) within this culture of crime and degradation. This book will make you mad - but maybe we all need to get really mad.

[John James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit, I've never been a fan of Clementine Ford's Daily Life column. Like much of modern opinion writing, I feel like she was simply explaining the bleedin' obvious and I didn't always see the point to her daily rants. But I also recognised that she's an important voice in the feminist community, so I thought it was important to read Fight Like A Girl.

Again, I struggled through the first two-thirds of the book. And again, I felt like she was repeatedly explaining things to me that I already knew. But like a good novel, when I reached the final act, her narrative came together, and it all started to make sense and I began to learn things, and her essays began to clarify things in my head that I'd been struggling to reconcile for many years.

I listened. I learnt things. Now I get it. I'm glad I read Fight Like A Girl, because I finally appreciate what Clementine has been saying over the past few years. It's given me a lot to think about.

[Meredith Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t believe the hype, I say. Clementine Ford’s “Fight Like a Girl” may promote itself as a book to ‘raise voices, raise courage and raise the flag’, but it’s really just a bit of a rant about how part of fighting like a girl is owning your own choices and decisions. The book aims to debunk the idea of feminism being a tired old movement filled with irrelevant ideas, which it does, but in a roundabout, verbose way. It has been done before and way better (think “The Female Eunuch” which at least aimed to focus on universal experiences rather than individual reflection). Mostly, it is a whole lot of nothing new – how women can’t be friends because they are each other’s worst enemies, how fashion retailers don’t make clothes for all women and how feminists are rarely referred to by the mainstream as positive examples of empowered womanhood…. Narrating the status quo does not a change agent make!

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was mostly one, big Facebook rant. There were a lot of incomplete sentences. There were also quite a few too-long sentences that needed punctuation. This style of writing is suitable for a social media rant, but I found it grating to read an entire book written in this way. There was also a lack of structure within both the paragraphs and chapters. This added to the bloated feeling of the book. I think, as "a manifesto", it could have been tighter and less repetitive.

I would say this book is more suitable for those who are brand new to the concept of feminism. Lots of rhetorical questions with quick and easy bites to chew on. You'll definitely be spoon-fed, but I think that's the idea: to make people realise Why We Need Feminism.

Highlights: Are You My Mother? (on abortion). Followed by When Will You Learn? (on rape culture), and The Good Guys (on family violence) .

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this , but there's nothing new here for me and I found Ford's approach irritating.
I suspect that my age has a bit to do with my reaction and I imagine it would have much more appeal to a younger audience.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a teenage daughter? Go out and buy her this book now. While you're at it buy one for yourself and everyone you know. Even better, give a copy of this book to every teenage boy you know.

I don't even know where to begin with this, I've followed Clementine Ford on social media for awhile now. In awe of a women who is so unashamedly herself and ready to call out discrimination and assume space and not be afraid of offending men. Her book is a more expanded view of what you might glean from her social media. A study in the suffering of the modern woman. The hypocritical male dominated society that we occupy. One where a woman is a slut if she turns a man down, she deserved it if she walked home alone but she's fucking bitch if she refuses to acknowledge a man's advances.

Clementine writes in a beautifully frank way about the many subjects that nearly every woman in the West is familiar with. The unrealistic expectations placed on women and their bodies both visually and sexually. How seem to belong to everyone but ourselves. Stretched so thin between all these people who place ownership over us while we try and take up as little space as possible and for love God... look pleasing to the eye while we do it. How we stifle our opinions, our voices and our thoughts least should we be confronted with a tidal wave of disinterest from a gender whom have been taught that women having nothing of substance to contribute except visual and sexual satisfaction.

At twenty nine, I've discovered a lot of the themes that Clementine touches on in my own journey but I wish I had this book when I was a teen. Just thinking about all the time I wasted on conforming to the rigorous pressures of patriarchal society makes me furious and Clementine talks about that too. We're allowed, as women, to be angry. We're allowed to rage at the state of the world that forces us to deal with sexism and harassment every single bloody day of our lives. We're forced to deal with a world that see's Donald Trump and a viable alternative to Hillary Clinton! A women who has twenty years of political experience! What does Donald Trump have? Twenty years of managing not to pay the taxes he should have??

This book is a lovely reminder that if you're angry, you're not alone.

You are not alone.

[Faith Justice]

This book gave me fits: fits of deja vu, fits of frustration, fits of depression. First off, I’m an “old” feminist—yes one of those “angry women” from the 60’s and 70’s who raised consciousness, marched on Washington (minus the pussy hats), and “took back the night.” I kept my feminism, but redirected my activism while raising a special needs child and stealthily invading executive offices with messages of diversity.

That said, most of what Ford writes is old hat for me. There was very little she had to say about the rampant sexism and outright misogyny that still pervades our culture and oppresses women that has not been said (and experienced) by, many, many women before her. Thus the deja vu. The frustration and depression comes from the fact that after a life-time of activism, contributing to a vibrant movement, and fighting the forces of inevitable backlash; young women are still experiencing these same forces. I had hoped to leave the world a better place for my daughter—and it is!—but it’s not even close to the equality I thought we’d have by now.

On to the actual book: I didn’t rate it because I skimmed large chunks of familiar material. The book is promoted as “an inspiring, unapologetic, feminist manifesto” through “a mixture of memoir, opinion and investigative journalism.” I personally felt she dwelt too much on the memoir part. The first third covers her personal journey to realizing she could proudly claim the label of feminist in her late twenties after overcoming significant body image issues. There is also a lot of repetition. I don’t know or read Ford, but her biography says she’s a columnist. Some parts of the book had the feel of several columns edited together without regard to repetitive themes and examples.

Ford provides a lot of raw and familiar emotion as she realizes the world isn’t fair. I’m not minimizing her pain—we all felt it and still do. I personally didn’t need to read about it to understand. Younger women struggling with their own issues of body image, feelings of inferiority, and fighting to be different and respected, will find their feelings validated in this book. There’s a healthy dash of psychology on how society trains women to self-loathe that many young women will find new and interesting.

The piece of the discussion that I did find new and challenging were the sections on LGBQT issues and privilege—not topics we white middle-class feminists spent much time on during our consciousness raising sessions. As an activist, I worked with lesbians and women of color, but we didn’t talk a lot (any?) about the intersectionality of race, class, sexual preference, and gender identification. I’ve been more aware of those issues in the past decade, but had not pursued the intellectual and societal underpinnings. Thanks, Ms. Ford for bringing me up-to-date.

I also liked her chapter on “Good Guys.” She makes the obvious point that not punching a woman and doing the dishes occasionally is the baseline and doesn’t deserve extravagant praise. Men have to get over their need for approbation for doing the bare minimum—it’s what is expected of a partner. Combining this chapter with the piece on privilege, gave me additional insight on how to be a better ally to people of color and gender non-conforming sisters and brothers.

Some reviewers have dinged Ford for her crude language and raw anger. I don’t. This book was written for a younger generation—one more accustomed to the F-bomb and sharing their feelings across social media. This generation of feminists is not like mine and that’s a good thing! I hope they are better—as in more effective. They will have different tools, more expansive networks, and (I hope) more men working with them. I’m just sorry they still have to go through the same traumas we did. The Me Too Movement seems to be making a difference. The Kavanaugh hearings for the Supreme Court have tapped a deep sense of outrage which I hope will be reflected at the voting booth. Here’s to hoping the next generation of young women get the respect and opportunities they deserve. I’ve got my fingers crossed and plan to crochet a bunch more pussy hats.

Recommended for younger women and men exploring their own roles in this society. For us old battleaxes, I’d recommend reading if you want to see how the younger generation is tackling these issues.

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVED some sections, particularly those that discussed rape culture and the Australian medias constant mistreatment of women. It was all incredibly interesting but I also felt as though she put a lot of things into words that I had always noticed but had trouble articulating.

One criticism I have is that there were a few times where the writing because a little too... I guess flowery (?) for my taste. It wasn't a big problem but I feel like chapters such as 'It's okay to be angry' would've benefited somewhat from being more direct and to the point.

Definitely glad I read this and looking forward to reading more by her in the future.

[Kassie]

I'm not going to give this a rating because although I think this would be an important read for some people, it really wasn't my cup of feminist screed tea... I like Clem's columns a lot and I think that is a better way for her to get her writing out there. I also think this may have been stronger if it stuck the autobiographical (seen a lot more in the first few chapters) rather than marketing itself as something more academic than it is.

This book is all over the place pacing and content wise, and there is one stylist slant that Clem does in almost every chapter, which I will call the imagined incensed list, that I found myself skipping frustratedly whenever it came up. This is where Ford will write a paragraph (or sometimes even a few pages) from the perspective of her detractors. It generally starts off as the lacklustre half baked argument that you can find anywhere on the internet, especially in the comment sections of Ford's articles, and turns into a genuinely distributing diatribe that is too often found in women's email inboxes and direct messages, filled with personal insults and rape threats. This would have been a strong writing device used only once or twice, but it felt like it was appearing a few times a chapter by the end of the book.

I still have high hopes for Ford's next book, as I think even in her columns she has matured significantly in her style and delivery than when this book came out. And I hope her editor cuts the bat shit crazy lists. If I wanna hear misogynist shit I can go find it easy enough, it doesn't have to be a part of the argument of your feminist text.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the feminist manifesto for the next generation, the book every young woman needs. Fight Like a Girl is raw, unapologetic and powerful and Ford's expression of feminism has a lot to teach us all. The biggest lesson I took from this, is to be unapologetic about your feminism, and about the way you express it. Feminism isn't about making people feel comfortable. Yes, Ford isn't particularly academically informed; but this aligns with her message- feminism is for everyone. It shouldn't just be for the academic and the well-read and our feelings don't always have to be referenced. There was a patch in the middle that was a little repetitive for me, but Like a Virign, The Belle Jar, The Good Guys, And Are You My Mother were standouts for me.