The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West
This fierce feminist offering is crucial reading for women and men who care to change our culture’s steadfast grip on inequality. West’s sharp wit and fierce intelligence critiques western culture post #metoo, and declares “You think this is witch hunt? Fine, you’ve got one.”
And she doesn’t hold back. Written through the lens of economics, politics, family, language, culture, the arts and more. West empowers women and directly challenges men to participate in dismantling the misogyny. This is not a book asking women to solely lay the work at their own feet. She very loudly declares that men created the patriarchy and it’s men who need to fix this mess.
“Sexism is a male invention. So far, men have treated #MeToo like a bumbling dad in a detergent commercial: well intentioned but floundering, as though they are not the experts. You are the experts.”
With her personal plea of “Do you ever stick up for me?” to the men in her life, she is cutting straight to the heart of what woman need from men to change these patriarchal structures.
She asks of men:
How about men strike for International Women’s Day?
How about men take on the economic and social burdens of calling out toxic patterns of gendered socialisation?
How about anyone but the oppressed lifts a finger to change anything at all?
I would add: Do you ask your employers to be transparent about salary to make sure your female counterparts are paid the same? Do you call out social media platforms that don’t shut down sexist accounts?
Despite the heavy subject matter of excavating #MeToo’s reason for being, this book is empowering. I concur with West, If misogynist’s see this as a witch hunt; fine, you’ve got one.
Big love,
Rachel x
