In 2015 I described myself as 'guilty feminist' for the first time. My goals were noble but my concerns were trivial. I wanted desperately for women to be taken seriously in leadership roles all over the world, but I also wanted to look good sitting down naked.A funny, joyful, frank and inspiring book about embracing both feminism and our imperfections, from the creator of the hit comedy podcast, Deborah Frances-White.From inclusion to the secret power of rom coms, from effective activism to what poker can tell us about gender, Deborah Frances-White explores what it means to be a 21st-century feminist, and encourages us to make the world better for all women.
The book also includes exclusive interviews with performers, activists and thinkers - Jessamyn Stanley, Zoe Coombs Marr, Susan Wokoma, Bisha K. Ali, Reubs Walsh, Becca Bunce, Amika George, Mo Mansfied and Leyla Hussein - plus a piece from Hannah Gadsby.
Praise for THE GUILTY FEMINIST podcast:'Hilarious, irreverent, eternally surprising, classy as hell, genius comedians ... It's shows like this that breathe life into conversations about feminism' Phoebe Waller-Bridge'If you are the kind of feminist who secretly sings along to Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines then The Guilty Feminist understands your pain' Guardian 50 Best Podcasts'Epitomises the brilliance of being an unapologetic, powerful lady ... Tackles issues from democracy to sexuality to porn with a lightness and hilarity that makes even the newly ordained feminist feel at home' Sunday Times'A refreshingly honest take on the complexities and insecurities of being a woke female today' GraziaAbout the AuthorDeborah Frances-White is the host of the hit podcast The Guilty Feminist, a founder member of The Spontaneity Shop, co-author of The Improv Handbook, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and regularly speaks in businesses about diversity and inclusion.
Industry Reviews
This really is the "everything you have always wanted to know about feminism but were afraid to ask" manual. From a mind as lucid and witty as it is kind and empathetic comes essential reading for the planet -- Emma Thompson
Breathes life into conversations about feminism * Phoebe Waller-Bridge, creator of Fleabag *
Quite possibly the defining feminist of our generation * Elizabeth Day, author of How to Fail *
Very funny, very clever, very thoughtful and very relevant * Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love *
A passionate, funny, fresh, thought-provoking read, as engaging as it's informative * Barbara Ellen, Observer *
An incredible read on confidence, gender and looking after ourselves and each other -- Aisling Bea
Slicing through the fun and foibles of twenty-first-century womanhood with deft and funny prose, the book covers everything "from our noble goals to our worst hypocrisies". Existing fans of her podcast and newcomers alike will love this irreverent guide to a very modern tug of war * Red *
Brims with facts and inspiring women you might not have heard of but are now glad you have ... [Deborah Frances-White's] mixture of wit, fallibility and inclusivity is immensely appealing ... The book emboldens women to find their voice, to say no more often, yes less, and to demand more than the 75p in the pound they get paid compared with men. Her genius for satire is what makes her voice so sonorous - her Open Letter from the Gentlemen of Hollywood, a riposte to the Weinstein saga, is worth the cover price alone. * Sunday Times *
The Guilty Feminist is accessible and honest, written with warmth. And the openness with which she and other contributors discuss their struggles make the book feel like a discussion with friends over a glass of wine . . . it is full of inspiring and challenging ideas, encouraging every woman to say: "I get to be heard. I deserve to be seen" * Daily Express *
A thorough look at how to be a better feminist and a better person, but manages to be funny and entertaining too ... I really appreciate that it looks at what we can practically do to make things better -- Amy Jones * The Pool *
An eloquent, entertaining read that does not shy away from serious issues including pornography and the gender pay gap * Evening Standard *
Australian comedian Frances-White adapts her popular podcast into book format with this passionate and engaging manifesto, tackling everything from the diet industry to toxic masculinity while reminding readers that feminism isn't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal and sometimes it's ok to stumble * inews.co.uk, 12 best feminist books to read ahead of International Women's Day 2019 *
Deborah Frances-White's book has all the joy, complexity, importance and pleasure of The Guilty Feminist podcast -- Stella Duffy
Frances-White has a gift for using metaphor to explain basic feminist concepts * Independent *
From the hit podcast soon to be a live show, The Guilty Feminist has chapters which all begin with the phrase 'I'm a feminist, but ... ' offering numerous examples where noble intentions falter when set against the challenges of everyday life. Among the topics raised are make-up, rape fantasies, catcalling, manspreading, and 'bridezillas' * The List, Best Comedy Books of 2018 *
