International Women's Day - Women's rights are human rights
International Women's Day on March 8 falls this year at a time when women in various parts of the world are facing great challenges. In Iran, the young Jina Mahsa Amini died in police custody in September. Her offense was not adhering to the Islamic dress code. Since her death, there have been mass protests against the mullah regime, where women show solidarity and demonstrate almost daily for their rights. In Afghanistan, women and girls have been systematically oppressed since the takeover of power. It is especially harsh that Afghan women are denied the right to education. Female students currently have no chance to realize their career aspirations there. But a tragedy is also unfolding before our eyes in Europe. In the Ukraine war, there are repeated assaults and rapes by the Russian army, which uses violence against women as a weapon. International Women's Day gives us the opportunity to support these women and advocate for their rights and freedom: women's rights are human rights. It is important that we focus on the problems women face worldwide. We should work to promote gender equality at all times and everywhere. International Women's Day is an important day to show our solidarity with women around the world.
Our SoSUE man Knuth has read a few books on the topics of empowerment, women's rights, and emancipation, which he recommended in his monthly review Lost & Found . He has put together a small selection for you. Maybe there is something that interests you.
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The Invention of the Housewife
When I discovered the book, I actually asked myself who pushed women into the role of housewife. The Corona pandemic only reinforced this role model: women perform the majority of care work. Evke Rulffes looks back and shows, using historical sources, how this "story of devaluation" could have come about. The bourgeoisie did a lot for freedom, but only if it was white and male. Women still had to have children, run the household, and at the same time be presentable. Even today, there are dependencies that are not unlike those of the 19th century. It says enlighteningly on the back cover of the book. That is true.
The Invention of the Housewife – Evke Rulffes, 288 pages, Harper Collins Publishing Group
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The Patriarchy of Things
We men shape the world as we like it. Men are the measure of all things. Women are hardly considered in the process. Rebecca Endler explains why cities are so car-focused, health apps forget the female cycle, there are too few women's restrooms, or why the bicycle saddle is designed only for men so that "his noodle" doesn't get damaged. Men plan and design, forgetting that women have different needs. This is not funny. In many areas, it is humiliating and even life-threatening for women. I was not aware of the extent. Something urgently needs to change.
The Patriarchy of Things – Why the World Doesn't Suit Women, Rebecca Endler, Dumont, 336 pages
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Don't Be a Man – Why Masculinity Is a Nightmare for Boys
As a man, I have always found men strange. For example, those weird “penis comparison rituals” among boys: My car. My house. My yacht. My wife. No matter what social class men come from, it's about power; they want to dominate women. Linda Teuteberg from the FDP recently had to bitterly experience this when the growth macho Christian Lindner dropped the secretary-general and, as a thank you, also made stupid jokes about her. JJ Bola describes in his book how diverse masculinity can be and why it is a burden for men. I found it interesting that in many pre-colonial societies, sexuality and gender were fluid and free. And then came the white man. A book for fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons.
Don't Be a Man – Why Masculinity Is a Nightmare for Boys, JJ Bola, 157 pages, hanserblau
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The Event
France in the 1960s. Student Annie becomes unintentionally pregnant. The hard-won studies are at risk. “...To mentally grasp my situation, I used none of the words usually used to describe it, neither “I am expecting a child” nor “I am pregnant”....It was not worth naming what I had decided to get rid of...” At that time, abortions were illegal in France. What follows are episodes of fear, shame, and humiliation. Concise sharp words about a terrible event. PS: I am an Annie Ernaux fan and already introduced her last year in February and August. Anyone interested can read my other recommendations there.
The Event - Annie Ernaux, 104 pages, Suhrkamp
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The Exhaustion of Women
Sociologist Franziska Schutzbach describes the systematic exploitation of women in our society. Today, they have to juggle children, kitchen, and career. They cannot afford to show any weakness. On top of that, there is intense pressure to optimize, as the daily exhaustion must be masked by a well-groomed performance body. After reading, I couldn't shake the feeling that things haven't improved. An example from the book: In essay comparisons from recent years, I learned that young women used to write more about their career aspirations, whereas today much revolves around beauty and appearance. This exploitation cannot be smiled away. Major political and social changes are needed. An important book.
The Exhaustion of Women – Franziska Schutzbach, Droschl Literary Publishing, 48 pages