Ladies... At Dawn, We Ride!

Fight Like A Girl
Written by Clementine Ford
Non Fiction, Feminism, Cultural
Published October 2016
304 Pages
Thank you to Allen & Unwin
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★★★★★
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.
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.

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33 comments

  1. I had not heard of this one, but it sounds great. I'm glad it was such a poignant and interesting read. Everyone should be a feminist - in general terms, it means men and women are equal. If you don't support that, then I don't get it.

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    1. Me neither Lauren. It's such an important read, no doubt raising countless discussions from women who have now found their voice. I'll be referring to it constantly. It's also given me confidence when dealing with others who want to dominate and silence our voices. I can't recommend it enough.

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  2. This sounds excellent. Damn, your review itself is making me feel brilliant.

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    1. I can't even describe how empowered I felt Mawa, it was phenomenal. A book that I recommend to everyone and not just women.

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  3. oh that sounds like a powerful book, I think some people get the wrong idea about feminism , so it's awesome you read this and felt empowered that is really wonderful. I have been watching Good Girls Revolt on amazon and it's also as amazing and empowering.

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    1. Even after posting my review, two men on Twitter tried to school me on what it means to be a feminist and how feminism is the bullying of men. I laughed and I laughed, oh how I laughed Lily. I haven't heard of Good Girls Revolt, but will definitely be checking it out.

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  4. Love your review! I will be getting my hands on a copy!!
    I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by strong women and supportive men. Subsequently because of this I've been shocked when faced with men who couldn't handle my empowerment.

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    1. That's truly made you the person you are today Sarah, a strong woman who refuses to take shit from anyone. It took me a long time to find my voice but now I've found it and I'll never look back.

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  5. Isn't it amazing how some books can awake a part of us that we never knew existed? You sit there and digest the words until something clicks and all of a sudden, a fire is lit. I need to read this book.

    PS

    How the heck do you keep attracting the wrong sorts of characters on Twitter?! Just saw one person's attempt to engage you in something ugly and despicable. Ugh. Wanted to pipe in, but I've a feeling they're the sort that are just looking for trouble.

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    1. Not just a fire Joy, it was an inferno. It's honestly given me a confidence I never realised I had. And the damn trolls. Notice they're all Trump supporters too? I think it's hard for some men to grasp the concept that traditional roles no longer exist and women are entitled to speak out and be heard.

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  6. I would love to read this! Now to figure out how to get it, because all I see available is the audio edition.

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    1. It's an amazing read Christy, it will honestly change the way you see the world around you. It should be available on Amazon as an eBook. Let me know if you can't find it and I can see if I can gift it from my account if you want to purchase it that way.

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  7. I think I will really like this book. thanks for the great review. Go! Girl Power!!

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    1. It's a must read for all women especially. It's empowering and gives you confidence to love yourself, believe in yourself and spread the message of girl power.

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  8. I wouldn't consider myself a feminist exactly, but I do have strong thoughts about how women are portrayed and treated in society. It seems like this book gave you all those feels and made you feel empowered so that m means I should definitely pick this up! I'm with Resh above, GO GIL POWER! <3

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    1. I didn't consider myself one either really, which Fight Like A Girl also talks about. I think women relate to feminism on many different levels, for me it was equality for women and the right to share opinions and be treated as equals, creating safe spaces for women and the right to be heard. It really goes into depth about how we perceive ourselves, how we perceive other woman and encourages us to support one another. It's such a brilliant read and a book I'll constantly refer to when I need strength.

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  9. I don't read a lot of non-fiction but this sounds worth adding to my wishlist!

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    1. Me neither Melissa, but I love Clem Ford's social media messages and her advocacy for women and couldn't wait to read it. I had no idea it would have such a profound impact on my life though.

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  10. oh my lorddd!! This sounds awesome! No doubt women should stand up for themselves and their voice is important too!:)
    Haniya
    booknauthors.blogspot.com

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    1. It truly is Haniya. As women, it's so easy to be undervalued and our opinions disregarded by others who refuse to acknowledge our voices. It's empowering and has made me realise that we should refuse to be silenced. Yell until we're heard.

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  11. I've been waiting for this review SO much! Thank you for such an excited, joyous review of something that delves into feminism and some tougher topics too. CF is amazing isn't she?

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    1. She's incredible. I've followed her on quite a few platforms for a while now and the amount of bullshit that's thrown at her from men who try to derail the message of feminism and equality by using abuse as a tool. She's inspirational and it seems to have only empowered her more. Men are taking notice and women lending their voices to the cause. Including myself.

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  12. Reading your review made me want to read one. And I know some of my friends love feminist book. I probably recommended this book to them. Thank you for sharing :D totally agree about the importance of surrounding yourself with strong, positive female friendships :)

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    1. As women, we probably don't realise how important it is until we're older, something I wish I'd realised when I was a teen. It's such a remarkable yet important read Hana. If you can't find it online, please ask your libraries, your local bookstores to order a copy. It's one of those books I'm so incredibly passionate about and will champion until the end of time.

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  13. Ugh this book sounds so good. I get very heated when it comes to feminism, because I can't stand to see ignorant and sexist comments. I feel like this book would fire me up, and honestly I really want to read it. Amazing review! <3

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    1. It did exactly that for me Marianne, I didn't realise how angry I was. Not only that, it's also given me the confidence to speak out and speak up. It's empowering!

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  14. I don't really read non-fiction and not sure I'm a fan of Ford (in general). I like to think I'm a feminist though and definitely don't see it as a dirty word!

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    1. I love Clementine personally, for me she gives a voice to women who are yet to find theirs. I honestly don't know how she deals with the men who troll and abuse her which she also addresses in the book. I found it ingenious with learning to deal with trolls myself. Whenever I'm feeling shit about myself, I pick it back up and browse. It's truly incredible and well worth the read.

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  15. Wow, This Is Such A powerful Review Kelly! Im Definitely Keen On Picking it Up, go the Feminism.

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    1. It's amazing Jeann, empowering and such an force to be reckoned with. I'd love to see what you think of it.

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  16. I want to read this book so badly, but I am afraid of unleashing all the anger that is simmering so close to the surface. I'm thinking it'll be a good book club book - LOTS of discussion points!

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