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All the Rebel Women: The Rise of the Fourth Wave of Feminism
On a bright day at the Epsom Derby, 4 June 1913, Emily Wilding Davison was hit by the king’s horse in one of the defining moments of the fight for women’s suffrage – what became known as feminism’s first wave.
The second wave arose in the late-1960s, activists campaigning tirelessly for women’s liberation, organising around a wildly ambitious slate of issues – a struggle their daughters continued in the third wave that blossomed in the early-1990s.
Now, a hundred years on from the campaign for the vote, fifty years since the very first murmurs of the second wave movement, a new tide of feminist voices is rising. Scattered across the world, campaigning online as well as marching in the streets, women are making themselves heard in irresistible fashion.
They’re demonstrating against media sexism, domestic violence and sexual assault, fighting for equal pay, affordable childcare and abortion rights. Thousands are sharing their experiences through the Everyday Sexism project, marching in Slutwalk protests, joining demonstrations in the wake of the Delhi gang rape, challenging misogynist behaviour and language, online crusaders and ordinary people organising for the freedom of women everywhere.
Kira Cochrane’s 'All the Rebel Women' is an irrepressible exploration of today’s feminist landscape, asking how far we have come over the past century – and how far there still is to go. Whether engaging with leading feminists, describing the fight against rape culture or bringing immediate, powerful life to vital theories such as intersectionality, 'All the Rebel Women' binds everything together into one unstoppable idea. This is modern feminism. This is the fourth wave.
The second wave arose in the late-1960s, activists campaigning tirelessly for women’s liberation, organising around a wildly ambitious slate of issues – a struggle their daughters continued in the third wave that blossomed in the early-1990s.
Now, a hundred years on from the campaign for the vote, fifty years since the very first murmurs of the second wave movement, a new tide of feminist voices is rising. Scattered across the world, campaigning online as well as marching in the streets, women are making themselves heard in irresistible fashion.
They’re demonstrating against media sexism, domestic violence and sexual assault, fighting for equal pay, affordable childcare and abortion rights. Thousands are sharing their experiences through the Everyday Sexism project, marching in Slutwalk protests, joining demonstrations in the wake of the Delhi gang rape, challenging misogynist behaviour and language, online crusaders and ordinary people organising for the freedom of women everywhere.
Kira Cochrane’s 'All the Rebel Women' is an irrepressible exploration of today’s feminist landscape, asking how far we have come over the past century – and how far there still is to go. Whether engaging with leading feminists, describing the fight against rape culture or bringing immediate, powerful life to vital theories such as intersectionality, 'All the Rebel Women' binds everything together into one unstoppable idea. This is modern feminism. This is the fourth wave.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 12, 2016
Campaign after campaign, website after website, petition after petition, slutwalk after slutwalk. And no end in sight. Because misogyny is the gift that keeps on giving, a bubbling wellspring of merry dancing hatred.
This is an extended essay of 70 pages and very useful as a summary of the first three waves and a survey of the one we’re in the middle of now. But just so you know, you have to be okay with sentences like this:
Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism project tells me that what fuels her campaigning is both the young girls who write in with their stories of being raped or assaulted, and the men who send her descriptions of the many ways they plan to mutilate her.
BRITISH BANK NOTES
Let me mention this story, which is kind of where-we’re-at-now. In Britain they print the portrait of notable British persons on banknotes, like you do. And they change them every so often. Last year Elizabeth Fry (prison reformer) was the only woman left on a British banknote and she was going to be replaced by Sir Winston Churchill, who was a man. A journalist and writer called Caroline Criado-Perez thought they should keep at least one woman on one banknote so she started a campaign and the new governor of the Bank of England (a Canadian man) perked up and listened, and lo, Winston has been bumped and Jane Austin will be on the new £10.
When Caroline’s campaign got going she became the target of a sustained 24 hour day in day tidal wave of abuse via Twitter.
kill yourself before I do; rape is the last of your worries; I’ve just got out of prison and would happily do more time to see you berried; seriously go kill yourself! I will get less time for that; rape?! I’d do a lot worse things than rape you.
This was one post (quoted in the Judge’s summation) – there were hundreds of other rape and death threats. Over, apparently, the matter of putting the portrait of a woman on a banknote. Two people were eventually arrested. They were the worst offenders, sending the most violent threats.
From the Judge’s summation:
She had to spend substantial time and money ensuring she is as untrackable as possible. She gives a detailed and personal account of the physical effects of the fear on her. The emails from Sorley and Nimmo (she says) are imprinted on her mind – “I don’t think I will ever be free of them”.
The misogynists got two years in jail. One was a woman.
YAY
It’s a good two thirds of the way though this 70 page essay before you finally get something to cheer feebly about. Facebook was resisting all feminist calls to get rid of images of misogyny from their vast site. Feminists finally figured out the way forward: take a screenshot of the worst pages, and email them to the big companies whose adverts adorn these pages. That got their attention.
Yay.
THE TALIBAN OF THE WEST
The hypocritical posturing of military spokespersons is a consistent source of bleak fun. Reading the news about troop withdrawals, anyone might think that the only reason for the Western invasion of Afghanistan was to enable Afghan girls to go to school, or to improve women’s rights in general. That’s what they always mention. But I don’t recall that the education of girls was the number one reason for invasion back in 2001. I don’t think it was mentioned at all.
So we all know that the Taliban are very anti-women, don’t we. Well. If the American and British governments were so concerned about protecting females from domestic violence, domestic slavery, forced marriage, rape and sexual humiliation they should have invaded their own countries. Send troops into Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Detroit, San Francisco, Paris, Toronto. Occupy those places. Enforce women’s rights there. There’s a Taliban operating right here, right now, alive and well in the west. The Taliban of the East likes women to wear the burkha and stay indoors; the Taliban of the West likes women to walk around in miniskirts. Otherwise they’re the same. Look at what they say.
PERPS
You never get the perps to talk. The guys who pour forth their rape threats on line, the rapists (solo or group), the abusers. Once apprehended, they maintain a mafia silence. It’s beneath their dignity to explain why women must be punished for stepping out of line. It’s obvious, any real man would understand. No explanation required.
SMILEY FACE
I’m glad to say that Kira Cochrane ends with a burst of positivity about the vigorous state of feminism, but it’s like being glad there are so many doctors because we’re all so ill.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF CAMPAIGNING AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
The Daughters of Eve hung a banner with the words “you wouldn’t cut off your dick so don’t cut off my clit” and handed out vagina cakes, with Maltesers standing in for the clitoris.
This is an extended essay of 70 pages and very useful as a summary of the first three waves and a survey of the one we’re in the middle of now. But just so you know, you have to be okay with sentences like this:
Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism project tells me that what fuels her campaigning is both the young girls who write in with their stories of being raped or assaulted, and the men who send her descriptions of the many ways they plan to mutilate her.
BRITISH BANK NOTES
Let me mention this story, which is kind of where-we’re-at-now. In Britain they print the portrait of notable British persons on banknotes, like you do. And they change them every so often. Last year Elizabeth Fry (prison reformer) was the only woman left on a British banknote and she was going to be replaced by Sir Winston Churchill, who was a man. A journalist and writer called Caroline Criado-Perez thought they should keep at least one woman on one banknote so she started a campaign and the new governor of the Bank of England (a Canadian man) perked up and listened, and lo, Winston has been bumped and Jane Austin will be on the new £10.
When Caroline’s campaign got going she became the target of a sustained 24 hour day in day tidal wave of abuse via Twitter.
kill yourself before I do; rape is the last of your worries; I’ve just got out of prison and would happily do more time to see you berried; seriously go kill yourself! I will get less time for that; rape?! I’d do a lot worse things than rape you.
This was one post (quoted in the Judge’s summation) – there were hundreds of other rape and death threats. Over, apparently, the matter of putting the portrait of a woman on a banknote. Two people were eventually arrested. They were the worst offenders, sending the most violent threats.
From the Judge’s summation:
She had to spend substantial time and money ensuring she is as untrackable as possible. She gives a detailed and personal account of the physical effects of the fear on her. The emails from Sorley and Nimmo (she says) are imprinted on her mind – “I don’t think I will ever be free of them”.
The misogynists got two years in jail. One was a woman.
YAY
It’s a good two thirds of the way though this 70 page essay before you finally get something to cheer feebly about. Facebook was resisting all feminist calls to get rid of images of misogyny from their vast site. Feminists finally figured out the way forward: take a screenshot of the worst pages, and email them to the big companies whose adverts adorn these pages. That got their attention.
Yay.
THE TALIBAN OF THE WEST
The hypocritical posturing of military spokespersons is a consistent source of bleak fun. Reading the news about troop withdrawals, anyone might think that the only reason for the Western invasion of Afghanistan was to enable Afghan girls to go to school, or to improve women’s rights in general. That’s what they always mention. But I don’t recall that the education of girls was the number one reason for invasion back in 2001. I don’t think it was mentioned at all.
So we all know that the Taliban are very anti-women, don’t we. Well. If the American and British governments were so concerned about protecting females from domestic violence, domestic slavery, forced marriage, rape and sexual humiliation they should have invaded their own countries. Send troops into Birmingham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Detroit, San Francisco, Paris, Toronto. Occupy those places. Enforce women’s rights there. There’s a Taliban operating right here, right now, alive and well in the west. The Taliban of the East likes women to wear the burkha and stay indoors; the Taliban of the West likes women to walk around in miniskirts. Otherwise they’re the same. Look at what they say.
PERPS
You never get the perps to talk. The guys who pour forth their rape threats on line, the rapists (solo or group), the abusers. Once apprehended, they maintain a mafia silence. It’s beneath their dignity to explain why women must be punished for stepping out of line. It’s obvious, any real man would understand. No explanation required.
SMILEY FACE
I’m glad to say that Kira Cochrane ends with a burst of positivity about the vigorous state of feminism, but it’s like being glad there are so many doctors because we’re all so ill.
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF CAMPAIGNING AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
The Daughters of Eve hung a banner with the words “you wouldn’t cut off your dick so don’t cut off my clit” and handed out vagina cakes, with Maltesers standing in for the clitoris.
June 29, 2014
Kira Cochrane provides an excellent introduction to feminism with this concise and up-to-date history covering the last 100 years in this 70-page extended essay. She discusses rape culture, online feminism - including an intriguing David and Goliath battle with Facebook (I cheered at the outcome), the huge impact humour makes in highlighting feminist issues, and the importance of intersectionality and inclusion of all demographics as feminism is for everyone not just white, middle class women.
In the process, Cochrane refers to some very interesting organisations, projects and movements along the way. (Some of the names will make you smile):
Everyday Sexism Project
Project Unbreakable
UK Feminista
Fawcett Society
Counting Dead Women Project
London Feminist Network
Tumblr: Don't Get Raped
One Billion Rising
Campaign4Consent
Everyday Victim Blaming
SlutWalk movement
The F Word
Feministing
Jezebel
Daughters of Eve
The Shoreditch Sister's Fanny Defence League
W.I.T.C.H (Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell)
Feminist magazine called Cuntry Living
Feminist magazine called Spare Rib
Ms Magazine
Womanism
In the process, Cochrane refers to some very interesting organisations, projects and movements along the way. (Some of the names will make you smile):
Everyday Sexism Project
Project Unbreakable
UK Feminista
Fawcett Society
Counting Dead Women Project
London Feminist Network
Tumblr: Don't Get Raped
One Billion Rising
Campaign4Consent
Everyday Victim Blaming
SlutWalk movement
The F Word
Feministing
Jezebel
Daughters of Eve
The Shoreditch Sister's Fanny Defence League
W.I.T.C.H (Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell)
Feminist magazine called Cuntry Living
Feminist magazine called Spare Rib
Ms Magazine
Womanism
January 29, 2017
At times, this (very short) book reads like something I'd have written as an undergraduate the first time around; it's chatty in tone, and yet there's not a lot of discussion of the points raised. That said, if you're looking to be brought up to date on what's happening in feminism right now in a swift and decisive manner, this book does do that and it's an easy read.
March 26, 2015
Kira Cochrane’s All the Rebel Women: The Rise of the Fourth Wave of Feminism provides a brief overview of British feminism from the era of Emmeline Pankhurst to today’s social-media young activists. While there are some mentions of feminists elsewhere (e.g., Betty Friedan, Malala Yussuf, Rebecca Walker), the focus is definitely on the United Kingdom. Still, the book is slim enough that feminists from elsewhere will enjoy a glimpse into feminism — particularly activists in their teens and 20s — of their British sisters.
Those listening to the Audible edition of this book have a treat in store with reader Anna Parker-Naples.
Those listening to the Audible edition of this book have a treat in store with reader Anna Parker-Naples.
March 12, 2017
Nothing in this book was surprising or shocking to me, however I felt that it was an excellent summary of the first 3 waves of feminism and the current 4th wave and why feminism is still needed today. Equality is still far from realized, and we need to keep fighting the good fight that is equality for all.
July 21, 2016
Está bien, pero se centra demasiado en Reino Unido.
March 3, 2017
a great introduction to feminism, exploring the history of feminism, as well as contemporary feminism.
November 25, 2023
I love a good feminism book. Very short but sweet. Very easy to understand and written fairly casually. Would be a good introduction to people about the waves of feminism. Found some of the campaigns and organisations mentioned really interesting
May 26, 2020
A short read that gives a well-rounded assessment of where feminism is at, particularly in the UK. Feeling a bit outdated now as it was published in 2013, but still interesting nonetheless.
June 12, 2016
I read this as a challenge book otherwise, it wouldn't have been my choice. That being said, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. While I don't think it offered any new insights into feminism for me, I found it to be very well researched and written.
As a woman of 67, I've lived through several of the "waves" referenced here, and it's somewhat discouraging to realize that while many gains have been made, equality for woman is still not realized.
Just recently, Hillary Clinton became a nominee for POTUS, a huge step forward for women (although I will say, I am more of a Bernie Sanders kinda girl). Yet at the same time, a celebrated swimmer with Stanford U. received only 6 months in prison for the rape of an unconscious woman. While I think a large part of that verdict was related to rich/white privilege, it was also due to male privilege.
This book is a short read but a very thoughtful one.
As a woman of 67, I've lived through several of the "waves" referenced here, and it's somewhat discouraging to realize that while many gains have been made, equality for woman is still not realized.
Just recently, Hillary Clinton became a nominee for POTUS, a huge step forward for women (although I will say, I am more of a Bernie Sanders kinda girl). Yet at the same time, a celebrated swimmer with Stanford U. received only 6 months in prison for the rape of an unconscious woman. While I think a large part of that verdict was related to rich/white privilege, it was also due to male privilege.
This book is a short read but a very thoughtful one.
November 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Being new to the fourth wave movement in feminism, I didn't have any preconceptions of the content and found it a really insightful engaging view.
Kira utilises a number of voices, anecdotes and some great quotes from other women in book to give a comprehensive guide to contemporary modern feminism. Plenty of food for thought, not all doom and gloom, I would definitely recommend this.
Kira utilises a number of voices, anecdotes and some great quotes from other women in book to give a comprehensive guide to contemporary modern feminism. Plenty of food for thought, not all doom and gloom, I would definitely recommend this.
April 5, 2014
An eyeopener in understanding the evolution of feminism and especially the so-called fourth wave - modern feminism as it is evolving right now. A must read for everyone who dare to think that feminism has outplayed its role. And for everyone who has daughters. Or sisters. Or wives. Everyone, basically.
July 30, 2015
While some of the information and statistics are UK-specific, the issue itself - the right for women to be treated as human beings - sees no boundaries. At 71 pages, 'All The Rebel Women' is a quick read (or listen), and it provides an excellent, compact introduction to the four waves of feminism, and the importance of both offline and online activism.
December 29, 2016
A short read describing the waves of feminism, some key moments, and some key ladies throughout history. Cochrane suggests that the (current) fourth wave is characterised by online connections and intersectionality, although as a broader movement and not necessarily more inclusive. Nice overview of what some rebel women have been up to lately.
May 23, 2017
It is a quick yet in-depth look into the world of feminism in the 21st century with each chapter focusing on a specific topic or event that is affecting the world and how we see feminism today. From rape to everyday sexism. A really worthwhile and important read.
Review: http://ellesbellesnotebook.co.uk/marc...
Review: http://ellesbellesnotebook.co.uk/marc...
April 30, 2014
A good, incisive overview of the current feminism movement. I'd like to see this expanded into a bigger book, as Cochrane has been one of the best chroniclers of what is happening with women's rights now.
March 20, 2015
A short but informative account of the state of modern feminism in the UK. Although it does not understate the many problems still faced by women in this country, I found the stories of the activists fighting to improve the situation, many of whom are making full use of social media, uplifting.
March 31, 2015
My first e-book, downloaded out of curiosity and because it was cheap. More of an extended essay, than anything else, but filled to the brim with information and interesting (surprising, disappointing, etc) facts. Only £1.99, so definitely worth the money.
July 21, 2015
A brief summary of the history and current movements within feminism, starting with the suffragettes and moving through the second and third waves. Most of this extended essay focuses on what's happening within feminism today, and its a good introduction to the topic.
June 16, 2016
Okay, lots of good stuff and a hopeful tone overall, but it was more of an account of what's already happened than an insight - fine if that's what you want, a bit disappointing if you want something more.
June 20, 2016
A great introduction to the key issues within feminism.
A great book to give u the thirst for more information on feminism and feminist issues. I never thought I was a feminist and now I realise I have always been one at heart. Thirsty for more!
A great book to give u the thirst for more information on feminism and feminist issues. I never thought I was a feminist and now I realise I have always been one at heart. Thirsty for more!
January 19, 2014
Useful up to the minute overview
January 12, 2014
Really enjoying the clarity of the writing and the immediacy of the stories. Revelatory some of it, especially liked the humour chapter.
June 14, 2014
For my review click here
January 23, 2014
A fantastic, concise, journalistic account of Feminism in the UK today. It's everything an ebook should be.
August 22, 2014
A good summary and introduction to the themes and issues of modern feminism.
June 21, 2014
Well-written, very interesting summary of feminism in the UK with discussion of international movements as well. Overall a great read. Stokes the feminist fires within, that's for sure.
November 8, 2014
Succinct and helpful overview of the mainstream 'leading edge' of feminism in 2014.
April 28, 2016
Short and interesting. Read it in a few hours.
March 24, 2017
A quick read which summed up nicely the different waves of feminism <3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews