Ladies Who Punch: Fifty Trailblazing Women Whose Stories You Should Know

by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Throughout history, plucky, indomitable, daring, fearless women and girls have done what they felt they had to and, intentionally or otherwise, upended the social order and common values. This collection remembers ladies who punched their way through life in the past, whilst also recognising today's amazing rebels.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2020

Reviews

[Tamsin Ramone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m quite disappointed by this book, not by the content, well not really, but I can’t quite work it out.

The format jumps all over the place (the first part has birth/death dates and the second and third don’t. Why not?) I don’t understand what the parts are for.

The women are all British so I think it should have said on the front “fifty trailblazing English women), I was hoping to learn about women from all over the world. I did like that there were a lot of women of colour represented though.

My pet hate is everywhere in this book: unexplained acronyms!! So frustrating!

There was actually quite a lot of instances that I would have classified as sexist (calling a woman a “little thing” and saying “how many female journalists… why not all journalist??) and racist (“Asian in owners support low tax parties” which is generalising) which I am sure the author wouldn’t have wanted to portray.

Mostly I think this book needed a person who it’s altra pc to edit it.

[The Bookmouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book by Yasmin Alibhai - Brown (Yasmin you are certainly a lady who punches)! ❤️
I hugely respected Yasmin's decision to include those who she may disagree with politically, but who have made great strides and achievement.
4/5 stars as I would have loved some more women included who were not UK based.
But I loved this book 📚

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ladies Who Punch: Fifty Trailblazing Women Whose Stories You Should Know - Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

After an initial rating of three stars, I rounded this up to four on the basis that it's not blatant consumerist feminism (think Paperchase's notebooks and pens that have "Yas Queen", "Girl Power!", "Don't Call Me Pretty" emblazoned on them in pastel and neon typography) and the analysis is thorough and intelligent while still being accessible to the average reader. Alibhai-Brown also features women who weren't popular and haven't been remembered as such, but she (rightfully, IMO) says they can't be excluded from the narrative on women's progress because they don't fit the 2020 vision of what a "real feminist" is (N.B. the definition a real feminist cannot be established, it will always exclude someone) e.g. Margaret Thatcher, who the Clintons conveniently left out of their feminist book "Gutsy Women", because Thatcher's legacy is controversial. I found it a bit rich Hillary excluded a politician for an unpopular legacy when she knows what it's like to have your reputation take a nose dive.

Anyway, I liked the range of this book in including women in lesser-discussed fields such as classical music and conducting (the most random place where sexism is apparently rife), astronomy, or the police force. There were quite a few politicians or political figures, but I have to say my main gripe was the overwhelming number of Oxbridge graduates. Of course it's brilliant so many women have graced these elitist halls and gone on to do amazing things, but the book felt disproportionate in terms of women from working-class backgrounds who didn't make it to elite institutions, I would have liked to read about more women who didn't have such opportunities, or perhaps didn't do too well at school, but still have a record of achievements. The book felt thin on women who didn't have a great education even by the 1950s onwards. I also wasn't too keen on some opinions the author wrote in a tone of voice that suggested as though they were fact, particularly about Royals, female Royals actually, in the same text where she is seeking to discuss women who were shaped by their backgrounds and how they moved within their designated sphere.

Ultimately, in the current market where feminist books are easy money and quick to be churned out, Alibhai-Brown's contribution is a nuanced discussion that isn't reduced to patronizing feminist affirmations or notions of "good feminism".

[wheeliereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Alabhai-Brown and I’ve read all of her books. I found this one utterly fascinating, I already love her style of writing and and she always researches her subjects thoroughly. This was no exception, the book is about 50 women who are or were trailblazers. It was a huge variety of women, along with their professional achievements she mixes personal and sometimes funny stories into each account. I found I agreed with most of the women included, even the ones I didn’t agree with you had to accept that those women were still trailblazers. I was pleased to see some women that I knew such as Sayeeda Warsi, I was a bit ashamed that I didn’t know a lot of these amazing women. The only downside is there was a huge lack of disabled women in this book. There are a lot of BAME women which was refreshing but we need to start including disabled people when we are celebrating trailblazers as this book is.

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Bethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and easy reading starting point for learning about a lot of influential and important women