Badly Behaved Women: The History of Modern Feminism

by Anna-Marie Crowhurst

From bra burning and body hair to Beyoncé and body positivity, feminism has come a long way.

The illustrated story of the women's movement, Badly Behaved Women is a compelling and entertaining journey through the four waves of feminism and beyond. Featuring rare photographs and paraphernalia, reading lists, playlists and timelines, Anna-Marie Crowhurst's new history of an ongoing battle captures the pop culture and politics that have shaped modern feminism, and where the fight for equal rights will take us next.

Personal testimony essays from: Alice Coffin; Juno Dawson; Diana Evans; Nadia Ghulam; Susie Orbach; Helen Pankhurst; Gisela Pérez de Acha; Laura Perlongo; Emeli Sandé; Anne Wafula Strike; Hibo Wardere; Harriet Wistrich; Rosie Wolfenden.

Genres: Feminism

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2022

About the author

Anna-Marie Crowhurst has worked as a freelance journalist and columnist for more than 15 years, contributing to The Times, The Guardian, Time Out, Newsweek, Emerald Street and Stylist. In 2016 she studied for an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, where her debut novel The Illumination of Ursula Flight was born. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Crazytourists_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A summary of more than 120 years of women's fight for equality; this book covers all the milestones of the women's struggles, from the suffragettes and their fight for the vote, to the sexual liberation, the pill and the legalisation of abortion to the #metoo and #BlackGirlMagic movements and body postivity..
It doesn't shy away from the indifference or not enough i terest of the movement towards marginalised communities and women, and it clearly (and correctly) stands for intersectional feminism.
It's not a 5 star read, only because the references to countries that are not the UK, USA , or European aren't enough.
I read a library copy, but I'll definitely buy a copy for my kids' bookselves.

[Vilma_Ke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away with its take on feminism, covering over 100 years of women's fights. It made me realize how much I didn't know about what women have fought for and continue to fight for.
From suffrage to reproductive rights and even the fight for equal pay, it covers a lot. There's humor and celebration too, like talking about shoulder pads and handbags as symbols of power.
It also talks about how media shapes our ideas about women, and it dives into modern issues like #metoo and body positivity!
Overall, it's a must-read for anyone, no matter your gender or age.

[Nadine Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look back on feminism through the decades since the suffragette movement right up to the 2020s.
A lot that admittedly I didn't know much about, or thought I knew about but had a one sided perspective.
I almost deducted a star for saying one of the Spice girls had a pot belly; I had to stew on that for a day to contemplate which one the author was referring to!
Recommended this book 💪🏻

[Mo Burtenshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not recommend this book enough. Have pretty much sat and read it in one sitting. I teach at a secondary school and will be demanding this be ordered for our library!

[Esmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reminder to myself that woman rights are not a given in this world and we need to fight for our rights