Conditioned gender roles such as the pink vs blue and toy differentiation are difficult to unlearn therefore it is important that children reject them from the beginning.įeminism lite is the idea of conditional feminism that perpetuates the idea that men are superior to women but should treat women well. No parent deserves special gratitude for doing what they are supposed to do.Ī child should not be taught that they should or should not do something because of their gender. No singular role aside from biological roles such as breastfeeding should be separated. Caregiving and domestic work is not singularly a woman’s job but parents should be supported in their dual duties at work and at home.Ī father and a mother should work together. If you are passionate about your job for example, it is alright to love your job as being passionate about your job is then a gift you can share with your child.

It is important to remain a well-rounded person by nurturing yourself, your needs and your interests.

The advice that parents provide to their children determines how they treat and perceive others when they are adults.Adichie’s 15 suggestions on how to raise a feminist child are invaluable, funny, compelling and encourage parents to raise their children to be strong, independent and respectful of others.

Adichie argues that these behaviours and failure to protect individuals does not stem from what children are taught in school, domestic violence and rape crises or the fact that mainly men sign legislation on issues that affect only women.įor Adichie the problem begins at the birth. This little book although short and sweet sends a powerful message that is timely particularly in this age of key figures such as Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein and many more implicated for failing to create environments and a world in which women and men are equal and treated with respect. Now a mother herself, she realises and values the importance of trying your best to raise children that value the importance of creating a fairer world for all.

With that realisation, she then proceeded to write her friend a letter and this little uplifting, insightful manual is a version of that letter. Through this she had done a lot of observing and listening. She confesses that her first thought was that she had no clue and that it was a mammoth task when in fact she has spoken about feminism and helped to baby sit her nephews and nieces. Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi’s book Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, perfectly sums up how to go about fulfilling the task of raising a feminist child.Īdichie begins the book by explaining how a few years ago a good friend of hers asked her how to raise her baby girl as a feminist.

Chimamanda feminist manifesto