Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Narrated by: January LaVoy

From the best-selling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists comes a powerful new statement about feminism today - written as a letter to a friend.

A few years ago, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie received a letter from a dear friend from childhood, asking her how to raise her baby girl as a feminist. Dear Ijeawele is Adichie's letter of response.

Here are 15 invaluable suggestions - compelling, direct, wryly funny, and perceptive - for how to empower a daughter to become a strong, independent woman. From encouraging her to choose a helicopter and not only a doll as a toy if she so desires; having open conversations with her about clothes, makeup, and sexuality; debunking the myth that women are somehow biologically arranged to be in the kitchen making dinner and that men can "allow" women to have full careers, Dear Ijeawele goes right to the heart of sexual politics in the 21st century. It will start a new and urgently needed conversation about what it really means to be a woman today.

©2017 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"January LaVoy's narration of this short work is intentional, assertively warm, and grounded.... There is wisdom in her voice conveying a lived experience." ( AudioFile)

down to earth feminism

fabulously read, excellently written - this quick 1 hr book provides a great realist approach to feminism whether for parents hoping to raise their children feminist or anyone hoping to better understand the realities of being a women or feminist in today's society.

fantastic read

An easy read and incredibly important. I think I'll be listening again and maybe even buying a hard copy

Great Introduction to Feminism

Thank you Chimamanda for writing this book. It was a reminder about things I knew and a refresher for things I n vet considered. I will be reading more of your work.

I matter, no matter what.

I liked everything, this book is amazing and stated everything I needed to hear. I felt represented by everything the book said.

To be have forever.

Amazing, a most read for anybody. Short but powerful. Made me cry with Joy and anger. Simply perfect.

Lovely book

I enjoyed listening to this book. I've always been a big proponent of equality but this book pointed out ways that I was still entertaining backwards thinking and challenged me to be better

A beautiful manifesto

A must read for parents with daughters. Also gave me great perspective on what to watch out for when raising my sons. I wish there were more examples and scenarios, but overall a great read

Pleasantly Surprised

I was originally thinking that this would be a daunting story to listen to or hear, as it was for class. This ended up being an amazing book full of lessons and a lot of advice that I wish I knew. Beautifully written. Def recommend to women entering college, goin through hard times in high school, or raising their kids. I recommend to men who have daughters or sisters or a mom.

wow

This is advice I needed as a 27 year old first generation Jamaican American woman.

Succinct yet gives examples

These suggestions are wonderful things to think about as how to relate to our daughters and granddaughters no matter their age. I was able to reflect on how I was brought up, raising my daughters and son and gave me a different life view and suggestions of what to say. Also like the couple of references about block women as writer is a Nigerian woman. I wish she would have read the book to us.