This Book Won’t Leave You The Same, Especially If You’re a Man

It’s no secret that women have been asserting their rights and occupying spaces in recent decades. From re-shaping social structures to gaining economic power, ongoing conversations and resulting strides are loud and visible. And, needless to say, more is yet to come. Regular readers of The Kigalian will not be surprised to know that we think there has never been a better time to listen to what women have to say and understand their grievances.

In social chats and in public forums or manuals, there are plenty of insights about the issues affecting women and girls worldwide. Even the way governments and development agencies — spearheaded by the United Nations and grassroots and civil society organisations — continue to raise awareness is a positive trend, despite the need to do more and faster. But few people, particularly men, will claim to have had an education that prepares them to thrive in a world of gender equality. Progressivists who care about solving modern-day problems will also know that much of what is discussed in popular platforms today offers little insight into what problems women face at work, in their communities, and in their homes. No wonder it has become increasingly difficult to avoid surface-level discussions, leaving people with ambiguous knowledge often short of understanding and pragmatism.