In my search for a feminist auto biography, I came across “How to be a Woman.” In “How to be a Woman,” Caitlin Moran puts a new twist on modern feminism. She covers everything from puberty, ridiculous female underwear standards, shoes, celebrities, and prominent sexism in society. She relates these ideas to her own life stories and experiences. She uses language throughout the book that’s geared towards teenagers and young adults,meant to make the reader look at things differently. Occasionally there are moments that create watery eyes and heartaches but the majority of the book is filled with humorous retellings of her eventful life.

Moran started out at 16 working for a music magazine, being one of the few women on the job. She worked her way up in the world now being a columnist for The Times of London, married with two daughters. She grew up surrounded by seven siblings living in a  three bedroom house in Wolverhampton. The fact that she started out as just an average person and became someone very influential in the U.K. is enough credentials for her to write a book on how to be a woman in modern society.

Moran makes being a feminist sound like the only reasonable option when you’re a woman. She asks “Are you a woman? Do you want to be in charge of your own body? Congrats you’re a feminist!” She states things as they are. No beating around the bush; plain and simple. The stereotypes that are associated with being a feminist, are broken in this book because Moran explains feminism as common sense and equal rights for all, not women burning their bras and refusing to shave.

Not everything in her book is a powerful speech on her beliefs that leaves the reader chuckling, certain moments break their hearts. Moran was a strong believer in needing to be in love when she was younger and guy after guy let her down. She even faced emotional abuse about her weight and ventured deep into drugs. As her life went on she had issues with childbirth, raising a family, and making tough life decisions. Her deep emotional stories relate to readers on a level that they wouldn’t assume at the beginning.

Moran feels so strongly about certain topics that the story line can sometimes seem to drag on and become somewhat like a lecture. Her beliefs are so powerful that if the reader doesn’t agree with exactly what she says, it can feel almost like their being preached to about their wrong choices. But this is only a small part of the book, the rest is glorious tales on everyday struggles of being a woman.

“How to be a Woman,” has a chapter on role models. Moran believes that powerful woman who make their own way in the world should be idolized, not those women who mooch off others and sexualize themselves to gain popularity. What she doesn’t realize is she’s explain that she’s a perfect role model for all women.

“How to be a Woman,” is an inspirational book that makes being a women seem less like a chore or burden, and more like something to embrace and be proud of.