Edinburgh International Book Fest 2013 puts feminism under the spotlight

• Andrea Mullaney
• 16 August 2013

This article is from 2013.

Fifty Shades of Feminism and Where Have all the Brave Girls Gone? are 2 shows unscared of the F word

Sometimes, as Tammy Wynette sang, it’s hard to be a woman. And when every week sees a new online controversy about a broadcaster’s sexist remarks, a rape victim being blamed or a politician’s attempts to enforce 1950s sexual mores, it can feel to many young women that it’s never been harder. But decades on from the big upsurge of feminism in the 1970s, what’s changed?

Veteran women’s publishers Virago attempted to start a debate with the anthology Fifty Shades Of Feminism, featuring short essays from 50 well-known women. Co-editor Lisa Apignanesi and contributor Kamila Shamsie join bookfest guest selector Kate Mosse – founder of the Women’s Prize for Fiction – on 20 August to discuss ‘where are we now?’

On 22 August, Mosse joins Australian teen fiction author John Marsden and young British writer Samantha Shannon to ponder: ‘Where have all the brave girls gone?’ They suggest that while children’s books often feature a sparky heroine, boys lead most of the action in young adult fiction. But why?

Both big questions should start lively debates – and maybe even an online controversy.

Charlotte Square Gardens, 0845 373 5888, Feminism: 20 Aug, 3pm, £10 (£8); Brave: 22 Aug, 5pm, £10 (£8).