"A clever and surprising dystopian story where the gender roles are reversed and the world is a better place…or is it?"
Mixing recent history and fiction, It's a (Wo)man's World by Stella Beake tells that after the overturning of Roe vs Wade in the US women around the world rose up and through tactical voting managed to get more women into positions of power, creating the Cooperative Feminist World Order. It is 2040 and the world changed for the better with wars ended, wealth distributed, women safe at night and the environment addressed with respect and urgency. Seems like the perfect world, unless you are a man or boy, who is then subject to strict oversight, limited prospects and the threat of a horrorscape prison if you are to even slightly step out of line.
The first thing that comes to mind to describe this book is the Barbie movie meets 1984. The positioning of Emmy as well respected within the CWFO but with ties and allegiances to the rebel Mascgettes group allows the reader easy access to all aspects of this world. Marcus’ work in the sex trade and his experience of growing up as the CWFO came into being and gained traction allows insight into the treatment of men and boys in this world, echoing the feelings and emotions female readers may have experienced in their own lives. I was initially confused at how a gender flipped patriarchy such as the one described could fit the description of “feminist”, but I kept reading and a surprising and clever narrative unfolded that helped to really raise this book in my estimations. This book is small but mighty and includes plenty of food for thought as well as an interesting story and engaging characters.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Dystopian and utopian fiction |
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