Reflections - How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

I finished this book last week. My final thoughts:

• I really appreciated Moran’s validation of women who don’t want children. She laid out the entire societal perspective on this perfectly. Moran explains: Society expects women to have children as an essential life experience. Society believes that women fulfill part of their purpose in life by having kids, and that women gain invaluable perspectives on life throughout birth and child-rearing. Moran goes on to state that society is wrong: women can still have wonderful moments, learn about human nature, and fulfill our purpose without ever having kids. Having children is a choice we can make, but whatever we decide, women can live life to the fullest potential no matter what. 
• Moran has had an abortion. I expected her to be pro-choice, but I was surprised and appreciative that she was willing to write about her own personal experiences in such detail.
• The book increased my respect for Lady GaGa, who I did not respect very much at all previously. As a reader, I certainly respect Moran. And Moran’s experience with GaGa, and her appreciation for GaGa’s entire public presence, caused me to rethink my stance on the pop icon. Maybe her weird videos that look like S&M combined with science fiction can also represent feminism?