Women Aren't Persons

A fascinating exploration of the interaction of law and culture to inform the (mis)treatment of women around the world.

Since the death of her mother days after her fourth birthday, Erica Stary's life has been coloured by an acute awareness of her perceived inferiority as a female in a male-dominated society. Though that hasn't seen her dilute her ambitions or be put in her "place". Quite the opposite.

From a traumatic post-war upbringing to a successful career as a practising City lawyer and beyond, Stary shares her story through a unique lens: that of actively questioning the patriarchy at a time when few others had the resolve. Peppered with insightful commentary on significant and unusual legal cases and the background law underpinning them, we are invited to view gender discrimination not only as a problem to be solved but also as a direct result of legislation, doctrine and culture that, though slowly improving, still have a long way to go to enable equality.

With an unwavering confidence in her refusal to accept traditional gender roles, Stary opens our eyes to the harsh reality of existing as a woman or girl, while offering hope that change is within grasp if we commit to challenging the status quo.

Part autobiographical, part observational, part historical, Woman Aren't Persons is an incisive study into the imbalance of the male-female relationship, covering the why, the when, and the what next.