The Pocket Guide to the Patriarchy

This is a vital book. Hand this out in schools, in the work place, everywhere. It’s also beautifully written. – Olivia Colman
A fantastic little guide to understanding the patriarchy and how it impacts women’s lives across all areas - from health and income disparities to the criminal justice system. Intersectional, nuanced and thoughtful, this book is a must-read for everyone – Mireille Harper
An immersive deep dive into the barriers hiding in plain sight that keep women locked out and left behind. Maya makes an often difficult subject accessible for all and the inequalities that patriarchal systems reproduce impossible to deny. – Adele Walton, Journalist and Dazed book columnist
Misogyny lingers as an everyday part of life for women today. The abuse I experience as a woman in public life is testament to that - but I am by no means alone. The Pocket Guide to the Patriarchy is a rousing call to action, packed with evidence and wisdom for women everywhere to defend freedoms that took decades to secure in the face of fierce resistance. The women who came before us even had to fight to be allowed to have pockets in the first place. Maya offers both a practical guide and a refreshing perspective on the challenges, barriers, and obstacles facing women today. This is 21st-century feminism in action. – Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister
This book will equip you with the facts, insights, and arguments to fight for total gender equality. Necessary reading for everyone. But most especially for men. Buy it for your next hinge date – Grace Campbell
This is a vital read. Maya’s chapter on domestic abuse is both fact-filled and compassionate, informed by the many survivors she has worked with in her role as Women’s Correspondent at The Independent. Maya shares the startling stats about this crime and busts the many myths that surround this social issue in an educating but accessible way – Ruth Davison, CEO of Refuge
Maya’s book is a brilliant patriarchy 101 - packed with concise, myth-busting explanations and compelling stats. It will help anyone wanting to feel more confident to have conversations on what feminism is and why we desperately need it. I wish I had this book when I was younger and I hope it will be read by young women and men especially – Chiara Capraro, Women’s Human Rights Programme Director at Amnesty International UK
Oppenheim’s book will be enormously useful to those, particularly women, looking for an introduction to feminist issues and arguments. The chapters on sexual violence, the criminal justice system, prison, policing and sex work show how sexism is compounded by racism, and both by women’s lack of money. Oppenheim describes the ways in which women are short changed not only by pay inequity if they go out to work, but if they are one of the army of low paid and unpaid carers that the whole world relies on. While making the case against the lack of choices women face Oppenheim registers that we have won important victories because we fought for them – Selma James
As the UK’s only Women’s Correspondent, Maya knows in-depth the topics she covers: from workplace inequality and gendered violence to medical sexism and the failures of the criminal justice system. She writes with passion and clarity, providing arguments for change and resources for those looking to take action. This accessible, informative and powerful book will give you the tools to understand what the patriarchy means today - and inspire you to fight it – Nadia Whittome, Labour MP
Well-written, concise and necessary – Sarah Solemani
A fantastic little guide to understanding the patriarchy and how it impacts women’s lives across all areas - from health and income disparities to the criminal justice system. Intersectional, nuanced and thoughtful, this book is a must-read for everyone. * Mireille Harper *
An immersive deep dive into the barriers hiding in plain sight that keep women locked out and left behind. Maya makes an often difficult subject accessible for all and the inequalities that patriarchal systems reproduce impossible to deny. * Adele Walton, Journalist and Dazed book columnist *
Misogyny lingers as an everyday part of life for women today. The abuse I experience as a woman in public life is testament to that - but I am by no means alone. The Pocket Guide to the Patriarchy is a rousing call to action, packed with evidence and wisdom for women everywhere to defend freedoms that took decades to secure in the face of fierce resistance. The women who came before us even had to fight to be allowed to have pockets in the first place. Maya offers both a practical guide and a refreshing perspective on the challenges, barriers, and obstacles facing women today. This is 21st-century feminism in action. * Angela Rayner, Labour Deputy Leader *
This is a vital book. Hand this out in schools, in the work place, everywhere. It’s also beautifully written. * Olivia Colman *
This book will equip you with the facts, insights, and arguments to fight for total gender equality. Necessary reading for everyone. But most especially for men. Buy it for your next hinge date. * Grace Campbell *
This is a vital read. Maya’s chapter on domestic abuse is both fact-filled and compassionate, informed by the many survivors she has worked with in her role as Women’s Correspondent at The Independent. Maya shares the startling stats about this crime and busts the many myths that surround this social issue in an educating but accessible way. * Ruth Davison, CEO of Refuge *
Maya’s book is a brilliant patriarchy 101 - packed with concise, myth-busting explanations and compelling stats. It will help anyone wanting to feel more confident to have conversations on what feminism is and why we desperately need it. I wish I had this book when I was younger and I hope it will be read by young women and men especially. * Chiara Capraro, Women’s Human Rights Programme Director at Amnesty International UK *
Oppenheim’s book will be enormously useful to those, particularly women, looking for an introduction to feminist issues and arguments. The chapters on sexual violence, the criminal justice system, prison, policing and sex work show how sexism is compounded by racism, and both by women’s lack of money. Oppenheim describes the ways in which women are short changed not only by pay inequity if they go out to work, but if they are one of the army of low paid and unpaid carers that the whole world relies on. While making the case against the lack of choices women face Oppenheim registers that we have won important victories because we fought for them. * Selma James *
As the UK’s only Women’s Correspondent, Maya knows in-depth the topics she covers: from workplace inequality and gendered violence to medical sexism and the failures of the criminal justice system. She writes with passion and clarity, providing arguments for change and resources for those looking to take action. This accessible, informative and powerful book will give you the tools to understand what the patriarchy means today - and inspire you to fight it. * Nadia Whittome, Labour MP *
Well-written, concise and necessary. * Sarah Solemani *

Maya Oppenheim is The Independent’s Women’s Correspondent and the only Women’s Correspondent at a UK news outlet. Since starting the role in 2018, she has reported extensively on the themes explored in her book - carrying out interviews with survivors who have first-hand experience of the issues, experts, campaigners, and frontline workers. As well as writing news, features and investigative stories, she writes and curates a women-focused weekly newsletter for The Independent titled Independent Women. Topics Maya had long been writing about previously deemed more marginal have climbed up the political and news agenda, with her helping set the agenda in this area. Prior to working as the Women’s Correspondent, she worked on The Independent’s News Desk and People Desk, after working as a freelance journalist for Vice, New Statesman, i-D magazine, Buzzfeed, Dazed & Confused, and other publications.

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