Book Review Women Who Win

Women Who Win: Celebrating courage, conviction and change by Antoinette Lattouf

My Goodreads rating: 5 of 5 stars

Winter is Brisbane is starting to recede and cold wind and foggy windowpanes are starting to clear so I have come out of literary hibernation to complete a blog post I started months ago. Here it is in an unrefined state but hopefully quite clear.

Several years ago this Antoinette Lattouf book would have speared me through the heart like a flaming arrow and lit me up like a Christmas tree. Instead it merely interests me with its powerful women, powerful convictions, staggering stories and the serious need for ongoing change. Now I am older and wiser (from the Germaine Greer generation) I can see that our male dominated society is never truly going to change for the better. Remember that ‘Make love not war.’ slogan? Antoinette Lattouf is fired up way beyond slogans. Her input is strong, the message is quite clear. Follow up is essential. There are probably some really good guys out there if I look hard enough but do I have the inclination? Hopefully bit by bit women will equal the balance in centuries to come but today I found this powerfully eloquent book depressing in the fact that I have read similar exposé styles and discovered that nothing truly alters the unpardonably unbalanced status quo.

Lattouf’s Chapter 7 Page 191 ‘Slander Slam Dunks’ is particularly enraging and almost a form of courtroom gladiator sport. While there are inspirational examples, there is a perpetual disparity which most women live with throughout their lives. During an office job interview I was told by the manager that I would probably have a baby and resign. That still infuriates years later, although I declined his ‘offer’ and got a better paid job. Help and guidance is key to celebrating Courage, Conviction, Change and with insights from writers like Antoinette Lattouf bringing inequality to the fore once again.
Will males read this book? Surely men have the attention span to grasp its influential construct and accept Women Do Win.

📚 © Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2026

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For the love of books! Creator Michelle Hutton of Beenleigh Quilters at Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair in Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 2024 *© image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2024*

Dealing with Change

IMG_20191030_112254 — Quote from “500 Days of Summer” a film based on the relationship between a man and a woman, Tom and Summer, who work at a greeting card company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500_Days_of_Summer

♥ Gretchen Bernet-Ward

Old Woman Sitting Reading

‘Change…’ said Richard Hooker

IMG_20190701_101114 — Richard Hooker (March 1554 – November 1600) was an Anglican priest and an influential theologian. Hooker’s emphases on reason, tolerance and inclusiveness considerably influenced the development of Anglicanism. He was the co-founder (with Thomas Cranmer and Matthew Parker) of Anglican theological thought.

♥ Gretchen Bernet-Ward

First of the Month

IMG_20171201_075041 — Hopper Studios, Canada, and artwork by Sue Zipkin

When I was a kid we used to say “Pinch and punch for the first of the month” and I don’t know why. A lot of our practical jokes involved physical actions which resulted in the receiver going “Ow, ouch” and glaring fiercely while rubbing their arm.

This beautiful calendar art was created by Sue Zipkin, produced by Hopper Studios, and I will be sad to see it go. However, its final words are encouraging “Embrace Change”. How many of us will actually do that next year?