How does the author address gender inequality in the memoir, Manifesto: On Never Giving Up?

For the most part, Evaristo examines gender inequality in simple, concrete terms rather than conceptual, abstract ones. For instance, she considers that the society she was born into was heavily patriarchal not because of the general culture, but because of the sheer number of government officials who were male: “At the time of my birth there were only fourteen women members of the British Parliament compared to 630 men, which meant that 97 per cent of those who controlled the country were male. Our society was therefore patriarchal” (7). She also explores societal disrespect and degradation of women through the lens of her own experiences living alone — the fear she felt and the violent or potentially violent situations she encountered, such as when a former boyfriend placed his hands on her throat, as if to strangle her. Evaristo additionally addresses gender inequality and feminism in a broad context, often clarifying that while societal oppression affects and interacts with personal violence and abuse, the two are not interchangeable. For example, she uses her abusive relationship with The Mental Dominatrix as an example of how women can behave in controlling and inappropriate ways to the same degree as men.