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France 24

Author Melissa Febos on freeing women from adolescent conditioning in 'Girlhood'

Melissa Febos FRANCE 24 Manhattan Surgery

ENCORE! © FRANCE 24

Feminist writer Melissa Febos is the author of four memoirs, including the essay collection "Girlhood". Dubbed "a book every woman should read", it investigates how adolescent girls are conditioned to accept patriarchal structures. Her first novel "Whip Smart" recounts her four years working as a Manhattan dominatrix to pay for college and drugs. By sharing her "unspeakable bodily truths", Febos aims to liberate herself and her readers. She spoke to FRANCE 24 about power, addiction, breast reduction surgery and expanding the definition of what's possible for women and feminists.

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