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Outspoken is a 2019 book written by the author and entrepreneur Deborah Coughlin. Outspoken is a collection of 50 speeches by famous, influential women, from Emma Watson to Mary Wollstonecraft. Coughlin explores speeches from women who spoke out throughout history, even though history didn't listen to them, discussing important feminist issues from politics to the body. This book explores and celebrates the outspoken and outstanding women throughout history. This inspiring book holds speeches on the myths of beauty and from the importance of men as allies, to the idea of utopia, overall being a vast collection of socially important works. Throughout, Coughlin reminds her audience the importance of being outspoken and saying what is needed to be said. Overall, this highly inspiring feminist work encourages her audience to be part of the solution to societies and women's issues.

Author Background
Deborah Coughlin is an author, entrepreneur and founder of the punk feminist band named Gaggle (band) which was formed in 2009 and currently consists of 22 members. This London based group released  From The Mouth Of The Cave  in 2012 with Deborah Coughlin being one of the main songwriters for this alternative album. Coughlin wrote  Outspoken  in 2019, based on the empowering and poignant speeches of famous and successful feminists, also discussing the ongoing narrative that women only began to speak outwardly about feminist issues. She was inspired by a performance by her band, Gaggle (band) , in 2015 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. She is both the creator of many products which are intended to empower and is also the founder and CEO of Method X studios, a company who "want to democratise good mental health, and end the mental health poverty gap."

Chapter Summaries
The book consists of 10 chapters discussing a wide range of themes and societal issues addressed by famously inspiring women. Coughlin also gives personal opinions and discussion on the importance of speaking out, encouraging other women to do the same, as well as addressing current issues within feminist movement. Chapter 1 Say it discusses the importance of speaking out against those who are wrong and situations which are unjust, encouraging women who have been put in situations of discomfort or misconduct to address these societal injustices. Coughlin features five speeches which emphasise her narrative of female empowerment, discussing those who received backlash for speaking up, validating their sacrifices in the pursuit of self-expression. This chapter features extracts of speeches from Oprah Winfrey, Virginia Woolf, Margaret Fell, Sor Juana and Audre Lorde. These powerful speeches alongside Coughlin's more light-hearted rhetoric of personal experience, overall highlighting how your own silence will not protect you.

Chapter 2 Your body highlights the social stigmas which surround women's body and their sexual health, addressing the policing and control which, for many women, causes them to suffer in silence. Coughlin discusses issues which women experience- from the stigma surrounding abortion to constant fatphobia within the media- emphasising the difficulties surrounding the body which is intertwined with womanhood. Deborah Coughlin further cultivates her narrative with speeches from Jameela Jamil, Masih Alinejad, Margaret Sanger, Sarah Weddington, Annie Sprinkle and Kelli Jean Drinkwater. Yet she also discusses her own personal experience of ectopic pregnancy and the isolation which she felt due to the societal stigma.

Chapter 3 Love initially addresses the struggles of modern dating, from swiping through Tinder profiles, to the Anti-feminist men seen within society, discussing the power dynamics visible within heteronormative relationships throughout time. Coughlin creates her anecdotal narrative of negative experiences within this dating realm and the struggles which she has faced. With speeches from Michelle Obama, Jane Anger, Mary Anstell and Rose Maxson Whilst also addressing the struggles faced within the LGBT community, allowing for the discussion of LGBT rights and shedding light on those who have fought for the expression of love, alongside a speech from Beverley Palesa Ditsie.

Chapter 4 Boys Will Be... Allies Highlights the importance of solidarity within the fight for gender equality, speaking upon the importance of male roles within the feminist movement. Accompanied with speeches by Andrea Dworkin, Huda Sha'warawi, Julia Gillard Ac and Emma Watson. Coughlin's narration of societal issues within this chapter place importance on working alongside men and including them within the conversation.

Chapter 5  End White Supremacy discusses Coughlin's role as an ally, as a white woman, stating her own awareness of benefitting on her white privilege. She encourages the works from black authors such as Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race in order to fully understand the discussion of race within todays society. This chapter looks into how intersectional feminism is intertwined within the racial debates as well as societies ideals of what makes an 'acceptable' black woman, alongside speeches from Sojourner Truth, Mary Seacole, Mary Mcleod Bethune and important black women with political standing, Dianne Abbot and Jacinda Ardern.

Chapter 6 War & Taxes Coughlin opens a discussion on the prevention of women moving into positions of financial or military power, celebrating those who, through either birth or marriage, rallied together troops and shamed those around them into action. She too gives brief descriptions of these powerful historical women, educating those on the powerful militaristic women who led and inspired troops into combat. From speeches from Elizabeth I, Boudicca, Yaa Asantewaa, Hortensia and Joan of Arc to the famous war poetry Ballad of a hero by Kate Tempest, Deborah Coughlin creates a conversation on women within both the military and financial world, culminating both modern and historical narratives of feminine power.

Chapter 7 Politics Politics within media, as Coughlin describes, is an elongated play for power, a system in which women have historically been excluded from. Within this chapter she discusses the woeful underrepresentation of women within the political system, covering topics such as the imposter syndrome women feel when achieving within the political system and the inherent controversy within the polarity of the political climate. Coughlin explores this through the speeches from Hillary Clinton, Mhairi Black, Annie Powell, Margaret Smith and the figure holding the most contraversy, [[Margaret Thatcher]. Overall, she highlights the lack of diversity within the political climate.

Chapter 8 Rebels "It's easier to ask for forgiveness then permission" (p.222) this quote sits at the heart of this chapter, discussing and evaluating the acts of rebellion and the activists who are willing to take the title of rebels, merging the historical and modern actions of rebellion within society. Whilst exploring the drastic actions of rebellious women, Coughlin addresses the need to "Break down barriers blocking women from positions of power." (p.206-207) Including speeches from Sacheen Littlefeather, Countess Markievicz, Emmeline Pankhurst and Sophie Scholl, she addresses the rebellious and militant deeds which led to repeated prison sentences and persecution, along the path to making societal and political changes.

Chapter 9 Freedom The discussion of life affirming actions bringing freedom is the clear message within this chapter, whether it be quitting jobs in response to bare-faced sexism to the exercising of risk and responsibility within the social climate. Coughlin raises questions on what, in society, women find freedom amongst. With speeches from Joanne O'Riordan, Paula Stone Williams, Eleanor Roosevelt and Nora Ephron she explores the vast range of ways women have found their freedom. Whether it be activism, walking out of a job or speaking out, women are encouraged to take themselves where they want to be, and feel as though they belong.

Chapter 10 Utopia Utopia raises questions surrounding how, we as a society, can change for the better. With speeches from Charlotte Church, Gretta Thunberg, Dame Anita Roddick, Baroness Bertha Von Suttner, Vivienne Ming and Mary Wollstonecraft, Coughlin explores these women who, although to the distain from individuals who do not welcome inconvenient solutions, wish to be visionaries, making active steps towards a utopian future. From environmental activists to pacifist novelists, this books concluding chapter looks forward to future which takes guidance from these visionary figures within society.