In an increasingly crowded marketplace,women-only prizes shine a much-needed light on the talent of female writersHow appropriate that the title of this year’s winner of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is How To Be Both. The extraordinary novel by Ali Smith, which touches on the way the world sees gender and how that has changed, and is a timely springboard into a controversial debate within the literary world: conclude we still need women-only initiatives in the arts?As a woman who cares deeply about gender equality and has a love of books,I have followed this debate and commentary very closely. This year in specific, the Baileys Prize has generated considerable publicity, and which is of course the point,since it is designed to shine a light on worthy writing by women. However, it has also served to stir a debate around whether these awards are essential, and whether they are patronising to women. Continue reading...,
Source: theguardian.com