In 2025, why do we still need a prize for women’s fiction? That’s the question that Kit De Waal, Diana Evans and Leila Lalami abhor.
“In an ideal world we wouldn’t, because an ideal world would be equal. In the utopian world you don’t need the women’s prize, you don’t have disability discrimination, race discrimination, but we don’t live in that world. Let’s hope we get to a point where we don’t need it anymore, right now I think we do.”
That was the expert answer given by De Waal, the chair of judges for this years award and the author of ten books. It has been thirty years since the start of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and this event at the Edinburgh International Book Festival celebrated the legacy, while also looking to the future.
What is The Women’s Prize for Fiction?
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is an annual writing award, created to highlight the talent of female authors. It was initially created because a longlist for a prestigious book prize only consisted of male authors. The Women’s Prize for Fiction has since impacted other literary awards, with the International Booker Prize this year featuring a majority of female authors on their long and short lists.
How do female authors still experience sexism?
The host of the event, Sam Baker, pointed out that she had never heard a male author asked what aspects of his personal life inspired his work. Lalami shared that she has never written a book, and not been asked this while promoting it.
While being interviewed on her book The Moor’s Account based on the true story of a 16th century displaced Moroccan slave, she was still asked how her life had been inspiration.
“There’s no credit given to your imagination as a woman. As if you don’t wake up in the morning and have the same desires as male writers to write what is great.”
What hope is there for the future of women’s fiction?
The panelists and host are determined that while there is still a need for the prize, there is also hope for the future. The judging panel have been inspired by the talent seen by debut and young authors.
De Waal also believes that now women who write non fiction are taken more seriously. Their advice to change the literary gender divide? Read and review books by female authors, support new talent, and recommend the books that you love!
Featured Image Credit : Rae Archibald
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Journalism and English student.
