DWC 100 Women: Clementine Ford, Fight Like a Girl
Clementine Ford is an Australian writer, speaker, and feminist activist whose work has become a cornerstone of modern gender equality discussions. Known for her bold, unapologetic approach, Clementine has spent years challenging societal norms and amplifying marginalised voices. She’s not just a commentator—she’s a force for change.
Her journey into activism didn’t begin with grand gestures but rather with a growing awareness of the inequality surrounding her. As a teenager, Clementine started noticing the double standards embedded in everyday life. Girls were criticised for their looks and behaviour, while boys seemed to face far less scrutiny. “Why was it acceptable for women to be treated as less than?” she wondered. These questions planted the seeds of her activism.
Her first steps were simple but impactful: writing letters to newspapers and engaging in online forums to call out the casual misogyny she encountered. During her university years at the University of Adelaide, Clementine’s activism deepened. She joined feminist groups, participated in grassroots campaigns, and discovered a strong sense of community and purpose.
Her writing began informally, with blog posts exploring personal experiences of sexism, relationships, and body image. These raw, candid reflections struck a chord with readers, earning her a growing audience and leading to bylines in prominent Australian publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Life. Her articles tackled everything from street harassment to beauty standards, sparking important conversations.
One piece in particular marked a turning point. In a fearless critique of the media’s treatment of women, Clementine wrote, “Women are told to stay small—small in our opinions, our ambitions, and even our bodies. But I refuse to stay small anymore.” That single line went viral, cementing her as a bold, fresh voice in the feminist movement.
As her platform grew, so did the scope of her work. Clementine began addressing broader systemic issues—workplace inequality, gender-based violence, and the pervasive influence of toxic masculinity. Her first book, Fight Like a Girl, brought together years of observations and activism. It’s part memoir, part manifesto, and entirely a rallying cry for women to reclaim their power. “I started writing because I was angry—angry that the world wanted me to shrink. Writing became my way of refusing to disappear,” she wrote in the book’s opening pages.
Her second book, Boys Will Be Boys, tackled the other side of the coin: the ways toxic masculinity harms not just women but men and society as a whole. Both books are as much calls to action as they are explorations of gender dynamics.
Of course, activism isn’t without its challenges, and Clementine is no stranger to the darker side of public life. Online trolls, hate mail, and even death threats are part of her reality. She’s candid about the toll this takes, saying, “I am not invincible, and I shouldn’t have to be to do this work.” Her honesty about these struggles has helped normalise the idea that activists don’t have to be superhuman to make a difference. Instead, they can lean on their communities for support.
Her message resonates far beyond her writing. As a sought-after speaker, Clementine has used her voice to highlight critical issues like reproductive rights, consent, and domestic violence. “Change doesn’t come from being quiet,” she told an audience in one memorable talk. “It comes from being loud enough to be heard and strong enough to keep going.”
Through her books, speeches, and relentless advocacy, Clementine Ford has proven the power of one voice to ignite a movement. She reminds us that activism doesn’t have to start with grand gestures. It begins with everyday acts of courage—calling out injustice, supporting those in need, and refusing to stay silent. Or as Clementine herself says, “The world doesn’t change because we wait for it. It changes because we demand it.”