“A truly ground-breaking, empowering book and an essential read for any woman who ever felt overwhelmed by the competing demands made on her by society; any woman who sought love and found only disappointment; any woman who doubted she was strong enough to pursue her dreams.” Toxic Femininity is a misunderstood, misused concept and this unique book explodes the myths which surround it. Drawing on twelve powerful stories of women around the world – their hopes, dramas, disappointments, tragedies, intimacies and successes – this book explains how the myths of toxic femininity trap women into trying to live up to impossible standards of perfection, not for their well-being but to fit into male-dominated narratives. Rooted in centuries of patriarchal power, toxic femininity pressures women to conform to limiting ideals, leaving them at risk of being overwhelmed by shame, depression, self-doubt and helplessness. As these stories reveal, toxic femininity can affect any woman – shaping her identity and reducing her agency. Yet these women’s stories also offer hope, showing the path to an agentic independent femininity and self-love.