If there was any doubt that feminism is alive and well in Brighton then the packed crowd at this event certainly proved otherwise.

Women and girls of all ages filled the Corn Exchange on the last day of the festival to hear three speakers discuss the titular collection of writings, which aims to examine how far feminism has come since the publication of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique 50 years ago.

BBC World Service reporter Bee Rowlatt made a lively and amiable host, giving guests Rachel Holmes, who edited the collection, and novelist Tahmima Anam glowing introductions.

Each read a short passage from their contribution to the book and discussed what made them feminists. The reasons were as varied as the essays – from Aman watching her mother fight in the Bangladesh war of independence, to Rowlatt becoming a mother herself.

Topics veered from raising boys to women wearing burqas on British streets – and the responses were equally diverse.

After a slow start the debate really took off – only to be cut short just 50 minutes in.
With a subject so vast, there was barely time to scratch the surface, which was a shame as it was shaping up to be a great event.