Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - I'm Afraid of Men

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya

31 reviews

frantically's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

“I have always been disturbed by this transition, by the reality that often the only way to capture someone’s attention and to encourage them to recognize their own internal biases (and to work to alter them) is to confront them with sensational stories of suffering. Why is my humanity only seen or cared about when I share the ways in which I have been victimized and violated?”

This book not only spoke to me (as someone's who's — surprise, surprise — also afraid of men) it taught me so much about the intricate ways a trans-woman's fear of men, fear of masculinity/femininity is different from mine.

What I especially loved being themed is how it is often gay men that make queer spaces unsafe and uncomfortable for female-presenting people. Their gayness does not excuse the casual misogyny they often display.

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svmreads's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

4.25

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krystalframe's review against another edition

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3.5

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jenny_librarian's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

As expected, most of this book could be summarized by “men are trash”.

But it’s more than that. Because sometimes women are trash too, and cis women and trans men. We can all be trash because the patriarchy and our Westernized strict divisions of genders made us so.

Ultimately, this isn’t just a book to rehash how awful men can be (although it does that quite well). It’s the lived experience of a trans woman and a reflection on what could change if we loosened the rigidity and definition of gender roles.

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mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

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bi_n_large's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

vivek shraya, thru her own unique personal experience as a trans WOC, examines the constraints of the binary and the toxicity of masculinity on ppl of all genders in the short and compulsively readable i'm afraid of men.

the stacked reasons for the title, peppered throughout but esp in the opening pgs, are a reality slap and a harsh reminder; compounded by intersectional identities, the outlook seems ever bleak. i also very much relate to the author's view on love, self-love, and the body. im particularly impressed by her self-awareness on her own complicity thru both past and present actions as well, as it encourages us all to look back w/in ourselves and reflect on our own role, meaning there's at least a way forward.

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