Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya

26 reviews

josie1999's review against another edition

emotional reflective

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

hania_027's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Im Afraid of Men and all that comes in a world that loves masculinity. 

This book left me thinking about my past experiences with men, whether it was related to something violent or "good". A quick read but also reflective and honestly, if youre upset by the title, read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia

"in order to reimagine masculinity, the quest for a good man - for an anomoly, an exception - must be abandonded. The good man is fiction."

madastoz99's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

This was a really fascinating read for me. I felt like I was nodding my head until the end when the writer challenges the female reader (me) and I had to do some major internal reflection. I wish everyone would read this book to expand their understanding of the different human experiences that exist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia

shelvesofivy's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

5.0

I can't recommend this book enough, regardless of who you are. I listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author and, in my opinion, highlighted her way with words. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Bullying, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia

Moderate: Racism, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

lucystolethesky's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Racism, and Bullying

Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Bullying

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Biphobia

readandfindout's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

4.25

Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Perspective: 4.5 stars

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism, Infidelity, Body shaming, Biphobia, and Hate crime

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

nmccarron's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

couldn’t recommend this enough! this book challenged how i see others and how i see myself. incredible writings on the idea of the good man and the direct pipeline between misogyny and entitlement to space.

I recommend listening to the audiobook read by the author and listen to the last 15 minutes at 0.75x speed because every word she speaks is stunning

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Transphobia

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Sexual harassment

The following possibly triggering words are said but not explicitly described:

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, Sexism, and Bullying

Moderate: Dysphoria, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, and Infidelity

Minor: Murder, Kidnapping, Death, and Violence

lady_bountiful's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Transphobia

clemrain's review against another edition

challenging dark informative fast-paced

3.0

At the beginning of I’m Afraid of Men, I wasn’t impressed. Because when picking up a feminist piece from a trans author, I was expecting a trans perspective. A lot of what was being said, wrote like cliches of a cis women’s experience. We eventually did dive into the Trans experience, which was emphasized as a unique experience of Shraya. What I was looking for in this book. When we reach the end of the book, I was challenged as a feminine reader to also reflect on myself. The potential to create fear that I hold, and what rolling my eyes on the cliche of the beginning of this book means.

I wanted to see how the world shifts when living like and being seen as a man changes to accepting and being a woman. The answer is, from what I take from Shraya, it doesn’t change much. If you’re a woman at heart, you entire existence is exposed to the little misogynies in the world. And even as a man, you still experience the fall out. Because though the hatred stems from the stereotype built around femininity, the hurt is intended for anyone that partakes in it.

Race also blending into misogyny is a valid point, though I think this point took the back burner in this story. We had a small call back to it at the end, of reclaiming the goddesses and feminine spaces. However, the point wasn’t strong and fell apart as preaching rather than a firm conclusion and concept.

I think the story could’ve tightened itself to specifics. So that the ideas that were presented would’ve had more structure. The writing needed an edit on redundancy and purple prose. I want to give the melodrama of it a pass, because after all it’s such a personal piece. But I when the melodrama takes over the point, we get caught up in the nothingness rather than be delivered the point. I found myself asking a lot, what’s the point? Though I found the answer, it often needed a lot of a work from me. And then the lesson in this books doesn’t work for those who need it. It just works for those that already agree with it.

The vulnerability of this is astounding. There’s a balance of what should be shameful and the presentation of its regularity. Being open about the shaping of sexuality is difficult to read and I’m sure harder to write. There was no asking for pity or empathy. Just a presentation of thoughts, actions and a question of origin. These qualities make the memoir easy to read and only helps what is being said. This is normal, and it’s born from so much more than just us. 

I like the poetics of You and Me. And the conclusion of “us”.

Do I think this book had anything new to say to me? Not every page did. Those that did, gave me new thought. In the details. That doesn’t make this a worthless read. But that’s me. Though if you’re well versed in feminist literature, it might not be a necessary read.

For those that are new to understanding this book’s message and have the patience for it—this is a good start.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Cursing, Grief, Transphobia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny