Very short book that can be read in one sitting. Vivek first examines masculinity as it is, from her POV as being socialised first as a boy to claiming her womanhood. Then she examines feminity in our society as well. Illuminating and the kind of book that you can read many times throughout your life and will impact you differently each time.

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isleofwoman's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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sakisreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

This was such an excellent essay. Vivek Shraya goes from ‘you’ to ‘me’ in her perspectives (so for the first part, you read into her perspectives of different men she’s afraid of, then for the second part you read into how she’s been trying to minimise herself for the comfort of other men etc.) 😳

I read this incredibly quickly, because there was no way to stop 👏🏼 It was phenomenal! I highlighted a few quotes that definitely need going back to again and again.

The ending

I’m also afraid of women

got me 👀
Content warnings below!

4.5 out of 5 stars for me ✨ Thank you!

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leah_dawn's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

A really interesting perspective on the treatment of women in our modern day society from someone who has lived in the world was a man and later a trans woman. Her identity gives more insight into the issues of misogyny and how it often manifests into violence from the point of view of a young boy being raised in this world and also as an individual who has experience such treatment, in many ways similar to the experiences of cisgendered women but in many ways different as well due to being trans and a person of color. A worthwhile read.

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c100's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

I’m Afraid of Men was simultaneously easy to read, and incredibly difficult to read. The words and the sentences were easy and conversational but the message they contained? The impact of toxic masculinity, entrenched gender roles, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and more? That was difficult to read, to consider just how much pain, stress, anxiety and fear one person has borne as a result of faulty social constructs and the thoughtlessness and deliberate hurtfulness of others. A slim, accessible and important read.

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booksjessreads's review

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challenging reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I genuinely do not know how to describe this book. I listened to the audio and it was just fantastic. The words, the language, the structure. It was just absolutely incredible. This is essential reading.

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