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andrearbooks's review
4.0
Pretty Bitches: On Being Called Crazy, Angry, Bossy, Frumpy, Feisty, and All the Other Words That Are Used to Undermine Women edited by Lizzie Skurnick was a phenomenal essay collection on how language is weaponized against women. Each chapter was written by a different author reflecting on a word that's use towards them had an impact. Each author talked about when this first happened, how this continued to stick with them, and how they finally overcame. Y'all, this was some powerful stuff. As women, I think we have these words, and it's important to reflect on these, name their impact, and determine how to navigate the associated emotions. For me, the most powerful essay was the first in the collection about the word TOO. I didn't realize how that word was so knowingly used against people, and I started to even reflect on how I'd seen that happen in my own life. Y'all, there was such power in the opportunity to reflect in this way through these essays. Was it painful? Yes, but again there was also that positive impact about being able to chart a way forward. Each of these essays was so honest and personal, and I loved the way each reflected and processed through the impact of language. This is a phenomenal collection that examines words in a way that is so very important.
lilbroccoli's review
4.0
I loved this collection of essays about words used to diminish women. Each essay takes a word that has been used against its author, explores it, and then many of the essays go on to reclaim the word. This collection is important, and it will definitely make me examine my unconscious bias and use of some of these words going forward. Lots of food for thought.
aregan's review
4.0
Like any anthology there are some I loved and some that were not my favorite. The best part of short stories is if you don't love it you do not have to read (or in my case listen) for too long. My absolute favorite was "Nurturing". Overall I enjoyed the collection of stories and would recommend, it made me think about words we use to describe others and the deeper meaning and impacts they may have.
samanthadilley's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this one thinking it was something very different and I couldn’t be happier I was wrong! This was such a great selection of essays on the words used against those who consider themselves a woman. There isn’t a way that every situation or type of individual could be included but this did a great job spanning many races, body types, sexuality, etc. Highly recommend the audiobook!
hannah_bierbaum's review
3.0
While I appreciated certain chapters (especially those which spoke to me personally, the book as a whole felt disjointed. I appreciate the various viewpoints provided by authors of different ages, sexual orientations, races, experiences, but certain chapters seemed to wander. The chapters "Too" by Adaora Odoji and "Effortless" by Amy S. Choi would be good readings for high school entry to women and gender studies.
laleha's review
4.0
I will now share the following collection of gems that I transcribed from this enjoyable collection of essays on being anything that defies the status quo while female.
“I was and am driven by relentless curiosity. I wonder about everything all the time. I ask endless questions because the world fascinates me. And this has made me very, very good at my job” by Adaora Udoji (0:40:40).
“To make our arguments heard, in debate and in public discourse, our voices must first and foremost give comfort to men. The way we learn to combat being called a harpy is by having gummy smiles and shiny hair and a general aura of being ever eager to please as if we were golden retrievers, not equals” (1:51) from “Shrill” by Dahlia Lithwick.
“I want people to be better people, even if that means they have to do hard things. And I would like to be better as well” (5:00) from “Nurturing” by Raquel D’Apice.
“As if pink, and tulle, and lace, and other accoutrements of pretty were inherently disempowering. They are not. They don’t have to be. And that’s a lesson that does not apply only to literal girls. It applies to me. Sometimes I feel pretty. Sometimes I wonder what took me so long” (5:17) from “Pretty” by Stephanie Burt.
“I was and am driven by relentless curiosity. I wonder about everything all the time. I ask endless questions because the world fascinates me. And this has made me very, very good at my job” by Adaora Udoji (0:40:40).
“To make our arguments heard, in debate and in public discourse, our voices must first and foremost give comfort to men. The way we learn to combat being called a harpy is by having gummy smiles and shiny hair and a general aura of being ever eager to please as if we were golden retrievers, not equals” (1:51) from “Shrill” by Dahlia Lithwick.
“I want people to be better people, even if that means they have to do hard things. And I would like to be better as well” (5:00) from “Nurturing” by Raquel D’Apice.
“As if pink, and tulle, and lace, and other accoutrements of pretty were inherently disempowering. They are not. They don’t have to be. And that’s a lesson that does not apply only to literal girls. It applies to me. Sometimes I feel pretty. Sometimes I wonder what took me so long” (5:17) from “Pretty” by Stephanie Burt.
krissy_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I wish everyone would read this before ok. So insightful!