Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore

16 reviews

beth_s98's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.25

I did not get through the third chapter the first time I tried to read this one, mostly because I was not in the right headspace. However, on my second attempt, I devoured this book. The subject matter is very heavy at times, although it is also a story of resilience. 

Reading it almost feels like reading a novel, and it felt very well researched, with lots of evidence beyond just the main plot of the story. I thought the pacing and the way the story was divided really worked. Around the middle of the story it got hard to put down, I was so interested! 

There were a few things I felt were a little repetitive, but usually I could follow the justification. Overall I think this book was both very informative and very accessible, which means if you’re someone looking to get into reading more nonfiction, I think this could be a great place to start. 

I do want to stress that the topics of violence against women/mental patients, the total control of coverture, and the legal cases are throughout the whole book, and can get hard to read. I definitely had to take breaks as I was reading for my own mental health. Please take the content warnings seriously!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Eating disorder and Domestic abuse

megnut's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

4.25

An incredible story... but (as warning) with many warnings of the sexism & misogyny that controlled women's lives then and still affect us today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Misogyny, Bullying, Confinement, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Torture

Moderate: Suicide

jhbandcats's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

4.25

This book was great. However, I really wanted to like it even more - I wanted to give it five stars. Ultimately I didn’t because occasionally it would devolve into histrionics. The story was so powerful that literary flourishes were unnecessary and distracting. 

That said, Wow. What a book. How is it that Elizabeth Packard is not a household name? She was extraordinary. Committed to an insane asylum because her husband found her outspokenness troublesome, she worked for three years to be freed, then worked the rest of her life to achieve equality for women, safety for mental patients, and the right of a mother to have custody of her children. 

The author relies on diaries, letters, newspapers, and trial transcripts. Everything she writes has been thoroughly researched. Her work here is exceptional. 

Having found Radium Girls equally important, I hope that Kate Moore continues to write. Her works are essential to understanding the history of the ordinary American in the late 18th - early 19th centuries. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Excrement, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Bullying, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Classism, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexism, and Violence

sarahmarie094's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Mental illness

ohlala_kaylala's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

overall, i really enjoyed this book but it lost a star due to the length. i think it would have really benefitted off of being edited down quite a bit because it became very drawn out

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Racism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Torture, Ableism, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Alcoholism

b3thanamy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness

sofiasss's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

An inspirational feminist biography. 

I liked how the biography read as a novel. The writing was very gripping and took me on an emotional journey with Elizabeth. You really begin to understand the historical context and consider the different social perspectives. One of my favourite things about this book was how Kate Moore used historical sources for speech and seamlessly integrated her research.  

I think this book was a great commentary on the fundamental views on women based on the neurological differences between males and females and how this affects power. As a young women, it gave insight into the changes that have happened and the similarities that remain. It also provides insight into the importance of patients’ rights and how we as a society view people struggling with mental health, as well as the importance of evidence-based medicine. 

Kate Moore highlights how ‘a person’s powerlessness may lead to struggles with their mental health’. I find it fascinating how Elizabeth uses her faith to empower her, whilst others use it to suppress her. Her relationship with her faith was something that she used to push her past adversity. 

I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Blood, Suicide, Excrement, Sexism, War, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

laurenkimoto's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

Elizabeth is a BAMF 
And we hate men

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization

nerdglasses08's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Blood, Death, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt