Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Girlhood by Melissa Febos

27 reviews

bashsbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

4.5

A great collection of essays on Being (Perceived As) A Woman Under Patriarchy and all the fucky wucky stuff that comes along with that. A little more binary than what I usually prefer, but Febos' level of nuance makes up for the generalizations. The tagline on my copy of the book suggests that it's a good read for women of all kinds - mothers, daughters, sisters - but I think men would benefit a lot by reading it as well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexism, Cursing, Misogyny, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Drug use, and Body shaming

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, and Death of parent

studiouspoppy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

I really liked it, it wasn’t at all what I expected (probably bc I didn’t read what it was about before starting it), but a nice surprise. I don’t think it was that memorable, and the reason why I didn’t rate it higher, but it was really good and I’d definitely recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse

kristen_spencer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Stalking, and Addiction

kaimo007's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

The prose of girlhood really drives these essays. I spent a long time reflecting over the way she worded her feelings and experiences and loved the simple and complex descriptions alike. I feel like Melissa could take my most difficult thoughts and put them into words in a way no one else could. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Drug abuse

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

kayleighb's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use, Stalking, and Drug abuse

bowlofnicole's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug abuse

jnlundy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Body shaming

eed8's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Stalking, Drug use, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexism

savvylit's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

"These, once again, were events - not assaults, not victimizations, but not what I would call healthy sexual experimentation. That is, experiences that separated rather than integrated. I want to say that they were not 'normal' experiences, but, unfortunately, I think that one of the reasons we have no language to distinguish them is that such experiences are quite normal."

In Girlhood, Febos articulates the physical and emotional tolls of developing womanhood. The discomfort of getting used to the male gaze, the double standards of heterosexuality, the pressure to be polite and accommodating, the inherent fear of male violence, the purity myth, unenthusiastic consent, and so much more.

While many of the subjects discussed in Girlhood aren't necessarily groundbreaking by themselves, it's the way that Febos approaches them that is so unique and insightful. Febos blends personal anecdotes with experiences from other women and with analyses of cultural touchstones. For instance, in her essay about what it means to be defined as a 'slut', Febos analyzes the implications of the film Easy A.

Febos gives an eloquent voice to the hurt caused by pervasive & nebulous forms of sexual harassment, manipulation, and empty consent. Reading these essays felt like discovering a gift that I have always wanted - always needed - to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Bullying, Body shaming, Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts