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pammiie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Bullying
clovetra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
- truthful, raw story adapted for “entertaining” purposes but could realistically be a real person’s life
- repeats the same themes & message surround misogyny without any new takes, going on and on with the same content
- incredibly disheartening to read as it feels like torture porn & gives you zero hope
- becomes stagnant around the middle of the story
- has an anticlimactic ending that slightly infuriates you (this “infuriating” comment more so applies to this book, whereas a woman is no man was solely anticlimactic)
also with a woman is no man, i feel scummy writing this review & giving negative feedback surrounding lives women very likely are actually living in the real world whilst i sit here prim and proper, not having to worry about if i will be discriminated against if i have kids (i won’t) or told to “suck it up” with workplace harassment.
i think i also went in with the wrong expectations - i expected the story to more heavily explain *why* jiyoung now channels women of her past. all i got was roughly ~30 pages of this which was probably the most disappointing aspect of the book for me. but i don’t really think i can hold this against the writer tbh - yet again my expectations for a book are out of wack 💀
like a woman is no man, i do think everyone should read this. i just don’t particularly “love” books about misogyny because u know…. i read to escape the real world…. i get enough sexism from existing thank u very much!
Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Minor: Classism
jetix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Miscarriage
homebodynate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Misogyny
Moderate: Abortion
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
‘The world wants our uterus to be drug-free. Like sacred grounds in a virgin forest.'
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual assault
inlaraland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This novel focuses heavily on the patriarchal structure of Korean society, and how misogyny is intertwined into the every day life of Kim Jiyoung. The writing style reads like a work of nonfiction, with the author even noting statistics to emphasize certain points being made within the work. At some point I felt like the tone of the book felt a little analytical and cold for a fictional story, but once I got to the end I realized that there was a reason for it.
Everyone should read this book, as it does an excellent job at highlighting just how problematic and harmful patriarchy and misogyny can be. Even though this book was quite specific in terms of experiences, I'm pretty sure most women can relate to what Kim Jiyoung goes through. I wasn't quite sure how I felt when I started reading this book, but by the end I understood its profound impact and actually fell in love with it.
I think this book does an excellent job at emphasizing a "problem", and how this problem can also transcend generations especially when people choose not to take it seriously.
I can see this novel earning a place as a literary classic in the future and if anything, I would consider this an important work of fiction, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in reading about it
Graphic: Misogyny
madam_cyn's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
melina_30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amazing book that everyone should read.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gaslighting and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol and Pregnancy
isayruusaybi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Mental illness and Sexual harassment
koreanlinda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I grew up in South Korea until my high school year. While reading this book, I finally realized that every minute of my childhood was filled with experiences of sexism and misogyny. Through counseling therapy, I have already realized that the physical punishment (along with verbal and psychological abuse) by my mother and teachers was indeed violence and child abuse. (It was so normalized that I thought it was acceptable for most of my life.) However, I did not realize until now that the oppression and abuse I experienced were much bigger than my small circle of personal relationships.
I am now living in the USA, where they have a considerable portion of sexism and misogyny. However, I deem that there is a better awareness around it here, compared to South Korea. The frustration I experienced in Korea (during my residence in childhood and my visits in adulthood) and what I read in the book largely originates from the normalization of sexism and misogyny. There are small pockets of feminist groups speaking up for women's rights, but they are brutally demonized by mainstream society. Fighting for women's rights quickly feels like screaming into a void, unheard and disregarded. Even people who seem to care fail to understand women's struggles. For example, Jung, TaeHyun, a loving and supportive husband of Kim, JiYoung still considers his domestic role as "helping" her housework." JiYoung's therapist empathizes with her struggles as well as his wife's, who had also lost her career due to childbirth and parenting. However, at the end of his self-reflection, he concludes that it'd be wiser to hire unmarried female employees at his doctor's office so he doesn't lose their workforce due to their family obligations.
My heart goes out to all Kim, JiYoungs of South Korea and to my younger self, who lived in deep confusion and hurt for a long time.
Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in April 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Violence