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bunnyprincess's review against another edition
1.5
It is simply worded and explains very basic concepts, sometimes in a manner which feels quite condescending, which would suggest it is for a younger audience newer to the idea presented, but this would not make sense as the book is quite explicit and definitely not appropriate for younger teens. Given clearly addresses the messages in it to women whilst simultaneously saying that men are the issue- again, I think this makes the audience of the book unclear.
Additionally, the purpose is unclear. Whilst the title suggests a focus on feminism, it is also about dating and queerness that sometimes is tied in but usually isn't. This gives the book a very unclear point. It does not clearly fit into a genre and includes both memoir and self-help. I found the memoir parts more useful and entertaining because it gives reason for her to actually have written the book based on her experiences. The self-help parts were far less successful. It is repetitive and vague: whilst I do not disagree with any of her points, they are very basic and surface-level.
My main issue with this book is its regard for intersection feminism and other identities other than Given's own. Whilst I appreciate her recognition of those identities and their further struggles, it felt performative and poorly done. It often felt like they weren't real due to the disconnect in her writing about POC, trans and disabled women, and the lack of voice she gives to them. Although it was mentioned, it was through her own white cis narration- if she had included their actual voices, it would've been a far better book. This, in addition to the issues around her copying a black author's book, makes this book a bad feminist guide.
Whilst this book has some merit in the pretty illustrations and the transparency on some issues such as sexual assault, it fails in most other areas. It is bad both as an beginners introduction due to its lack of clarity and as a further read due to its lack of representation and surface-level observations. It also very rarely references studies and facts- it seems more guided by the author's opinion which would be fine if it was written and marketed purely as a memoir, but it is not. There are far better feminist books.
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Racial slurs, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
readsbyhope's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
readingpumpkins's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Rape
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Biphobia, Sexual violence, and Fatphobia
it speaks about these topics in a feminist contextfranzi_cs's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Sexism, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Rape, and Outing
liv_txt's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
wintah's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Classism, Racism, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, Ableism, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, and Eating disorder
Minor: Rape
scarlettoliver's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Racism, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Ableism, Fatphobia, and Rape
Minor: Biphobia, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Sexual content, and Cursing
bexy's review against another edition
2.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism
ffionjohnson's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
littlecogs's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual content