Scan barcode
siria's review against another edition
4.0
A short but compelling look at contemporary feminist activism in China, focusing on the so-called "Feminist Five": a group of young women arrested and mistreated for protesting against sexual harassment on public transport. Their treatment is emblematic of the Chinese government's increasing repression of feminists—and indeed women more generally—in recent years. Leta Hong Fincher makes a strong case that this repression is tied to the government's attempt to shore up its own power base. The subordination of women to men—socially, legally, and economically—gives men an investment in supporting the status quo, while feminists make a convenient scapegoat on which to take out societal frustrations. As misogynistic, authoritarian regimes multiply across the globe—those of Putin, Orban, Trump, Xi, etc—this is a timely and relevant read.
nat_montego's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
emilysh's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a comprehensive and grinning history of the budding feminist movement in China. It follow the feminist 5, a group of 5 women imprisoned, detained, threatened, and punished in many awful ways for simple feminist protests (such as handing out anti-domestic violence stickers in the subway).
These brave women then because the figurehead for feminism in China and are trying to spread confidence and independence to Chinese women despite constant government crack down and persecution.
This is such a good read, I recommend it to anyone interested in international feminism, China, and Chinese politics.
These brave women then because the figurehead for feminism in China and are trying to spread confidence and independence to Chinese women despite constant government crack down and persecution.
This is such a good read, I recommend it to anyone interested in international feminism, China, and Chinese politics.
theedness's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.75
Leta Hong Fincher brilliantly illuminates the state of women's rights in China, by tightly focusing on the stories of the feminist five's detention she close reports their experiences in modern day China as feminist activists, while also effortlessly and accessibly giving the reader wider context and history. Its a brilliant example of how non fiction reportage can be a lens for so much more, I loved it
kaylasbookishlife's review against another edition
4.0
Warning: Discussion of SA.
I really enjoyed learning about the feminist movement in China. I think the author did a great laying out why these feminists were arrested and how the judicial system in China is set up. I am still confused as to why speaking out against sexual assault would be considered illegal but the actual assault not illegal.
I rated this 4 instead of 5 for two main reasons.
1. At times the flow of the writing was confusing. I felt like sometimes sentences were worded in an odd way and the author would jump around a bit too much in one section making it a little confusing to keep all the names straight.
2. I felt like the author could have talked more about the impact on the Uyghur women. She did touch on it briefly and discussed child limitation policies and a crackdown on religious and cultural freedom as well as fighting between the Uyghur and the Han population. However I felt like she missed the opportunity to discuss forced sterilizations and 're-education' programs that are designed to convince these women to have less children.
I make a point of number 2 because the author did bring up Uyghur women and their rights/violations in the book, thus extending the topic beyond the main group of women so I think if she is going to bring it up then she should have included a wider discussion of the topic.
I really enjoyed learning about the feminist movement in China. I think the author did a great laying out why these feminists were arrested and how the judicial system in China is set up. I am still confused as to why speaking out against sexual assault would be considered illegal but the actual assault not illegal.
I rated this 4 instead of 5 for two main reasons.
1. At times the flow of the writing was confusing. I felt like sometimes sentences were worded in an odd way and the author would jump around a bit too much in one section making it a little confusing to keep all the names straight.
2. I felt like the author could have talked more about the impact on the Uyghur women. She did touch on it briefly and discussed child limitation policies and a crackdown on religious and cultural freedom as well as fighting between the Uyghur and the Han population. However I felt like she missed the opportunity to discuss forced sterilizations and 're-education' programs that are designed to convince these women to have less children.
I make a point of number 2 because the author did bring up Uyghur women and their rights/violations in the book, thus extending the topic beyond the main group of women so I think if she is going to bring it up then she should have included a wider discussion of the topic.
thealyssa_ann's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.25
I learned just how little I actually know about China from this book. I appreciated that it was the right amount of “this is a really scary reality for women” and “there is hope.” And Hong Fincher did a really good job of connecting what is currently happening in China to its own history and what is happening in other countries without overwhelming the reader with a lot of information.