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crybabybea's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Flowers of Fire is the first chronicle of South Korean feminism to be published in English, so I have to give Hawon Jung her flowers (pun unintended). From what I can tell, she has a background in journalism which really shone here. She did a great job compiling her research, mixing it with her personal experiences, and interviews she did with prominent figures in the modern feminist movement.
Although there was a lot of history involved, the writing was accessible and Hawon Jung's writing and mix of journalism kept it intriguing. I'm totally amazed that she did the research, writing, and translated it herself so it was accessible to more people. Super important work I'm grateful for.
I appreciated the parallels drawn between the South Korean and Western feminist movements, especially how the #MeToo movement sparked in South Korea and started a wave of modern feminists. Also, Hawon Jung makes sure to point out issues within the movement, such as their trend toward TERF ideals in recent years. There's a section that focuses on spycams and deepfake revenge porn, which is an issue borne out of South Korea's extremely advanced technology, and is slowly becoming a bigger and bigger issue in Western countries.
Beyond being a historical overview of the feminist movement in South Korea, Hawon Jung tells a story of the power women have when they come together, how telling stories of abuse and misogyny heal not only the person telling the story, but everyone that listens. She pays special care to the times where women were united in their collective grief, and how they used their voices and love for each other to overcome. She also celebrates the bravery of all the women who have spoken out, even when they have suffered for it (as most of them have), and their courage to keep fighting despite it all. It was powerful to read first-hand interviews from some of the "mothers" of the South Korean feminist movement.
Overall a great, informative read that was easy to get through and shone light on a rather new movement that hasn't been covered before. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in feminism.
Although there was a lot of history involved, the writing was accessible and Hawon Jung's writing and mix of journalism kept it intriguing. I'm totally amazed that she did the research, writing, and translated it herself so it was accessible to more people. Super important work I'm grateful for.
I appreciated the parallels drawn between the South Korean and Western feminist movements, especially how the #MeToo movement sparked in South Korea and started a wave of modern feminists. Also, Hawon Jung makes sure to point out issues within the movement, such as their trend toward TERF ideals in recent years. There's a section that focuses on spycams and deepfake revenge porn, which is an issue borne out of South Korea's extremely advanced technology, and is slowly becoming a bigger and bigger issue in Western countries.
Beyond being a historical overview of the feminist movement in South Korea, Hawon Jung tells a story of the power women have when they come together, how telling stories of abuse and misogyny heal not only the person telling the story, but everyone that listens. She pays special care to the times where women were united in their collective grief, and how they used their voices and love for each other to overcome. She also celebrates the bravery of all the women who have spoken out, even when they have suffered for it (as most of them have), and their courage to keep fighting despite it all. It was powerful to read first-hand interviews from some of the "mothers" of the South Korean feminist movement.
Overall a great, informative read that was easy to get through and shone light on a rather new movement that hasn't been covered before. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in feminism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Abortion, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Self harm
Minor: Ableism, Racism, Torture, and Xenophobia
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