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Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'
Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O'Meara
3 reviews
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
“Skinny margaritas. Appletinis. Cosmos. Drinks flavored like cake or whipped cream. Drinks featuring cake or whipped cream. Bright red maraschino cherries and pastel umbrellas. You know, girly drinks. Drinks for girls.”
What a fun and informative read! I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, because it has the potential to be more dry and boring but this captured my attention right away. The author’s voice is incredible; it feels like a good friend telling you a story about something they’re passionate about. The information is presented casually, so it’s very easy to comprehend. I laughed out loud more than once! In a time where alcohol is often vilified, I found this take super empowering and refreshing. It’s very diverse and brings in women from all over the world, during different time periods. Despite still fighting to be a part of the alcohol space, women have been brewing alcohol from the very beginning. It helped women have a source of income and independence. I learned so much while reading this and it will definitely stick with me. I highly recommend.
“It was believed that drinking weakened a woman's ability to resist the devil, when really, it was that drinking strengthened a woman's desire to resist the patriarchy.”
What a fun and informative read! I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, because it has the potential to be more dry and boring but this captured my attention right away. The author’s voice is incredible; it feels like a good friend telling you a story about something they’re passionate about. The information is presented casually, so it’s very easy to comprehend. I laughed out loud more than once! In a time where alcohol is often vilified, I found this take super empowering and refreshing. It’s very diverse and brings in women from all over the world, during different time periods. Despite still fighting to be a part of the alcohol space, women have been brewing alcohol from the very beginning. It helped women have a source of income and independence. I learned so much while reading this and it will definitely stick with me. I highly recommend.
“It was believed that drinking weakened a woman's ability to resist the devil, when really, it was that drinking strengthened a woman's desire to resist the patriarchy.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Sexual harassment
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was a really fun, feminist, and informative read about the history of alcohol and women's involvement in the creation and consumption of alcohol. O'Meara's tone is sarcastic and witty, yet celebratory as she introduces us to legions of women who have rebelled and fought for the right to drink (in public).
I think this narrative is a bit more all over the place than O'Meara's previous book, which focused more intensely on the story of one woman. Because of this wider focus, O'Meara is able to introduce stories from around the globe, which I loved. But it also makes each chapter a bit of a mishmash. While a chapter may be themed around the story of a certain woman, her story is interrupted by various short tangents that make it hard to follow the original story when it does make a reappearance. I've noticed this in a few different nonfiction books I've read recently. It seems like a common narrative construction, but I feel like most attempts end up feeling distracted and disjointed, rather than strengthened by these tangents.
Regardless, I found this to be a really delightful read. As a woman who drinks (hello gin ❣️), it was so fun to learn about this history behind the practice. Even if you're not a drinker, this history holds a lot of fun stories, so it could still be an intriguing read.
I think this narrative is a bit more all over the place than O'Meara's previous book, which focused more intensely on the story of one woman. Because of this wider focus, O'Meara is able to introduce stories from around the globe, which I loved. But it also makes each chapter a bit of a mishmash. While a chapter may be themed around the story of a certain woman, her story is interrupted by various short tangents that make it hard to follow the original story when it does make a reappearance. I've noticed this in a few different nonfiction books I've read recently. It seems like a common narrative construction, but I feel like most attempts end up feeling distracted and disjointed, rather than strengthened by these tangents.
Regardless, I found this to be a really delightful read. As a woman who drinks (hello gin ❣️), it was so fun to learn about this history behind the practice. Even if you're not a drinker, this history holds a lot of fun stories, so it could still be an intriguing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I love whiskey, and it was the first kind of alcohol I ever really liked. Immediately, I was told I drink like an old man. This book gave me so much validation on liking this "masculine" drink - turns out an Old Fashioned was most women's drink of choice post-prohibition! Mallory does an excellent job of unearthing and celebrating all the ways that women truly make up the worldly and winding history of alcohol. Go make a cocktail and read this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Sexual harassment