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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
reflective
Repetitive as hell, woo woo shit, "feminist" but has multiple themes of reinforcing patriarchal systems. Also a few statements throughout that are not inclusive of women who do not identify as cis-het and also POC
I should begin with disclosing I’m not a fan of self-help books and this reaffirmed why. Part memoir, part ‘worship your pussy and life’s problems will all be solved’ simplicity - I only finished this book because I’m a responsible book club member. I did enjoy and agree with some things including the fact that we should feel comfortable in our bodies, reject social and cultural norms that prevent us from loving who we are and our sexuality (whatever that might be). I agree that as women we can control and embody more turn-on and radiance in a way that makes us feel better and attracts positive energy and health relations. But I was annoyed by the oversimplification and false correlation she makes between our pussy and power and happiness in this society. For women in general and women of color in particular - systemic misogyny, sexism and racism all contribute to whether we have opportunities and are able to succeed in a white male dominated world. And talking to my pussy or creating a worship altar to it isn’t going to solve all my problems or make me leader of the free world. Perhaps if she wasn’t fanatical on this one aspect of our lives I could’ve been more receptive. Yes we need to own our happiness, find pleasure and be comfortable in who we are. Yes, women need to prioritize our own joy and set aside “me time”. And most of all yes to the Voltaire quote “It is not enough to conquer; one must know how to seduce.”
I want to begin that I do recommend every woman read this book as it will help you connect/reconnect with your feminine. I thoroughly enjoyed the exercises and believe Mama Gena's intent of empowering women and sisterhood is magnificent.
However, I think many of her claims were extreme. Statistics/studies used only to help her arguments but not used in whole and overall too much hate against our society.
I believe in feminism but I don't believe that pussy is all. I believe greater spiritual existence has much to do with it.
Once again, still encourage others to read it just be prepared for a little too much at times.
Ps. I'm not an author. No right to judge. Mama Gena has a great heart.
However, I think many of her claims were extreme. Statistics/studies used only to help her arguments but not used in whole and overall too much hate against our society.
I believe in feminism but I don't believe that pussy is all. I believe greater spiritual existence has much to do with it.
Once again, still encourage others to read it just be prepared for a little too much at times.
Ps. I'm not an author. No right to judge. Mama Gena has a great heart.
The content of the book has gems buried into it. The delivery of the message was hard for me to relate to at times as it did come off as redundant. But definitely requires an open mind to understand and adapt all the practices and suggestions she offers in the book.
I was given this book by a woman I deeply admire, who has completed many courses with Mama Gena and been changed by them. She is fabulous, and I thought if this is part of what has her be fabulous, I am going to engage with it.
And I was into the premise--a reclaiming of what has been deemed shameful by patriarchal culture. I'm all about that.
And I was reassured by the disclaimer at the beginning about the text and the curriculum it describes (the programs of The School of Womanly Arts) being inclusive of LGBTQ folks.
But the premise of this book is grounded in old-school feminist biological essentialism, and it is entirely heteronormative and often openly transphobic. She talks almost exclusively about heterosexual interactions, and her occasional references to same-sex relationships are parenthetical. Literally. 'When you're doing this or that with him (or her)...' Except when she encourages same-sex exploration as a means to expand one's capacity for pleasure. Doing some of the homework requires a clitoris, and not all women have those. Or pussies, for that matter. I thought perhaps there was a way to work metaphorically with pussy as a way to think about the sacred feminine or feminine power, or that's what the disclaimer at the beginning seemed to suggest, but Mama Gena gives no examples or explanations to further such a reading.
I'm totally okay with a book about discovering one's sensual power being geared to folks with particular genital configurations. And I can hold space (most of the time) for folks who think that there are only two sexes, which Mama Gena says several times, because maybe they just don't know about science. But don't say that it's inclusive when it's not. Don't say it's safe and welcoming when it's really another example in the sex-positive literature of the violent erasure of queer and trans* folks.
Now off to write a letter to Mama Gena's editor about removing that disclaimer...
And I was into the premise--a reclaiming of what has been deemed shameful by patriarchal culture. I'm all about that.
And I was reassured by the disclaimer at the beginning about the text and the curriculum it describes (the programs of The School of Womanly Arts) being inclusive of LGBTQ folks.
But the premise of this book is grounded in old-school feminist biological essentialism, and it is entirely heteronormative and often openly transphobic. She talks almost exclusively about heterosexual interactions, and her occasional references to same-sex relationships are parenthetical. Literally. 'When you're doing this or that with him (or her)...' Except when she encourages same-sex exploration as a means to expand one's capacity for pleasure. Doing some of the homework requires a clitoris, and not all women have those. Or pussies, for that matter. I thought perhaps there was a way to work metaphorically with pussy as a way to think about the sacred feminine or feminine power, or that's what the disclaimer at the beginning seemed to suggest, but Mama Gena gives no examples or explanations to further such a reading.
I'm totally okay with a book about discovering one's sensual power being geared to folks with particular genital configurations. And I can hold space (most of the time) for folks who think that there are only two sexes, which Mama Gena says several times, because maybe they just don't know about science. But don't say that it's inclusive when it's not. Don't say it's safe and welcoming when it's really another example in the sex-positive literature of the violent erasure of queer and trans* folks.
Now off to write a letter to Mama Gena's editor about removing that disclaimer...
This book was validating in many ways. It took me a few chapters to get past some of the silliness, but I did find depth. If you just go with the flow of her terminology, I think you’ll find nuggets of wisdom. I don’t know what her zodiac sign is, but if I had to guess, it’d be Leo.
I really went back and forth on how I felt about this book. On one hand, it is definitely necessary for women to take back ownership of their divinity and stand in their radiance. Helping each other see the light, finding joy in life and following what excites us, setting boundaries and not being a doormat, removing expectations of the patriarchy and stepping into femininity as a power not a weakness, cultivating sensuality within ourselves instead of expecting someone else to do it, allowing ourselves to be guided by our own intuition - I am for all of these things.
Things I did not agree with - that men are happiest when they are pleasing their women (which seems to infantilize men, and I'm not really down for doing that to any gender), that trauma can just be overcome by listening to your pussy, the focus on sex being the main way a woman should receive and tap into pleasure, ignoring addiction and compulsion issues, the heteronormative focus with occasional "or woman!" peppered in almost as an afterthought, a short disclaimer at the beginning kind of addressing trans/nonbinary folks but not really speaking to it at all after that, that therapy is useless if you're not trapped into your pussy energy, and expecting all women to respond like magic to getting to know their pussies.
While I can see tapping into the energy of that creative "pussy" space as a potential positive force in women's lives, I felt really angry in some spots when it felt like she was assuming that everyone would have the same experience she did (having "ruptures" that tear us open which are lessons instead of allowing ourselves to just process grief without an agenda, having to birth a child to understand wanting to help other women, magically healing depression by listening to your pussy, etc). I did not identify with the very "black and white" aspects of a lot of her examples - women are much more nuanced than that.
I was really hoping for more, and while I do believe this book can help women connect with themselves more deeply, I personally was not really enthused with how I felt as I went on this journey with her.
Things I did not agree with - that men are happiest when they are pleasing their women (which seems to infantilize men, and I'm not really down for doing that to any gender), that trauma can just be overcome by listening to your pussy, the focus on sex being the main way a woman should receive and tap into pleasure, ignoring addiction and compulsion issues, the heteronormative focus with occasional "or woman!" peppered in almost as an afterthought, a short disclaimer at the beginning kind of addressing trans/nonbinary folks but not really speaking to it at all after that, that therapy is useless if you're not trapped into your pussy energy, and expecting all women to respond like magic to getting to know their pussies.
While I can see tapping into the energy of that creative "pussy" space as a potential positive force in women's lives, I felt really angry in some spots when it felt like she was assuming that everyone would have the same experience she did (having "ruptures" that tear us open which are lessons instead of allowing ourselves to just process grief without an agenda, having to birth a child to understand wanting to help other women, magically healing depression by listening to your pussy, etc). I did not identify with the very "black and white" aspects of a lot of her examples - women are much more nuanced than that.
I was really hoping for more, and while I do believe this book can help women connect with themselves more deeply, I personally was not really enthused with how I felt as I went on this journey with her.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
slow-paced