Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

Women Don't Owe You Pretty: The Small Edition by Florence Given

21 reviews

cassie12_21's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective

4.25

This book was good and definitely gave me a few thing to think about (even as someone who is fairly far into the destruction of their internalized misogynist). Language used was inclusive, and I appreciated the inclusion of diverse groups, and not cis-het white feminism. 

 “disability” is not a word, It is supposed to be “ablest” 

A view of western feminism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Emotional abuse, Rape, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Classism, Biphobia, and Eating disorder

das_nomi's review

challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.25

I really liked the book. And I think I understand the hype. There wasn’t a lot of new information for me personally. But it got me thinking about some of my friendships in a new way, even though the content is more about “partner”-relationships. I feel very empowered and would like to read the chapters that were missing in this tiny version. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Biphobia, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Outing, Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Sexism, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

It’s a lighthearted approach to the problems modern women* face in our patriarchal society. With helpful “tips” to overcome our own internalised misogyny and recognise our own faults as well as setting boundaries for ourselves.

james1star's review

informative medium-paced

4.0

On the whole I did ‘enjoy’ (not the most apt word but it’s what I’m going with) this book and would recommend it. What I liked most was how Given makes sure to address her privilege as an ‘average size’ cisgender white British woman within the discourse of feminism/feminist theory and acknowledges this fact and how marginalised groups (trans/non binary women, fat women, women of colour) are unfairly treated and held to a higher standard by both women and men. As many reviewers have said, a lot of what is actually said isn’t really all that groundbreaking but I would argue it’s been personalised to Given’s life at the appropriate points, it’s succinct, well written and accessible. I did only read the small edition so I’m guessing I missed out on parts too. Below are some notes I made on each chapter so if you’re interested in them check out the book for more information. I’d say it was a solid 4 star read. 

1. Challenging what we’ve learned and the society we’ve grown up in is hard and uncomfortable but needed for change to occur and the little discomfort is a lot less compared to the injustices, be patient but also call out when appropriate 
2. Being or making yourself more ‘pretty’ doesn’t make you any less of a feminist because society still values beauty in women highly, different standards for different women e.g. trans, fat, people of colour where additional prejudices are present, acknowledge privileges
3. Love yourself, no one really cares about what you’re doing/how you look, why settle when there’s something/one better 
4. Internalised misogyny prevents progress, ‘flaws’ are MAN-made, beauty standards are fake, healing own insecurities will lead to empathy and viewing other women differently/in a more positive light 
5. Queer feelings are valid, working though internalised homo/lesbo/bi-phobia, limited and stereotypical views of queerness prevented her from validating feelings, oversaturated heteronormativity in media (it’s ‘hetrifying’), queer women view others via a queer gaze not the typical heterosexual male gaze 
6. Women can and should enjoy sex too (if they want), reinforces notion they’re passive participants reserved for men’s desires, normalised discomfort forces queer women to repress their feelings 
7. Asking for consent > sexual assault, shows maturity and it’s the law, providing the option of not doing anything, need to learn this before sexual violence takes place, set and keep boundaries 
8. Can’t teach how to avoid sexual assault because it’s never your fault, rape culture, ‘preventative’ measures women take when that’s not the problem, it’s physically impossibly to “ask” for rape, openly discuss sexual violence from a young age to avoid it becoming normalised/accepted, rape’s the only crime where the victim is treated/questioned like the perpetrator, inconsistencies with reporting and sentencing
9. The price women pay for existing (so many adjustments, additional expenses, etc), spend money/energy keeping safe from men but paid less, standards are set by the hetero male gaze, ‘flaws’ generated by capitalist standards of beauty, still not that safe being visibly queer, women are meant to be sexy but when she uses this ‘power’ that’s a bad thing, how shame is used to put women down, sexual gaze thrusted on woman’s bodies (school uniform, nipples, etc) 
10. It’s okay and ‘normal’ to feel heartbroken, hard to quit people completely in our social media world, how to recover, craving romance doesn’t make you any less of a feminist 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

Minor: Biphobia, Rape, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Eating disorder

readingpumpkins's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

2.5

extremely repetitive and classic white feminism. probably good for someone who has never read about feminism before/is very new to feminist ideas.

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Content Warnings

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 context

wintah's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

great book about intersectional feminism, self-love and healing. sadly i knew lots of it already. sometimes i felt it got a little repetitive but that might just be bc i was already familiar with so much of the content before hand. beautiful art. 

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Content Warnings

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

holliesatchell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Alcohol, Hate crime, Rape, Sexism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Cursing

scarlettoliver's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

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

lucy12345's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape and Misogyny

Minor: Homophobia, Biphobia, Eating disorder, and Lesbophobia

nenya's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

I read this book to try to get out of a reading slump and it worked like a charm. It’s a very on-point, fast paced collection of wisdom and reflective impulses that encourage healing and growth. It’s an amazing representation/definition of what intersectional feminism is and what it isn’t. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Rape, Racism, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Biphobia

Moderate: Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Infertility, Misogyny, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, Bullying, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, and Suicide attempt

lucymoosie's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.75

Although I didn't agree with all of it and some would say it is not new information, I found this book super insightful and filled with some really great information and reality checks. I think this is a great intro/beginners insight into feminist thought and a very intriguing read for anyone who needs a reminder of their self-worth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Body shaming, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Biphobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship