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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I wanted to love this book, but perhaps that’s what made me dislike it. I appreciate the author’s vulnerability, it’s horrible all she has experienced, and to know her experience is not unique. Although I valued the content, the writing was so hard to get through. It had circular arguments, and felt like a rant you have in your head in the shower. It did not feel methodical. The parts that were educational where so randomly placed that it was hard to follow. I appreciate anyone who is willing to speak out and advocate for women, but reading this book will not make you a stronger feminist, it makes you more aware of why people don’t support feminism. It left me feeling sad instead of empowered.
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
A refreshing/transforming, feminist read
- Anger
- Attention
- Profanity
- Ambition
- Power
- Violence
- Lust
🏆What I liked:
- I have too many highlights for this book. Mona Eltahawy's writing is charged with tension and passion. The electricity within the writing is paired with clear writing and powerful arguments.
- I want to say that this is a great beginner book for introducing feminism as a ideology/belief system/value. As a feminist, this entire book was an echo chamber for much of my thoughts centering around women's rights. The concept of girls/women needing to 'sin' was brilliant and I love how she wrote the entire book centering around various resistance tactics to dismantle patriarchy. Mona's history as a journalist has given her the opportunity to witness and be at the forefront of women's issues, globally. She imbues her text with the many histories and nuances of women's rights/issues movements that move beyond western contexts, providing the reader with a greater understanding of feminism. So yes, this should be every girl's first foray into feminism.
- The reason why every feminist should read this book is because although it might serve as an echo chamber, the fucking passion, anger, intensity of Mona's writing gives a renewed vitality to feminism that transcends race and class. Mona writes:
Words like “feminism” and “resistance” are being drained of their meaning when we offer them up as band-aids that offer temporary relief to women and girls against the vagaries of patriarchy. I have had enough of giving women and girls ways simply to survive rather than tools to fight back. The danger and fear that should emanate from feminism and resistance must not be stamped out. Feminism should terrify the patriarchy. It should put patriarchy on notice that we demand nothing short of its destruction. We need fewer road maps toward a peace treaty with patriarchy and more manifestos on how to destroy it. The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls is my manifesto.
- Don't be a foot solider of the patriarchy.
- This is a feminist manifesto.
- Be angry, take attention, use profanity, nurture your own ambition, desire power, use violence, own your body.
🚩What I didn't like:
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
“We will not let ourselves be burned, because this time, the fire is ours.”
I absolutely loved this book. It rekindled all the rage I’ve been trying to ignore over the litany of injustices and oppressions in the world. And it reminded me that my rage is good, it is needed, and it is healthy. I SHOULD be angry. It means I am paying attention.
"I refuse to be civil with someone who refuses to acknowledge my humanity fully." - I couldn't have said it better myself. I started 2023 off right with this feminist manifesto that I devoured in one night. I almost abandoned it, but decided to push through and I'm glad I did. To summarize this book - We are here, we take up space, we are angry, and we are profane. We will not shrink ourselves to make patriarchy more comfortable. This book reads like a good friend telling you about her life story, and it will make you very uncomfortable and very angry, in the best way possible.