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Unscrewed: Women, Sex, Power, and How to Stop Letting the System Screw Us All by Jaclyn Friedman
naddie_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Likes: The bits related to fauxpowerment or what little of it there is, and the revelations about how the government control society to discriminate against women (how 'murica is supposed to be secular but it looks like the right wing's Christian agenda has taken over women + reproductive system's laws).
Meh: A very Western+white feminist slant to women empowerment.
Meh: A very Western+white feminist slant to women empowerment.
annie__bananie's review against another edition
3.0
"Unscrewed" didn't say a lot that I wasn't already aware of, but it's always good to refresh your memory on intersectional inequality. Friedman solidly reminds us that it's OK to "keep score" of what wrongs we've faced, but more importantly, to stay loud about it.
reneepage's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
kait_sixcrowsbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
So here’s the thing: I originally read this book back in undergrad for a class called Reading and Resisting Sexual Violence. It was a fascinating class, and I learned a lot, both from my two instructors and my peers. I genuinely enjoyed it. I read most of the chapters of Unscrewed for the class so a good majority of the book was something that I already read. However, it was really interesting to read back through my annotations from five years ago, some quips that I don’t really understand the context anymore. But I also truly enjoyed the chapters that I read for the first time. It was all super informative, and it made me feel like I was back in my GWS program again, of which I felt a bit nostalgic about.
However, do I think Friedman set out for what the blurb/summary described on the inside flap? I’m not sure. There was a lot of talk about fauxpowerment as a concept on the flap, but I think only one or two chapters dedicated themselves to it. There were quite a few organizations and women forefronting those organizations that were described, which I thought were really cool. But there only seemed to be a few pages dedicated to what “regular” people can do when they can’t shift their lives towards one of full-time activism. Overall, while it was still an interesting book and I enjoyed myself walking through memory lane, I thought Unscrewed’s argument was simply okay — not too bad, but certainly not the best.
However, do I think Friedman set out for what the blurb/summary described on the inside flap? I’m not sure. There was a lot of talk about fauxpowerment as a concept on the flap, but I think only one or two chapters dedicated themselves to it. There were quite a few organizations and women forefronting those organizations that were described, which I thought were really cool. But there only seemed to be a few pages dedicated to what “regular” people can do when they can’t shift their lives towards one of full-time activism. Overall, while it was still an interesting book and I enjoyed myself walking through memory lane, I thought Unscrewed’s argument was simply okay — not too bad, but certainly not the best.
emjuddz's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, I'd like to preface this by saying that I won this audio book in Jaclyn's Instagram giveaway, so: THANK YOU, JACLYN! This was a fabulous gift, and every second of it had me thinking.
I'm a longtime listener of the Unscrewed podcast, so I already knew I'd be in for some well-researched, witty, and hard-hitting work when I started this book. However, I was absolutely floored by the extent of Friedman's analysis and a little unsettled by all the very sobering points she brought up that have always seemed to skate right by me without a second thought. That's what makes this book so very important! The sexual culture around us, while improving, has a long way to go, and so often we simply do not realize it. I loved Friedman's explanations of what's actually lying beneath the surface, and I greatly appreciated her suggestions for how to "unscrew" these norms that are so deeply ingrained.
In short: this book packs a punch and, although its subject matter can be depressing in day to day life, you will reach the last page with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for effecting change. Can't recommend enough!
I'm a longtime listener of the Unscrewed podcast, so I already knew I'd be in for some well-researched, witty, and hard-hitting work when I started this book. However, I was absolutely floored by the extent of Friedman's analysis and a little unsettled by all the very sobering points she brought up that have always seemed to skate right by me without a second thought. That's what makes this book so very important! The sexual culture around us, while improving, has a long way to go, and so often we simply do not realize it. I loved Friedman's explanations of what's actually lying beneath the surface, and I greatly appreciated her suggestions for how to "unscrew" these norms that are so deeply ingrained.
In short: this book packs a punch and, although its subject matter can be depressing in day to day life, you will reach the last page with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for effecting change. Can't recommend enough!
alangmead's review against another edition
5.0
At first I got the audiobook of this, and then reread it as a print book because something seemed to be missing and I thought a different context might help. At first I was hearing anecdotes and revolving around disparate issues and kept missing the helpful information that I knew must be there.
Then I read it, and understood it better. Many of the chapters have a pattern where describes an individual and the issues they've faced, then demonstrates how that fits into systemic issues of inequality, and then back to individuals working for solutions.
At first I was relieved when I realized where they solutions were and where they fit into the narrative. Then it started to gnaw on me that the solutions were all individualized, and although the people implementing them are helping numbers of people that it would be hard to scale most of them compared to the size of the problems described. By the end she talks me down from that despair. That the work from everyone, in whatever way they are capable, is what eventually be what is necessary.
Then I read it, and understood it better. Many of the chapters have a pattern where describes an individual and the issues they've faced, then demonstrates how that fits into systemic issues of inequality, and then back to individuals working for solutions.
At first I was relieved when I realized where they solutions were and where they fit into the narrative. Then it started to gnaw on me that the solutions were all individualized, and although the people implementing them are helping numbers of people that it would be hard to scale most of them compared to the size of the problems described. By the end she talks me down from that despair. That the work from everyone, in whatever way they are capable, is what eventually be what is necessary.
haleynic's review against another edition
5.0
This book is just one long mic drop. Read it for a class and went through 4 highlighters. I think I highlighted more than I didn’t. No joke, I am buying this book for all of my friends for Christmas.
melissalivanos's review against another edition
4.5
This book was a crucial read for the current political and cultural environment we’re living in today. Not only did I learn a lot, the book left me feeling incredibly hopeful and motivated to begin activism work RIGHT NOW. I treasure anything that can get me fired up to instill real change in a toxic climate that often leaves me feeling depressed and disengaged. The feeling of motivation alone made this book incredibly valuable to me. I’d recommend to all my friends of any gender who care about social justice.
cindywho's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of familiar territory, lots of interesting stuff.