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angelamichelle's review
5.0
A manifesto of liberation for girls and women.
The seemingly self-evident truth—that women can operate as actors living IN a body rather than objects being valued based on their body’s appearance—is powerful and transformational.
I like to think of myself as a pretty self-aware and self-actualized person, but this book helped me see more layers of the ways I define myself, allow myself to be defined by, limit myself by my appearance.
A friendly, accessible but data-driven approach. A book that’s an experience and journey of the heart, not just the mind.
The seemingly self-evident truth—that women can operate as actors living IN a body rather than objects being valued based on their body’s appearance—is powerful and transformational.
I like to think of myself as a pretty self-aware and self-actualized person, but this book helped me see more layers of the ways I define myself, allow myself to be defined by, limit myself by my appearance.
A friendly, accessible but data-driven approach. A book that’s an experience and journey of the heart, not just the mind.
caropullen's review
4.0
I really admired the passion behind this book.
There’s a huge economy that relies on women treating our bodies as a life-long fixer-upper project instead of having experiences or getting on with what we’re here to do (whatever that is).
It’s up to us whether we buy into this.
There’s a huge economy that relies on women treating our bodies as a life-long fixer-upper project instead of having experiences or getting on with what we’re here to do (whatever that is).
It’s up to us whether we buy into this.
nheimagndoar's review
5.0
This book is so much what I needed. The idea that I could be more than just what I look like? Mind blowing. I highly recommend this to anyone who has a body.
sararothwell's review
5.0
I loved the perspective shift this book provided. Culturally we are conditioned to believe we are healthy only if we are skinny and believe we are of value based on our looks. It’s nice to have these deep engrained myths debunked.
ecooper99's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
I have so many thoughts regarding this book. On one hand, I appreciate the topic and wholeheartedly believe it offers a much-needed discourse in our beauty-obsessed world. But I wish the content hadn't been explored in such broad, black-and-white strokes. Makeup, for example, is a multifaceted tool, but it's dismissed as a petty, validation-seeking, expensive pursuit. There's no mention made of all its other uses: self-expression, creativity, artistry, a way to honour cultural traditions, or simply because it brings great joy. The assertion that its use is solely for external validation is so limiting. And don't get me started on the authors' assertion that men don't suffer from body-image issues. That's ridiculous beyond belief.
The authors shine when addressing the way we're all caught in the relentless cycle of diet culture and the dazzling world of social media #fitspo and #thinspo. Their insights are wonderful for those looking for advice on navigating the societal expectations of physical perfection coming at us from every direction. This is also a great resource for parents looking for guidance on how to support pre-teen and teenage girls with body image issues. (Again, parents of boys will need to look elsewhere.)
While the Kites' message is commendable, wading through the book was a challenge. I found my eyes glazing over constantly, and staying engaged in the message was a struggle. A touch of lightness, some interesting anecdotes, perhaps a few interviews... these could have all made the content more easily digestible.
Overall, this is a worthwhile read, especially for those new to the conversation about body image issues and the impact of social media on the way we view our worth. For veterans of the body positivity movement, however, it might feel like this is a refresher course rather than an advanced seminar.
cara_ready's review
5.0
"Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked 'female. '" - Erin McKean.
Reading this was therapeutic for me. I listened to the audiobook and I will probably buy a physical copy to re-read and mark up. We all know we have been told to look a certain way and the messaging comes at us every day through ads and social media.
Reading the entire psychology behind these messages and the language that may not seem harmful but is, was eye-opening and a good reminder that we are not objects to be viewed, our bodies serve us. I have always been petite, to the point that a lot of people commented on how small I was growing up. The authors discuss how commenting on someone’s small size is harmful even when it is well-meaning. I remember hitting puberty and gaining weight which is a very normal thing to happen to a growing body. I was distraught by my weight gain because people had always commented on how small I was and I felt that validation slipping from me. I was still not heavy by any means but I became obsessed with my weight gain. I always felt guilty for this but hearing other examples of this in the book made me feel reassured I am not the only one.
I had also never thought about how much body hyper fixation can affect the rest of our lives. The example they gave was “I will be sitting in a meeting at work but all I can think about is how my stomach roll looks when I am sitting down”. It made me realize how much of my thoughts on my body occupy space in realms of my life where it does not belong.
I have been working on my body neutrality and trying to dismiss the idea that my body should look any sort of way because the perfect body does not exist. No matter how much we think the women we follow on Instagram have perfect bodies, that is an idea, not a fact. Even body positive posts and selfies can be harmful because it is still putting your face, your body on display to be looked at. I liked that the authors made a point to say that while this is not a terrible thing to do, keep in mind that your body is not meant to simply be seen. Also, think about how your post may affect someone else viewing it and the view they have of their own body.
Reading this was therapeutic for me. I listened to the audiobook and I will probably buy a physical copy to re-read and mark up. We all know we have been told to look a certain way and the messaging comes at us every day through ads and social media.
Reading the entire psychology behind these messages and the language that may not seem harmful but is, was eye-opening and a good reminder that we are not objects to be viewed, our bodies serve us. I have always been petite, to the point that a lot of people commented on how small I was growing up. The authors discuss how commenting on someone’s small size is harmful even when it is well-meaning. I remember hitting puberty and gaining weight which is a very normal thing to happen to a growing body. I was distraught by my weight gain because people had always commented on how small I was and I felt that validation slipping from me. I was still not heavy by any means but I became obsessed with my weight gain. I always felt guilty for this but hearing other examples of this in the book made me feel reassured I am not the only one.
I had also never thought about how much body hyper fixation can affect the rest of our lives. The example they gave was “I will be sitting in a meeting at work but all I can think about is how my stomach roll looks when I am sitting down”. It made me realize how much of my thoughts on my body occupy space in realms of my life where it does not belong.
I have been working on my body neutrality and trying to dismiss the idea that my body should look any sort of way because the perfect body does not exist. No matter how much we think the women we follow on Instagram have perfect bodies, that is an idea, not a fact. Even body positive posts and selfies can be harmful because it is still putting your face, your body on display to be looked at. I liked that the authors made a point to say that while this is not a terrible thing to do, keep in mind that your body is not meant to simply be seen. Also, think about how your post may affect someone else viewing it and the view they have of their own body.
savbag's review
5.0
Even if you feel like you don’t struggle with body-image issues this is a must read! I cannot recommend highly enough it is so eye-opening and accessibly written. Self
cburgbennett's review
4.0
This is one of those books that turns on a light switch in your brain. Women are objectified all the time and really are portrayed as "ornaments" in media and others treat women this way in society. A lot to think about. A lot to improve on. I've struggled with poor body image since puberty hit me in 6th grade. I was happier with my body 20-30 pounds heavier than I am now and it's because my new focus was on the damn scale number instead of how awesome it is that I can run and do push ups and so much more. That I'm loyal and sometimes funny and can be a really great friend. I'm more than just my body! And I hope that I can improve my mindset more and more. I started by having Bobby remove the scale from the bathroom. Bye bye!