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bookaneer 's review for:
The Geek Feminist Revolution
by Kameron Hurley
Warning: This is not a review. It is more like a personal rant. Let me just tell you that everyone especially SFF readers should read it. It is a no-holds barred, highly opinionated writings about various subjects from personal struggles, discrimination towards women, the importance of non-binary gender, how to survive in the publishing industry, gamergate, Sad Puppies and so on.
Okay? Okay. Now let's start the non-review.
Reading this feels like having a direct life lesson / motivational seminar from Hurley herself. Obviously I don't find everything she told relatable but heck yeah most of them happened to me in some ways.
One that stroke me the most was her defiance on not letting people get her down because of her weight. When she was dying in a hospital (she suffered an immune disorder), she overheard her mom saying that she never looked that great because she was so thin. I broke down and cry after reading that.
You see, I have someone very close to me making comments on my weight almost every single day. I did lash out a few times and asked that person to stop because it hurts. It stopped for a while but then when I lose a few pounds that person said 'Hey good that you lose weight!' and 'How much weight did you lose?'. Repeatedly. Then when I gained some the person made another comment 'Oh but you were thinner the other day. Look at your [insert body part]'. Over and over again. To this person, it seems to me that my worth revolves around my weight. And my appearance. My life achievements do not matter. The person does not care if I am a straight A student and graduated with honor (which I did). The person does not really care if I have a good career, have lots of friends and activities, in good health and overall happy with my life. That person never made any comment on that. It is always about how I look. I am not one of those pretty, feminine girls with luscious long hair in trendy clothes and nice shoes you see walking in malls. I am a fat, frizzy-haired, spotty-faced girl with jeans and tshirt as her staple clothing. I'd rather buy books than make-up. I know I won't be able to be as slim as I used to and I have accepted that fact. But when I hear that comment it still hurts. Maybe I have not let go completely. Maybe I still give that person some power over me. And it is not just this person. I found a lot people making that comment as if it is the only that defines me. 'Hi there, OMG you are getting fat!' I rarely see people making that comments on guys, at least in my social circles. In fact, fat men are sometimes applauded (!) as fat bellies signify prosperity.
Hurley said that as a woman, you/we are always going to be fat. People are always going to trot that one out to insult you, like taking up more space in the world, as a woman, is the absolute worse thing you can do. So yeah, I refuse to have my success measured in the width of my ass.
Okay. Lots of other great stuff to talk about from this book, but since I am on vacation I am too busy enjoying it and can't write longer reviews.
PS: If you are in Patreon you should support KH even just for $1 per short story. Her short stories are excellent. And of course you should read all of her books too.
PPS: Kameron Hurley retweeted and replied to my review. Sweet.
Okay? Okay. Now let's start the non-review.
Reading this feels like having a direct life lesson / motivational seminar from Hurley herself. Obviously I don't find everything she told relatable but heck yeah most of them happened to me in some ways.
One that stroke me the most was her defiance on not letting people get her down because of her weight. When she was dying in a hospital (she suffered an immune disorder), she overheard her mom saying that she never looked that great because she was so thin. I broke down and cry after reading that.
You see, I have someone very close to me making comments on my weight almost every single day. I did lash out a few times and asked that person to stop because it hurts. It stopped for a while but then when I lose a few pounds that person said 'Hey good that you lose weight!' and 'How much weight did you lose?'. Repeatedly. Then when I gained some the person made another comment 'Oh but you were thinner the other day. Look at your [insert body part]'. Over and over again. To this person, it seems to me that my worth revolves around my weight. And my appearance. My life achievements do not matter. The person does not care if I am a straight A student and graduated with honor (which I did). The person does not really care if I have a good career, have lots of friends and activities, in good health and overall happy with my life. That person never made any comment on that. It is always about how I look. I am not one of those pretty, feminine girls with luscious long hair in trendy clothes and nice shoes you see walking in malls. I am a fat, frizzy-haired, spotty-faced girl with jeans and tshirt as her staple clothing. I'd rather buy books than make-up. I know I won't be able to be as slim as I used to and I have accepted that fact. But when I hear that comment it still hurts. Maybe I have not let go completely. Maybe I still give that person some power over me. And it is not just this person. I found a lot people making that comment as if it is the only that defines me. 'Hi there, OMG you are getting fat!' I rarely see people making that comments on guys, at least in my social circles. In fact, fat men are sometimes applauded (!) as fat bellies signify prosperity.
Hurley said that as a woman, you/we are always going to be fat. People are always going to trot that one out to insult you, like taking up more space in the world, as a woman, is the absolute worse thing you can do. So yeah, I refuse to have my success measured in the width of my ass.
Okay. Lots of other great stuff to talk about from this book, but since I am on vacation I am too busy enjoying it and can't write longer reviews.
PS: If you are in Patreon you should support KH even just for $1 per short story. Her short stories are excellent. And of course you should read all of her books too.
PPS: Kameron Hurley retweeted and replied to my review. Sweet.