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A review by rover_under
Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World by Lauren Fleshman
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A fantastic book that discusses the pressures and challenges faced by female athletes. It's a great case study in the ways inclusion does not always signal full and equal participation. It was very validating to see an athlete talk about struggle in a relatable way. We're used to seeing them portrayed as superhuman, but even at their fastest they still get dog-tired after a race.
The memoir style was effective but if I had to comment on it, I would have liked to see more dialogue on some of the intersectional issues mentioned in passing (i.e. racism and transphobia) because those messages are valuable.
I would be very interested in how issues raised in this book present themselves in different sports, like swimming, so I hope to discover more stories like this one from women across the professional athletic world.
The memoir style was effective but if I had to comment on it, I would have liked to see more dialogue on some of the intersectional issues mentioned in passing (i.e. racism and transphobia) because those messages are valuable.
I would be very interested in how issues raised in this book present themselves in different sports, like swimming, so I hope to discover more stories like this one from women across the professional athletic world.
Graphic: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Medical content, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt