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A review by elderlingfool
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
"A triste verdade, no entanto, é que as agressões sexuais - de todos os tipos - são demasiado comuns em todos os lugares para causarem sensação."
"Vi muitas pessoas adotarem imediatamente uma atitude defensiva perante a sugestão de que há violência de género em lugares como as areias petrolíferas - ou porque trabalham nessa zona e se orgulham do trabalho que fazem e das pessoas que sustentam graças a isso, ou porque conhecem e amam homens dali, e se sentem insultadas pelas instituições que os associam a algo tão detestável como uma agressão sexual."
I read this graphic novel in portuguese, translated by Alda Rodrigues, and I had to start with those quotes even though I don't know how they are written in the original.
Ducks is a graphic memoir by Kate Beaton about her two years working in the oil sands. I was expecting it to focus on the working conditions, but the major focus was on the sexism and sexual abuse. As the author states it could happen anywhere (there are two women that reveal they were raped when attending university, for example) and it is more likely to happen in an environment where there are a lot of men and very few women. The author mentions the point of view of some men: how they excuse bad behaviour because of loneliness, how talking with superiors about the sexual abuse either gets you nowhere or to being perceived as awful because a man might be fired, etc. It is a sad reality and I can't say it was a novelty to me.
Even though the memoir focuses on those topics, that are closer to the author, that doesn't mean other topics aren't addressed. It is showed the motives that make someone work in these institutions and why they decide to stay or to leave, there are mentions of drug abuse and the dangers of certain jobs, there is the internal conflict about all the deaths and damage to workers, animals and nature in general that can't be separated from the role one has in the company and more. I wish all the topics were explored more in depth even though the book is already heavy enough as it is. It would probably be better if it was two volumes instead of one. However, I understand why the author decided to state the facts and not explore much of her own thoughts and reflections about certain events. It is hard to show your personal life to the world and I know that I will never do it.
I found the author's attitudes when dealing with men very relatable and I also know how it is to work in a company with values opposite to yours. It is a privilege to be able to choose instead of thinking of the money you need to be able to make a living. In the author's case, she needed to pay her student loans, which seemed to have been an absurdly high amount of money.
To anyone that wishes to read this memoir, be aware that there are a lot of sexual harassment and sexist comments depicted. There are also two rape scenes and other mentions (thankfully not graphic). This is something I would have liked to know beforehand. I usually struggle with this when it comes to personal accounts.
"Vi muitas pessoas adotarem imediatamente uma atitude defensiva perante a sugestão de que há violência de género em lugares como as areias petrolíferas - ou porque trabalham nessa zona e se orgulham do trabalho que fazem e das pessoas que sustentam graças a isso, ou porque conhecem e amam homens dali, e se sentem insultadas pelas instituições que os associam a algo tão detestável como uma agressão sexual."
I read this graphic novel in portuguese, translated by Alda Rodrigues, and I had to start with those quotes even though I don't know how they are written in the original.
Ducks is a graphic memoir by Kate Beaton about her two years working in the oil sands. I was expecting it to focus on the working conditions, but the major focus was on the sexism and sexual abuse. As the author states it could happen anywhere (there are two women that reveal they were raped when attending university, for example) and it is more likely to happen in an environment where there are a lot of men and very few women. The author mentions the point of view of some men: how they excuse bad behaviour because of loneliness, how talking with superiors about the sexual abuse either gets you nowhere or to being perceived as awful because a man might be fired, etc. It is a sad reality and I can't say it was a novelty to me.
Even though the memoir focuses on those topics, that are closer to the author, that doesn't mean other topics aren't addressed. It is showed the motives that make someone work in these institutions and why they decide to stay or to leave, there are mentions of drug abuse and the dangers of certain jobs, there is the internal conflict about all the deaths and damage to workers, animals and nature in general that can't be separated from the role one has in the company and more. I wish all the topics were explored more in depth even though the book is already heavy enough as it is. It would probably be better if it was two volumes instead of one. However, I understand why the author decided to state the facts and not explore much of her own thoughts and reflections about certain events. It is hard to show your personal life to the world and I know that I will never do it.
I found the author's attitudes when dealing with men very relatable and I also know how it is to work in a company with values opposite to yours. It is a privilege to be able to choose instead of thinking of the money you need to be able to make a living. In the author's case, she needed to pay her student loans, which seemed to have been an absurdly high amount of money.
To anyone that wishes to read this memoir, be aware that there are a lot of sexual harassment and sexist comments depicted. There are also two rape scenes and other mentions (thankfully not graphic). This is something I would have liked to know beforehand. I usually struggle with this when it comes to personal accounts.