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manxomemia 's review for:
The Fictional Woman
by Tara Moss
This book was a complete impulse purchase to make up the remaining credit on a gift card I had with me - and boy was I glad I grabbed it. I am unfamiliar with Moss's other works, but the idea that the truthfulness of her being a writer had been questioned merely because she was a model and conventionally attractive was enough for me to pick it up and give a skim through. After finishing the book today, I am thoroughly impressed with the eloquence in which Moss expresses her understanding of social justice, and the humbleness and passion with which she speaks of her own experiences - the wonderful and terrifying. Many of the anecdotes surrounding Australian political and social issues struck a little close to home, and I was once again reminded of some of the depressing realities of the 21st century: women are still in many ways, considered to be of less value than men; men who exhibit "unmanly" attributes are also considered second-class; we still live in a society where the rich and powerful make decisions that affect those who are least able to defend themselves and their rights. None of this is new, of course, but the discourse Moss has put forward was captivated and stimulating.
I think today, where the word "feminist" is considered akin to "man hater", "whore", "sex hater", "religion hater", etc., it is so important for all women (particularly young girls who are being bombarded with these frightening and incorrect stereotypes) to read up on these issues and see things from the perspective of a woman who doesn't feel the need to sacrifice one belief for the the sake of another. I'm not asking anyone to subscribe to someone else's ideologies, but exposing oneself to other ideas is a great way to open up an important, and currently often misdirected, debate.
I think today, where the word "feminist" is considered akin to "man hater", "whore", "sex hater", "religion hater", etc., it is so important for all women (particularly young girls who are being bombarded with these frightening and incorrect stereotypes) to read up on these issues and see things from the perspective of a woman who doesn't feel the need to sacrifice one belief for the the sake of another. I'm not asking anyone to subscribe to someone else's ideologies, but exposing oneself to other ideas is a great way to open up an important, and currently often misdirected, debate.