A review by finalgirlfall
Recollections of My Nonexistence: A Memoir by Rebecca Solnit

3.0

i was bothered by some aspects of how solnit framed the problem (patriarchy) and how it affected her. i just don’t feel that living in a patriarchal/inherently misogynistic society as a woman on its own is really enough grounds to call yourself A Survivor [of Trauma]--especially given the connotation that term tends to carry among laypeople of having been through something uniquely awful.

i understand the point solnit is making--that gendered violence is woven into patriarchy, and that living under that threat constantly can psychologically mess with those who are not [white, straight] men… but i think she should have shown her work on that train of thought rather more clearly.

see judith herman’s trauma and recovery for what i think inspired solnit’s central framework regarding gender-based violence.