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A review by its_hay
Slut!: Growing Up Female with a Bad Reputation by Leora Tanenbaum
2.0
It's taken me a bit to read this. To be fair, it's a bit dry and I picked it up and put it down multiple times so I still have mixed feelings about it.
When I began the book, I remember feeling gung-ho to read about the moniker, "slut", and its implications. The book actually had me for a bit with me contributing an understanding nod as I read through the chapters.
But then I noticed something near the middle to end of the book: it mainly revolved around women's tales in school and (in my opinion) barely scratched the surface of what happens beyond the walls of education. It was also a little exhausting to read the same features in each chapter: went to school, my body looked a bit different/I acted differently, girls/boys called me a slut, I participated in dangerous behavior, it was shitty, I'm an adult now - lather, rinse, repeat. I feel like the book could've benefitted from having perspectives more so in the college and workplace area (I'm not talking big companies, I'm talking first jobs in/out of college).
I was especially annoyed at the author's commentary near the end of the book with what seemed to be a condescending tone for girls who took action against their schools for harassment and were awarded money (literally with "Well, I didn't sue..."). That's great, but these women dealt with harassment and got shit done. So what if they were awarded money for it. The lines between dangerous sexist behavior and sexual harassment blur so quick, who are you to judge if it's your definition of sexual harassment? If you didn't feel in danger/hurt then great, Leora - but not every woman feels the same way.
When I began the book, I remember feeling gung-ho to read about the moniker, "slut", and its implications. The book actually had me for a bit with me contributing an understanding nod as I read through the chapters.
But then I noticed something near the middle to end of the book: it mainly revolved around women's tales in school and (in my opinion) barely scratched the surface of what happens beyond the walls of education. It was also a little exhausting to read the same features in each chapter: went to school, my body looked a bit different/I acted differently, girls/boys called me a slut, I participated in dangerous behavior, it was shitty, I'm an adult now - lather, rinse, repeat. I feel like the book could've benefitted from having perspectives more so in the college and workplace area (I'm not talking big companies, I'm talking first jobs in/out of college).
I was especially annoyed at the author's commentary near the end of the book with what seemed to be a condescending tone for girls who took action against their schools for harassment and were awarded money (literally with "Well, I didn't sue..."). That's great, but these women dealt with harassment and got shit done. So what if they were awarded money for it. The lines between dangerous sexist behavior and sexual harassment blur so quick, who are you to judge if it's your definition of sexual harassment? If you didn't feel in danger/hurt then great, Leora - but not every woman feels the same way.