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A review by hnagle15
Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace by Jessica Bennett
3.0
I've been wanting to read this ever since the author was featured on one of my favourite podcasts, What Would A Feminist Do by Jessica Valenti. The idea seems really great - a 'survivor manual' for working in an office where women are almost always surrounded by men.
I enjoyed how Bennett wrote the novel in a casual way, as if it was two friends giving each other advice. For the most part, I knew exactly what she was talking about, and had experienced it in either the workplace or at university. As such, I would say she discusses really relevant problems that many women have likely experienced in some form during their lifetime. I liked that she first quickly describes the problem and then provides two or three tips to overcome said problem.
I particularly enjoyed her section on negotiation and her tips on how to give yourself confidence when asking for a raise/increased benefits/etc. This was a section I can totally see myself skimming when the time comes for me to negotiate with my employer. I think she provided some great ideas to help make the process easier.
I did have a couple problems with the book. One is that it isn't written well for men. And I know that it's meant to be a book for women - as they experience the majority of the problems mentioned in the book far more than men - but I think it's important to write these texts in ways that a man can read and change vs. a man reading it and feeling like a victim. The author writes from a radical feminist voice where men are 100% the problem, and while that may be accurate in some ways, I think that so many men become defensive when we critique their behaviour that we should know by now that this style doesn't work when we're trying to get them on our side.
Secondly, I thought a lot was lost through Bennett's style of humor. It was clear that she was trying to make this a fun, yet informative read and while that is accomplished, I felt that some of the things actually took away from the seriousness of the topic at hand. So while I appreciate what she was going for, I do think some of it was a bit much and took away from the overall message.
Overall, this was a quick and informative look into some of the many challenges women face in the workplace. I found the experiences she describes to be relatable, and Bennett actually does offer some great advice in overcoming the struggles we face on a day-to-day basis.
I enjoyed how Bennett wrote the novel in a casual way, as if it was two friends giving each other advice. For the most part, I knew exactly what she was talking about, and had experienced it in either the workplace or at university. As such, I would say she discusses really relevant problems that many women have likely experienced in some form during their lifetime. I liked that she first quickly describes the problem and then provides two or three tips to overcome said problem.
I particularly enjoyed her section on negotiation and her tips on how to give yourself confidence when asking for a raise/increased benefits/etc. This was a section I can totally see myself skimming when the time comes for me to negotiate with my employer. I think she provided some great ideas to help make the process easier.
I did have a couple problems with the book. One is that it isn't written well for men. And I know that it's meant to be a book for women - as they experience the majority of the problems mentioned in the book far more than men - but I think it's important to write these texts in ways that a man can read and change vs. a man reading it and feeling like a victim. The author writes from a radical feminist voice where men are 100% the problem, and while that may be accurate in some ways, I think that so many men become defensive when we critique their behaviour that we should know by now that this style doesn't work when we're trying to get them on our side.
Secondly, I thought a lot was lost through Bennett's style of humor. It was clear that she was trying to make this a fun, yet informative read and while that is accomplished, I felt that some of the things actually took away from the seriousness of the topic at hand. So while I appreciate what she was going for, I do think some of it was a bit much and took away from the overall message.
Overall, this was a quick and informative look into some of the many challenges women face in the workplace. I found the experiences she describes to be relatable, and Bennett actually does offer some great advice in overcoming the struggles we face on a day-to-day basis.