eleana's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
2.75
While I agree with everything Caitlin writes about and she seems like a brilliant person, this book does very little to share any new insights. This was nice to have as company whilst working, but it all felt a bit like Feminism 101.
littlemisselvis's review against another edition
5.0
A glorious exploration of feminism and middle age. I laughed a lot and I also sobbed.
kirstyleanned's review against another edition
4.0
I really did feel like I'd missed out on a British feminist rite-of-passage when I read Moran's 'How to be a Woman' last year and was underwhelmed; I'm so glad More than a Woman came around to give me that experience. I somehow relate more to 4o-something year old Moran than I did reading about her at my age in her previous iteration of this book. Perhaps because we're simply both women trying to navigate the same current climate, as opposed to two twenty-somethings in different eras. Caitlin's chapters about her daughters especially resonated with me, and I loved the discussions of body image. I will say that the perspective offered is still quite self-centered to Moran herself and her experiences, and certain feminist issues are discussed simply as they pertain to her - but this is the only thing that stopped it from being a five-star read.
nyssahhhh's review against another edition
2.0
Since "How to Be a Woman" changed my life, I expected a lot from this... Too much, I guess. Difficult to relate to, though parts did make me laugh and think. (Was surprised by how many times I read "guys" and "man," which is a fascinating observation on how language changes.)
Some lines of note:
63: Women slagging off other women for perceived physical imperfection is like farting in a spaceship: everyone on board suffers, including she who dealt it. I do not think you can truly love other women if you do not love your own body. It is urgent, urgent work--for both yourself, and womankind--to learn to love your own adorable legs and fully functioning arms. And you must never, never, never allow yourself to start seeing your body as a collection of separate, problematic items--cankles, muffin top, bingo wings, camel toe--for that is the tactic of a far-right polemicist: dividing a glorious whole into a series of sad, isolated ghettos, and then pitching them against each other (I can't decide which is worse--my back fat or my bra overhang). It's all you, and it must, urgently, become your lifelong friend.
75: Women do not make sudden, snap decisions about things. We have been taught to believe there is a best practice for everything that needs to be done--that there are rules--and that adhering to this best practice prevents problems further down the line.
83: We know we so often only get one chance to prove ourselves--one hour to achieve something, one opportunity to change things--and so we want to be absolutely ready for it. We don't want to be caught on the hop, because we don't have the time, money, or power to rectify a mistake further down the line. We know that when a door opens, it usually only opens once--study after study has shown that women, along with people of color, are far more likely to be demoted, or fired, when they make a single mistake compared to white men.
150: Although it may not feel like it to a man who feels scared, or left behind, every time a woman succeeds, she is, ironically, making things easier for men as well. She is, ultimately, succeeding for all of us. This is why feminism can't go "too far." Women can't "win" enough. Because when "being a woman" and "doing things like a woman" are seen as equally powerful to "being a man" and "doing things like a man," then men will feel no shame in taking the things that have mad us happier. We will finally live in a world where there are no such things as "girl things" and "boy things"--it will all imply be seen as "humanity's massive resource box."
206: Love--true, real love--is the reward now. That's the simplest and most honest answer I can give you--that love is now. Love is today.
209: But here is one thing I know for a fact: One day, you will stop feeling confused, or sad, or angry, or scared, and you will become, instead, just ... tired. Too tired to do this anymore. Your stores of love will have become empty, there will be no more thoughts, or reasoning, to be had--there will be nothing left--and you will feel a simple weariness with all of this. It will become undoable for a single minute longer. You will be spent. It will be impossible to do this anymore. That's the day you'll finally leave him. And when that day comes, my absolute love, my spare bedroom is waiting for you.
239: By way of contrast, the fearlessness you have now, in your older years, is the knowledge that, whatever happens, and however hard you inevitably break, youwill live through it--one step at a time. And as you become tougher, you simultaneously realize how fragile other people are. You are gentler. You are kinder. You automatically presume everyone you speak to has a secret soreness or sorrow. Because, almost always, they do.
Some lines of note:
63: Women slagging off other women for perceived physical imperfection is like farting in a spaceship: everyone on board suffers, including she who dealt it. I do not think you can truly love other women if you do not love your own body. It is urgent, urgent work--for both yourself, and womankind--to learn to love your own adorable legs and fully functioning arms. And you must never, never, never allow yourself to start seeing your body as a collection of separate, problematic items--cankles, muffin top, bingo wings, camel toe--for that is the tactic of a far-right polemicist: dividing a glorious whole into a series of sad, isolated ghettos, and then pitching them against each other (I can't decide which is worse--my back fat or my bra overhang). It's all you, and it must, urgently, become your lifelong friend.
75: Women do not make sudden, snap decisions about things. We have been taught to believe there is a best practice for everything that needs to be done--that there are rules--and that adhering to this best practice prevents problems further down the line.
83: We know we so often only get one chance to prove ourselves--one hour to achieve something, one opportunity to change things--and so we want to be absolutely ready for it. We don't want to be caught on the hop, because we don't have the time, money, or power to rectify a mistake further down the line. We know that when a door opens, it usually only opens once--study after study has shown that women, along with people of color, are far more likely to be demoted, or fired, when they make a single mistake compared to white men.
150: Although it may not feel like it to a man who feels scared, or left behind, every time a woman succeeds, she is, ironically, making things easier for men as well. She is, ultimately, succeeding for all of us. This is why feminism can't go "too far." Women can't "win" enough. Because when "being a woman" and "doing things like a woman" are seen as equally powerful to "being a man" and "doing things like a man," then men will feel no shame in taking the things that have mad us happier. We will finally live in a world where there are no such things as "girl things" and "boy things"--it will all imply be seen as "humanity's massive resource box."
206: Love--true, real love--is the reward now. That's the simplest and most honest answer I can give you--that love is now. Love is today.
209: But here is one thing I know for a fact: One day, you will stop feeling confused, or sad, or angry, or scared, and you will become, instead, just ... tired. Too tired to do this anymore. Your stores of love will have become empty, there will be no more thoughts, or reasoning, to be had--there will be nothing left--and you will feel a simple weariness with all of this. It will become undoable for a single minute longer. You will be spent. It will be impossible to do this anymore. That's the day you'll finally leave him. And when that day comes, my absolute love, my spare bedroom is waiting for you.
239: By way of contrast, the fearlessness you have now, in your older years, is the knowledge that, whatever happens, and however hard you inevitably break, youwill live through it--one step at a time. And as you become tougher, you simultaneously realize how fragile other people are. You are gentler. You are kinder. You automatically presume everyone you speak to has a secret soreness or sorrow. Because, almost always, they do.
mollag's review against another edition
4.0
I do love Caitlin Moran.
I so admire her clear thinking and the way she can dissect an issue, take the underlaying rage-full reaction out it and present a more humane, rational and measured response instead.
I loved her love of women but also pointing out that men have been shackled by the patriarchy too. There are so many great revelations in this book and lots of funny jokes too.
Caitlin calls for a Women’s Union, I’d vote for her.
I so admire her clear thinking and the way she can dissect an issue, take the underlaying rage-full reaction out it and present a more humane, rational and measured response instead.
I loved her love of women but also pointing out that men have been shackled by the patriarchy too. There are so many great revelations in this book and lots of funny jokes too.
Caitlin calls for a Women’s Union, I’d vote for her.
megantee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0