Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann

9 reviews

finnsnowbevi's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Chronic illness, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Violence, Antisemitism, Genocide, Medical content, Police brutality, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

An excellent account of Heumann's life and the disability rights movement in America from post-WWII to the 2010s. It did lack a little final polish, I caught several grammar mistakes and felt like the ending didn't have quite the wrap up it could have. Would definitely recommend to anyone thinking of reading it, please note it is more of a historical account than details of Heumann's day to day life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Medical content, Bullying, Misogyny, and Ableism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Medical trauma

Minor: Racism, War, Genocide, Police brutality, Confinement, Cancer, Cursing, and Death of parent

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

Judy Heumann was a prolific disability rights activist and her memoir is a great look into the incredible life she led as well as many pieces of the history of the disability rights movement in the US. Anyone interested in disability justice or social justice as a whole should consider reading this memoir.

My only complaint is that in the chapter describing her work with the World Bank, Judy presents this glowing review of an imperial and colonial organization that caused lots of harm to many marginalized people, including those with disabilities. I would have appreciated a more nuanced view of the organization, especially if readers aren't familiar with its legacy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Cancer, and Death of parent

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, and Sexism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Police brutality

Minor: Death of parent

novella42's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Like many Americans, even other Americans who grew up with a disability, I had no clue that there had been a civil rights movement that fought hard for things I took for granted, like curb cuts,  wheelchair accessible buses, and my entire education. Hearing Judy's stories about being one of the founders of this movement meant so much to me. I was in awe of her already from watching Crip Camp (a documentary I now beg my friends and family to watch, after I avoided it myself for years because of how hard it was for me to reclaim the word "crip"). Judy Heumann is a tour de force. I'd call her a force of nature, but this book makes it clear she is a force of humanity. Unrepentant, unyielding, undeniably passionate about human rights, equity, and inclusion. I am grateful to be alive in the world Judy helped build. I am grateful she shared her story so my heart could ache with recognition of our shared struggles, and lift with hope that if she can fight for equity and change the world, maybe you and I can, too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Sexism, Child abuse, Body shaming, Terminal illness, Ableism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Genocide and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Racism, Confinement, Cancer, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Death of parent

katekatiekait's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Medical trauma and Antisemitism

Minor: Cancer, Police brutality, Sexism, and Death of parent

afion's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Sexism

thedisabledreader's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Judith Heumann is an integral part of disabled history. Having her story compiled into one memoir is an invaluable resource for those interested in a first hand account of the many changes and challenges faced by the disabled community throughout her lifetime. Her memoir is a great place to start learning about ableism and its legal impacts on disabled lives, for disabled and nondisabled people alike. 

The issues she worked on are all thoroughly explained in a manner accessible to nondisabled people. The fight for the implementation of section 504 has its complexities and impacts analyzed as do many other values she fought for. Although many impacts and idiosyncrasies of being disabled were not fully explored, every observation and impact is explained at its surface to then be dug into its core importance to the community.

Her participation within the disabled community, especially as demonstrated through her experience at camp and within her advocacy groups, provides an accurate description of the power and bonding within the very diverse community. The basis of disabled culture is founded on widespread acceptance which allows for the diversity within the community to be properly supported by every member despite their differences. 

Despite the strength of the community, nondisabled people often ignore the community’s impact on other movements and society. With such ignorance running rampant throughout history, there has never been proper representation for disabled people in any form of media that wasn’t created by other disabled folks. The dilemma spirals into disabled people not being able to access the creations made for them because nondisabled people don’t engage with it to promote it. Disabled people have found other ways to cultivate our culture and nurture each other within the community. 

The disabled community is nothing if not resilient and inclusive. With the foundation of an identity being formed by acceptance and diversity, intersectionality is always welcomed, making the community welcoming to all. The safety people find in the community provides the opportunity for them to grow their strength from others, propelling them to advocate for themselves and others within and out of the community. Intersectional connection is displayed appropriately in the depiction of the 504 sit ins, as well as the community’s strength and impact.

The memoir focuses heavily on her experience with the 504 protests and

implementation, and although it does make the pacing uneven, it deserves the extended coverage, especially considering her leadership positions throughout the process. The uneven distribution of her story causes the last section to be much too rushed, but the information and opinions presented are valuable lessons people need to learn nonetheless. The latter section also contrasts the dialect littered with, well deserved, cussing to the expository writing which finds itself to be immature at times.

Although the sentences are occasionally choppy or immature in context, it still encapsulates her experience and the emotions tied to it. It also accomplishes what very few memoirs do, growing with the subject throughout their life. It covers her experiences at a young age with the mature depth that she lacked at the time while still showing her younger self empathy and love. As the writing develops with her, it continues to bring the reader along while still appropriately defining itself to its modern audience of disabled and nondisabled folks.

Disabled life has progressed so far throughout her life, but it has not come far enough. The disabled community is strong and accepting, but it still suffers from the ignorance of nondisabled people. This is just the start, and there are many more disabled narratives to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Sexism and Medical trauma

mscalls's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexism, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Medical trauma

Minor: Confinement, Chronic illness, Racism, and Misogyny