aubreep's review against another edition
5.0
I am convinced that the only way to truly push past our prejudices and accept one another is to share our stories. Jessica's candor is refreshing. Her experiences brought up memories of passive aggressive comments and nonchalant remarks from the men in my life that the women, myself included, pass off as *ahem* locker room talk. Addressing these issues as Sex Object does and solving them is the only way to keep our daughters safe and our sons from becoming the type of men that objectify women and don't see anything wrong with doing so.
ntgaston's review against another edition
5.0
This was an emotional read. It gave me a lot to think about.
lissaze's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
abbie_reads_books's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
nikhilesh's review against another edition
4.0
Wouldn't recommend reading the book unless you have read "My Secret Garden"
leelulah's review against another edition
1.0
When you read this is no surprise she ended the way she did. Three abortions, drug addictions, terrible relationships, bad parenting, bad company, an extremely immoral place to grow up in, no help. She raises some points but as several commenters have said, this feels disjointed. I don't only disagree, but also understand how all the talk about feminists becoming and being ugly doesn't solve the problems at hand.
Some of the problems exposed in this book are real,inckuding the men who will tell you that "in theory", they agree with you but then they will reward themselves with licentious behavior backing it up in "science", "biology", but not any of the abhorrent cultural practices that they're involved in.
Some of the problems exposed in this book are real,inckuding the men who will tell you that "in theory", they agree with you but then they will reward themselves with licentious behavior backing it up in "science", "biology", but not any of the abhorrent cultural practices that they're involved in.
sjhastoomanybooks's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. There were things in this book that I could of course recognize and relate to, but I think I wanted a bit more (why did she do some of these things? what was her motivation?). This is the first full-length book of hers that I read, and I'm curious about the others, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the structure. Some chapters were absolutely heartbreaking (like the pre-mature birth of her daughter) and others horrifying (like her admitted refusal to acknowledge her own date rape as just that, when she counsels other women to do so, along with the example comments/emails from trolls at the end of the book) - all human, to be sure. It just was missing that intangible quality of a book that I know will ultimately stick with me.
menollyruth's review against another edition
4.0
A really great memoir written in the same amazing writing style as Jessica Valenti’s other books. While I don’t typically like memoirs, and this is really no exception I definitely didn’t like it as much as her other books, I thought that the way it was told was very good, and made a lot of sense and I feel like I got a really good understanding of her life and experiences.
paigelm's review against another edition
3.0
Great memoir and discussion about how girls bodies are used and valued. Pretty easy to read as far as level, but asks highlights differences about how girls experience puberty and teenage years, as a part of their bodies. Told through personal stories instead of theory, this is a great introduction into understanding the different levels of violence that happen to women everywhere, and that they all matter.
bluenicorn's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a huge fan of the way the stories in this are strung together- it felt a bit episodic, but in an unintentional, sort of scattered manner. However; there were so many things written in here that need to be said and need to be heard. Of course- she's writing about events and feelings that most women have had- but the writing down of it makes it feel legitimate. Like, 'Wow, YES- that is exactly how I feel but I haven't ever heard someone really say that!' That makes it valuable, and that makes it worth 4 stars.
Favorite parts:
Ignoring men- whether romantically or rhetorically- is existential violence to them. p 135
Pretending these offenses roll off of our backs is strategic- don’t give them the fucking satisfaction- but it isn’t the truth. You lose something along the way. Mocking the men who hurt us- as mockable as they are- starts to feel like acquiescing to the most condescending of catcalls, You look better when you smile. Because even subversive sarcasm adds a cool-girl nonchalance, an updated, sharper version of the expectation that women be forever pleasant, even as we’re eating shit. p 14
Favorite parts:
Ignoring men- whether romantically or rhetorically- is existential violence to them. p 135
Pretending these offenses roll off of our backs is strategic- don’t give them the fucking satisfaction- but it isn’t the truth. You lose something along the way. Mocking the men who hurt us- as mockable as they are- starts to feel like acquiescing to the most condescending of catcalls, You look better when you smile. Because even subversive sarcasm adds a cool-girl nonchalance, an updated, sharper version of the expectation that women be forever pleasant, even as we’re eating shit. p 14