Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

Women Don't Owe You Pretty: The Small Edition by Florence Given

23 reviews

inkyinsanity's review against another edition

This isn't a bad book, but it is very entrance-level feminism. I’d recommend her podcast or videos instead.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

feliciavanleeuwen's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.75

As a chronically online intersectional feminist this brought no real new info but it reinforced my ideas of feminism and my leftist ideals. 

I like her writing style and a lot of the book is very recognizable as a bi woman of the same age. Its a great introduction for people that are not that deep in to (intersectional) femenism yet. 

The only thing that I'm missing is when she lists marginalised groups she tends to omit disabled in the list. Maybe she focuses on it more in the full version, but sometimes every marginality is mentioned but that. I know it's the short version but it wouldn't have added a page I think.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Lesbophobia, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

cassie12_21's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective

4.25

This book was good and definitely gave me a few thing to think about (even as someone who is fairly far into the destruction of their internalized misogynist). Language used was inclusive, and I appreciated the inclusion of diverse groups, and not cis-het white feminism. 

 “disability” is not a word, It is supposed to be “ablest” 

A view of western feminism. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Rape, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

das_nomi's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.25

I really liked the book. And I think I understand the hype. There wasn’t a lot of new information for me personally. But it got me thinking about some of my friendships in a new way, even though the content is more about “partner”-relationships. I feel very empowered and would like to read the chapters that were missing in this tiny version. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Outing, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

It’s a lighthearted approach to the problems modern women* face in our patriarchal society. With helpful “tips” to overcome our own internalised misogyny and recognise our own faults as well as setting boundaries for ourselves.

james1star's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.0

On the whole I did ‘enjoy’ (not the most apt word but it’s what I’m going with) this book and would recommend it. What I liked most was how Given makes sure to address her privilege as an ‘average size’ cisgender white British woman within the discourse of feminism/feminist theory and acknowledges this fact and how marginalised groups (trans/non binary women, fat women, women of colour) are unfairly treated and held to a higher standard by both women and men. As many reviewers have said, a lot of what is actually said isn’t really all that groundbreaking but I would argue it’s been personalised to Given’s life at the appropriate points, it’s succinct, well written and accessible. I did only read the small edition so I’m guessing I missed out on parts too. Below are some notes I made on each chapter so if you’re interested in them check out the book for more information. I’d say it was a solid 4 star read. 

1. Challenging what we’ve learned and the society we’ve grown up in is hard and uncomfortable but needed for change to occur and the little discomfort is a lot less compared to the injustices, be patient but also call out when appropriate 
2. Being or making yourself more ‘pretty’ doesn’t make you any less of a feminist because society still values beauty in women highly, different standards for different women e.g. trans, fat, people of colour where additional prejudices are present, acknowledge privileges
3. Love yourself, no one really cares about what you’re doing/how you look, why settle when there’s something/one better 
4. Internalised misogyny prevents progress, ‘flaws’ are MAN-made, beauty standards are fake, healing own insecurities will lead to empathy and viewing other women differently/in a more positive light 
5. Queer feelings are valid, working though internalised homo/lesbo/bi-phobia, limited and stereotypical views of queerness prevented her from validating feelings, oversaturated heteronormativity in media (it’s ‘hetrifying’), queer women view others via a queer gaze not the typical heterosexual male gaze 
6. Women can and should enjoy sex too (if they want), reinforces notion they’re passive participants reserved for men’s desires, normalised discomfort forces queer women to repress their feelings 
7. Asking for consent > sexual assault, shows maturity and it’s the law, providing the option of not doing anything, need to learn this before sexual violence takes place, set and keep boundaries 
8. Can’t teach how to avoid sexual assault because it’s never your fault, rape culture, ‘preventative’ measures women take when that’s not the problem, it’s physically impossibly to “ask” for rape, openly discuss sexual violence from a young age to avoid it becoming normalised/accepted, rape’s the only crime where the victim is treated/questioned like the perpetrator, inconsistencies with reporting and sentencing
9. The price women pay for existing (so many adjustments, additional expenses, etc), spend money/energy keeping safe from men but paid less, standards are set by the hetero male gaze, ‘flaws’ generated by capitalist standards of beauty, still not that safe being visibly queer, women are meant to be sexy but when she uses this ‘power’ that’s a bad thing, how shame is used to put women down, sexual gaze thrusted on woman’s bodies (school uniform, nipples, etc) 
10. It’s okay and ‘normal’ to feel heartbroken, hard to quit people completely in our social media world, how to recover, craving romance doesn’t make you any less of a feminist 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia

readingpumpkins's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

2.5

extremely repetitive and classic white feminism. probably good for someone who has never read about feminism before/is very new to feminist ideas.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia

Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

it speaks about these topics in a feminist context

wintah's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

great book about intersectional feminism, self-love and healing. sadly i knew lots of it already. sometimes i felt it got a little repetitive but that might just be bc i was already familiar with so much of the content before hand. beautiful art. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Rape

holliesatchell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol

scarlettoliver's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Classism

lucy12345's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Misogyny and Rape

Minor: Biphobia, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia