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A review by erine
Take It as a Compliment by Maria Stoian
Take is as a Compliment offers a series of stories, one right after the other, of sexual cringeyness. From strangers casually putting their hands all over a young girl, to date rape, to abusive relationships, it's a lot. And while the title itself does not appear in the stories, it undergirds the entire collection with that societal reprimand that inevitably appears after anyone complains of unwanted sexual attention: just take it as a compliment. These stories make it clear that this attention is anything but a compliment.
I read this, and then unintentionally followed it up with watching Promising Young Woman. Both are somewhat bleak depictions of the reality of sexual assault. Both hammer home the unrelenting pervasiveness of sexual entitlement and sexual abuse. So while utterly depressing, there *is* something lightening about simply acknowledging the realities of the world we live in. Take it as a Compliment is more expansive and inclusive: addressing a variety of icky situations between all sexes and genders, while Promising Young Woman was more laser focused on the exploitation of women.
I read this, and then unintentionally followed it up with watching Promising Young Woman. Both are somewhat bleak depictions of the reality of sexual assault. Both hammer home the unrelenting pervasiveness of sexual entitlement and sexual abuse. So while utterly depressing, there *is* something lightening about simply acknowledging the realities of the world we live in. Take it as a Compliment is more expansive and inclusive: addressing a variety of icky situations between all sexes and genders, while Promising Young Woman was more laser focused on the exploitation of women.