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A review by bluenicorn
Sex Object: A Memoir by Jessica Valenti
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