By: Millie Nevelos, Programs & Events Intern
“But remember that anyone who tells you you’re ‘too’ anything is using the word because they are threatened by your capacity to grow, evolve and express your emotions.” (31).
Florence Given is a British feminist best-selling author, illustrator, and podcast creator; her debut book, Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, is an accessible read describing that starts a conversation about intersectional feminism and explores themes like self-empowerment, gender roles, and privilege. The book may read elementary to those well-versed in feminists texts but is an excellent starting point for anyone who is interested in an introduction to feminist criticism. The book is written in a conversational style that is easier to read and understand.
The book is split into 21 chapters to represent her age, 21, at the time of writing the book. The chapter titles themselves are engaging and help to divide the book into sections, one being entitled “Protect your Energy” and “Women do not exist to satisfy the male gaze.” Quite a few chapters deal with dating and discuss consent, which can act as a helpful guide for young women entering the scene. The way these concepts are written is through a comfortable tone which allows the book to be approachable and accessible to those with less knowledge about feminism. Feminist theory is often an overwhelming field and it’s difficult to know where to start without feeling as though everything you’re reading is foreign and this book is a great stepping stone. Women*s Student Services work is based on an accessible and inclusive approach, much like the women Given discusses in her book. A lot of her topics discussed are ones that W*SS tries to incorporate into events like working on self care through wellness wednesday’s.
One of her chapters is entitled “Check your privilege” where she discusses how it is important to understand that her words come from a place of privilege but also acknowledges that her experiences are not those of all women and she cannot comment on experiences of women of other races. It is important to understand that her book is an introduction to the field and that her work is influenced by many before her and by many Black voices, of which she names.
This book helps to water down difficult topics and conversations in a way that is digestible which makes it a great conversation starter, and also makes it a great book to hand off to a relative or someone you feel could benefit from a basic understanding of feminist theory. However, if you are looking to delve deeper into this field then I would recommend any of the authors listed below. I have read Chidera Eggerue’s “What a Time to be Alone” and that book is a fantastic read; all of these authors write a unique perspective that is worth reading and if this field is something you want to be more well-versed in, then they are a great place to start.
MUNROE BERGDORF
CHIDERA EGGERUE
LAYLA SAAD
RACHEL CARGLE
CHAR ELLESSE
RENI EDDO-LODGE
AFRICA BROOKE
RACHEL RICKETTS
Given, Florence. Women Don’t Owe You Pretty. Cassell & Co, 2020.
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