One of my favourite non-fictions I’ve read ( )

Florence Given, born in 1998, is a former student at Plymouth College of Art and the London College of Fashion; her occupation is listed on Wikipedia as "feminist social activist." As of the year 2022, her main claims to fame are this book (which was bedeviled on publication with charges of plagiarism), and her participation in an online campaign demanding that Netflix cancel a certain program for the sin of "fat-shaming." (The program died a natural death after two complete seasons, but still exists in reruns on Amazon Prime.) Although Given's primary platform is Instagram (thus earning her the coveted designation "influencer"), she has brought forth a second book, a novel entitled "Girl Crush." According to Amazon, "Girl Crush" chronicles the wacky adventures of an omnisexual woman on social media, thus demonstrating the length and breadth of Given's literary imagination. In fairness, it is unlikely that her book was inspired by the execrable "Girls" show on HBO, although the weltanschauung is similar: Given is hardly a deep thinker, but I don't believe the accusations of plagiarism that accompanied the release of the book we consider here.

Onward: I tarry too long in my review of Given's first book. This is not accidental; I've been trying to think of something positive to say about it. At best, it could charitably be compared to a baccalaureate speech delivered by a particularly surly and ill-tempered graduate of a pricey girls' finishing school. All the usual third- and fourth-wave feminist talking points are there: if you're a female, you are utterly perfect, and your only handicaps are your privilege (if you're white) and your brainwashing by the patriarchy. You "owe" the males who cross your path each day absolutely nothing (true enough, although courtesy might be a nice touch), and you owe yourself everything. Per the book's title, she is particularly outraged by women who regard physical beauty as a thing to be desired. (It must be noted, however, that Given herself is a noticeably attractive woman, and makes no effort to hide it in publicity photographs, of which there are many. Her scorn for "prettiness" is based on something far more malevolent than mere sour grapes.) If she has created an audible edition of this book, I can almost hear her sobbing, screaming, and stamping her foot as she reads.

Feminism has never been a joke, especially in its earlier iterations. Like the labor movement, it had its excesses, but it was a catalyst (one of many) to equity in America. It only became a laughing stock when it reached the campuses, and was attached to misandry and socialism by women and men whose ideologies are pathological, not merely political. Florence Given's vulgar little manifesto is not even an example of feminism at its worst: it is merely another hoarse yelp from the already noisy fever swamps of the left.

Not recommended. ( )

Meget langtrukken, det er ikke en egentlig bog med et plot. Meningen bag bogen er fantastisk, det er kun derfor den får 5 stjerner. ( )

Women don’t owe you pretty. Door: Florence Given.

Ironisch genoeg gaven de title én de cover me zin om het boek te lezen. Het is een glossy boek, met harde kaft en veel kleurrijke illustraties, ik verwachtte niet dat ik er iets in zou onderlijnen. En toch deed ik dat veelvuldig, wat wil zeggen dat ik het écht een goed boek vond.

Florence is jong, wit, slank, cisgender en heeft geen lichamelijke beperkingen, dat maakt dat zij (net als velen onder ons) privileges heeft en daar is ze zich terdege van bewust. Daarnaast heeft ze als queerpersoon vaak af te rekenen met vooroordelen en soms zelfs vijandigheid. En, zoals een grote groep vrouwen, werd zij jammer genoeg het slachtoffer van seksueel misbruik. Al die bagage en ervaringen én haar onuitputtelijke drang tot groei maken haar een stem waar je naar wilt luisteren. Zij doet de schellen van onze ogen vallen op het vlak van witte privileges, het patriarchaat en het kapitalisme, de male gaze, consent, lichaamshaar en zelfliefde. De goede en slechte kanten van sociale media, gender en seksualiteit en zo veel meer komen op een boeiende, recht voor de raap manier aan bod in dit urgente, hedendaagse boek.

Veel dingen die ze schrijft zijn niet nieuw maar de manier waarop Given ze brengt is dat wél: duidelijk, eenvoudig en met diepgang, krachtig, herkenbaar en geflankeerd door haar geweldige illustraties. Women don’t owe you pretty is een boek dat je op je nachtkastje moét hebben. ( )

Perhaps not as stimulating as Clementine Ford books, but still some great messages ( )