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Apr—How to Be a Woman (2016)
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I have to confess that I don't really like Caitlin Moran. I find her opinions very hit and miss, and I would encourage people reading her for the first time to think about intersectionality, as I find that she writes from a white middle class background
I've read the book last December and I'm not planning to re-read it this month, I found it very hit and miss. It was the book that throw me into more actual feminist essays because it was the only I was able to found in Spanish, but I wouldn't consider it The Book. So, my advice is to read carefully. Yes, Moran indeed has interesting things to say, but many times she write it in the worst way possible. I feel that the book was written for white middle class women in a first world country as many of her "advices" are useless for me. I wish her feminism was more intersectional, 'cause she barely mentions race issues, ignores completely the transgender community and many other cultures. She is funny, yes, sometimes...
I don't hate the book (hate is such a strong word) but I also don't like it very much. But, of course, if anyone wants to form an opinion about it, I strongly recommend reading it.
I read the book one year ago, in Spanish. I think it's a great book, funny and personal (which I always appreciate). It's not that I love every single part of it, some parts are more interesting than others, and it happens to be more interesting at the beginning and a little repetitive while you advance it, but it's worth reading. And it's super easy and quick to read it, too. I specially like the emphasis she put on being polite. A lot of things of this world will be solved if people were just polite to each other.
I read it last year and I had fun with it, although I also agree that it's very hit and miss and the first chapters are the best part of it. Anyway, I think that tends to happen with this kind of book. She writes about different topics from a very personal point of view and it's difficult to agree with everythings she says. I appreciate the humor though. I believe it is what makes the book enjoyable throughout, even on the matters we don't see eye to eye.
I read it last month and like other people above me have said, it's very hit-and-miss. As a disabled feminist myself I found it strange that she didn't touch on intersectionality at all, something that I think is very important. I would advise reading critically; I didn't agree with all of what she said, but it was enlightening being exposed to a different viewpoint.
Rochelle wrote: "I have to confess that I don't really like Caitlin Moran. I find her opinions very hit and miss, and I would encourage people reading her for the first time to think about intersectionality, as I f..."I read this book shortly after the release, and found it rather entertaining and eye-opening.
Have you read "How to be a woman" Rochelle?
Caitlin's upbringing could not be any less middle class than it was. This is further represented in a Channel 4 series "Raised by Wolves" (written by Caitlin).
I suggest to anyone reading [any] book for the first time, do not take the opinions at face value. Let it provoke thought, which in time will form your own opinions.
Caitlin's opinions are rooted in her personality (upbringing + experiences + education + nationality + countless other factors) and you don't have to agree with every single one of them. Frankly, it would be worrying.
That said, enjoy the humour in this book and don't expect it to be everything to everyone. After all, how much can we expect from 300-odd pages?
I enjoyed reading the book and agree with some things that she said.
Alexandra wrote: "Caitlin's opinions are rooted in her personality (upbringing + experiences + education + nationality + countless other factors) and you don't have to agree with every single one of them. Frankly, it would be worrying."I review the book a couple of months ago (in spanish) and I said something like this. It is almost impossible to agree with every single thing Moran wrote in this book. I don't like the book very much, but I appreciate certain parts of it, especially with Moran talks about topics she is more acquainted with.
I read this a couple years ago and absolutely loved it. I didn't 100% agree with all of her opinions-- like finding something else to call your vagina, for example-- but even what I didn't agree with was enjoyable to read. I'm re-reading it now after having had a child just 6 weeks ago and I find it different. It's interesting to see my own perspective change and I think that this is a great book to experience that with.Personally, I think the best advice for those reading the book for the first time is to read it as a consciousness raising tool. Moran talks about this in the prologue (I believe): That what we need as modern women is to talk about the minutiae and laugh at what is imposed bullshit. This is a great book to do that with.
Jessica wrote: "I read this a couple years ago and absolutely loved it. I didn't 100% agree with all of her opinions-- like finding something else to call your vagina, for example-- but even what I didn't agree wi..."I read it when it first came out too and loved it. Reading it again over the last few days, realised I'd forgotten how funny it was. For me, there was many LOL moments.
I don't quite get what she's saying when she claims that women have not equaled men professionally - I don't agree, and I think her view of feminism differs sometimes from what I believe it to be, but as she says in the book, this is what should be encouraged- that feminism can matters something slightly different to each woman as long as it does matter.
Mostly I just like the way Caitlin encourages us to laugh at the demands placed on women today, and love the way she ridicules it.
I think the problem is going in thinking it's a feminist manifesto - it's most definitely not. It's basically a memoir, so mid-way through I did a brain adjustment. After that, I wasn't really upset I didn't agree with all her views. I found her amusing for the most part, although some bits were better than others. I must admit that I think I had added enjoyment from the British slang.
I would suggest thinking of it as a memoir, not a book of rules for feminists to follow.
I agree with Erin: the problem is treating this book as a feminist manifesto. In the beginning Moran states clearly it is not one saying it's only her contribution to a fouth (or it was third?) feminist wave. I don't like the book so much, but maybe reading it as a memoir it's more useful. I find it amusing and enjoyable because Moran it's indeed funny in the most part, but I would like her views were a little more intersectional (I was a little annoyed when (view spoiler)).
But one positive thing I can say about the book is that, in most cases, Moran knows how to balance the funny with the serious.
I read this a few years ago and remember liking it. My brother in law also read it and wanted my sister to read it. I have a copy of Moranthology which I haven't read yet so I'll read that instead.
I hear the comments about intersectionality! Still, overall I would call it successful because she's not writing theory; she's writing about her own personal experiences, filtered through the lens of feminism. There were some elements of the book that frustrated me (generalizing women as heterosexual, but hey! i'm not heterocentric - look, i have a fabulous gay male bestie, stereotypes and all!), but overall I enjoyed it.. particularly the bits about weddings, the search for love and overthinking, and the gaga interview.
I read the book and just love the fact that this is such a colorful perspective. I have always been slightly put off by people to think there is just one set of rules for women or one set of rules for feminist. Feminism is about creating equality and allowing women to make choices the same way men do. The author might have opinions or an attitude that I do not necessarily agree with, but she lives authentically, making choices, discovering the world, herself, and her point of view, I admire that.
I love how she describes the process of becoming a woman needing words for her female parts, needing to fit into society, needing love, and I loved reading how she made her choices.
Feminism is to create a world where any girl can do what a boy can. If we ever get to that utopia, we will be a colorful society. With all men and women making different choices, some we like, others we do not... And that will be all ok.
I decided to read it for a second time after finding a copy for $2.99 at an op shop ( thrift store) what I liked about this book the first time was it was funny and reflected one woman's personal experiences growing up as a feminist. I'll be posting again after I've reread it.
Remember that no two people ever read the exact same book! I'm still waiting for my copy from the library. Can't wait to start!
I tried reading this book a few years ago during my feminist awakening, and couldn't get into it. Now that I've been educating myself on it for a few years, I find it easier to understand her perspective as I'm reading it. As a young feminist myself, I appreciate her talking about teenage years through a feminist perspective, and find myself being able to relate to some of it, even though I don't understand most of her pop culture references. I probably did go in treating this as a manifesto, so I'll stop that as I continue reading.
I have read it before and I won't be reading it again now. Memoirs are interesting but not my favourite genre. Her message is ok and some passages are funny, but I remember being put off by how I felt the book made assumptions on my behalf ("we, as women, all agree that..."). I don't think it does, really- it was just an impression I had. Memoirs can't as easily be speaking about the diverse crowd, that is just not their point. The book is about her experiences, and they will translate differently into the various readers' lives.
I've read it before and really enjoyed it - some very funny moments. I always read it as a memoir, never as a guide to being a feminist. However, just to respond to some of the comments above, Caitlin Moran is not coming at this from a white, middle class privileged background. She may be white, but her up bringing was certainly not privileged in comparison to the rest of British Society at the time of her childhood.
I think it's also a bit unfair to expect every feminist author to touch on intersectionality etc. in their writings. They are writing from their point of view, from their experiences. The beauty of the world, and especially arts, is that there are so many different avenues and journeys life can take you on and stories to write about. We aren't all the same and why would you write about something you don't have experience of?
Personally I found the book entertaining and an uplifting, lighthearted entry into feminist writings. Some things I agreed with, some things I didn't, but that's okay because my experiences and hers are different.
I'm going to re-read it this month though and make some proper notes.
The minimal expectation is just avoiding racist, cissexist, transphobic and ableist language...
Any advice for those of us reading for the first time?