Cassell Women Don'T Owe You Pretty: The Debut Book From Florence Given

This book has been somewhat empowering. Florence Given has made some feminist ideas digestible. However, it is digestible for white, middle-class, pretty women whilst disguising itself as being intersectional. Florence has taken it upon herself to be the voice of many and speak up on issues that she has never experienced herself such as disability and fatphobia. Her approach and the words she uses to define these experiences can be extremely damaging to people who live the reality of what she is merely theorising. In one section, she has created "privilege checklists" which are too overly simplified. The disability checklist only looks at disability from a visible perspective and completely ignores those who suffer with invisible disabilities which is invalidating and trivialising for those with hidden disabilities. I really wish that Florence Given would learn to pass the mic. If you want to feel really, truly empowered then I recommend What a Time to Be Alone by Chidera Eggerue.

It's not very well written and feels like you're reading an Instagram post. The points jump about quite inconsistently in the paragraphs.It's good introduction to feminism for teens or young adults, or new to feminist reading as its presented in a fun way.There was a paragraph at the end stating FG has put some resources in the back of the book to help readers, but the resources were not there. It's quite telling really, and seems to be virtue signalling and performative feminism.If you're going to give help, it needs to be followed through.That being said this book does probably have a place for young teens.It is not 'life changing' and I was quite disappointed to find it was the same rhetoric that FG talks on IG as I was a fan of her for a while.

This book is a Copy of Chidera's book. Do the right thing and buy the right book.

Perhaps this would be a great manual for 16 year old girls to set their minds off in the right direction.For everyone else it's a case of a pretty, white, middle class girl finger wagging and reminding you that you are a terrible person, but don't worry Florence is here to help (despite being barely old enough to have lived any form of sustained painful and arduous life worth even a shred of wisdom)In the future we will be able to look back on this as a document that perfectly encapsulates the age of business savvy young Instagram influencers using their power over young people to make money under the pretence of social justice.Givens carefully chosen artwork creates a mould for the rebellious young woman, a brand even. There is a consistent look depicted in the drawings and cover photo.Interestingly, the 'look' is by most standards... pretty! with the only noticeable difference being tufts of armpit hair.The message seems clear (as mud)'Break the rules!.... but break them like THIS' Carefully branded rule breaking, brilliant.Another common theme in the book is the authors regular checking of her own privilege. At first this seems reassuring. However, once we see it happen for the umpteenth time one must wonder.. If you make a massive contradiction then acknowledge said contradiction, how does that pardon the fact that you are rife with double standards? Surely the solution would be not to perform the double standard in the first place?Anyway, she got my money. She got yours. That's all that matters. We all ate it right up with its bold dopamine releasing colour scheme. It's sexy sentences full of short term stimulation. It's a thirst trap Instagram post in book form.The genius is in the branding more than the content. There are other authors making the same efforts with twice as much integrity and grace.

Ive never written a review before but I absolutely could not stand by and listen to this childish approach to 'feminism'. Trying to blame men and society for you insecurities will not do anything to help you be more comfortable with yourself. She comes across as deeply insecure and caring waaay too much about what men think, this is an issue with a young girl needing validation. I think what she is experiencing is normal teenage stuff just like every other girl experience in teen years when your hormones are everywhere. I felt dictated to and did not relate to this middle class ideology in the slightest.