Being a Woman

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There were some historical and cultural insights offered that I did find interesting. For example the part about the time line of this story in relation to the Jewish calendar year. These aren't the only casually distasteful and problematic jokes Moran makes but these two stood out in my mind as particularly offensive. Since Moran takes a lot of time to discuss the harmful nature of the word 'fat', one would think she'd understand the damaging power of the R word and such ableist/transphobic language. Nothing can stop Shonda Rhimes. The creative force behind Grey's Anatomy , Scandal , and How to Get Away with Murder is always charging headfirst into her next project, producing so many series that soon enough she’ll basically own TV. But even Shonda Rhimes isn’t totally fearless. In Year of Yes , Rhimes faces a yearlong challenge from her sister to try to say yes to the unexpected opportunities that come her way. Leaving room for the unplanned, opening up beyond her comfort zone, and simply saying yes to what the world has to offer makes anything seem possible. 4. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

Rule #5: Don't say, "I want to reclaim the phrase 'strident feminist' in the same way the hip-hop community has reclaimed the word 'nigger.'" (SHE ACTUALLY SAYS THIS.)

While it’s impossible to capture the nuances and richness of the female experience, the following 10 books present unique, moving portraits of being a woman.

George Eliot’s 19th century classic Middlemarch tells the story of several characters in provincial England. It’s a moving and wise narrative documenting a moment in time, but also a timeless tale about human nature. Eliot’s book is brimming with idealism and a belief in people’s power to do and be good; it’s no wonder that many consider Middlemarch the book that changed their lives. Brilliant and optimistic, this admittedly long novel really is worth your time. 45. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

This book is a kind of humorous semi-memoir sprinkled with generous helpings of Moran's opinions on what it is to be a woman, which has a feminist slant. But this is not an academic text, it's a memoir with a mission, and she is always ready to drop politics momentarily for the sake of a good gag. As we all should be. Much as there is to quibble over a strictly academic handling of feminist thought, if your introduction to feminism began here chances are you will be tempted to think that a jocular disdain for transpeople and tch-tch-ing sympathy for women outside the sphere of Europe and America could be pardoned in the light of light-hearted banter. It was when I finally accepted that I was different and worthy, exactly as I was, that the clouds started to shift and I started to own the space I occupied.So did the book live up to my expectations? Not so much. The main reason is that instead of a funny feminist manifesto, the book is basically a memoir that should have been titled How to Be Caitlin Moran. Not that that is a bad thing as I still find Moran likable, but I generally do not like memoirs. I was expecting a book of ideas. And there are wide swaths of Moran's life that I simply can't relate to. Other than the chapter I Am a Feminist!, there's surprisingly little feminism in the book other than sprinkling the term "strident feminist" in some seemingly incongruous places (such as "But what am I wearing, now? As a strident feminist, how am I dressed?" [202] in the chapter I Get Into Fashion!). As though there's some sort of feminist dress code? It may be simpler to split this up into what I did and did not like about the book, so without further ado: This was reaffirmed when I heard an NPR interview with Caitlin Moran. She spoke intelligently about a variety of topics facing women and was very humorous in doing so. She sounded like someone I would like: funny, self-deprecating, and smart.