54
Hope Kuchel
Book RevieW Women don’t owe you pretty Content warning: this piece contains references of sexual assault and rape.
With more time on my hands recently, there could not be a better time to read Florence Given’s debut book Women Don’t Owe You Pretty. Given is a 21-year-old Queer artist, activist and writer, and her debut book is an introductory approach to feminist conversation: From unpacking the male gaze, to insecurity projection and recognising one’s own privilege. Alongside this, the book if full of unique, playful and beautiful illustrations.
Women Don’t Owe You Pretty is written as a pep talk in addition to a guide on how to start thinking about feminism that moves away from the limited narrative we have been forced to believe. Although Given provides the foundations to some uncomfortable truths, there is always a theme of self-love in whatever chapter you read. The book is divided into 21 chapters, all of which unapologetically tackle a different aspect of feminism that lead on from one another, allowing your thoughts to grow as the book goes more in-depth. The opening chapter begins with ‘Feminism is going to ruin your life (in the best way possible)’ followed by the quote “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there”. This quote quite literally deserves to be at the beginning of this book as it perfectly encapsulates the fear we hold about moving forward and growing, which is exactly what the book encourages you to do. Chapter 12, ‘If it’s not a fuck ‘yes’, it’s a fuck ‘no’’, covers rape culture, the male gaze, unhealthy boundaries and consent. Given uses this chapter, and many others, as a chance to get nit-picky and provide checklists that people can use. One specific part which stood out to me was ‘Here are a few ways to ask for consent’, followed by a list of great ways to seamlessly fit the question into flirting and foreplay. I remember watching an episode of New Girl where CeCe states “There is nothing less sexy than a dude asking if he can kiss you”, but here Given has listed eight examples of how you can ask the question in a nonawkward, non-scripted way.
