How to Be a Woman

I wanted to like this more. I have little experience with her writing, but I read about this book ages ago in Chicago and thought it sounded interesting. As far as being a memoir, it's amusing and enjoyable. But as far as feminist manifestos go, it's very problematic. In brief, she's very naive about so many issues, I can't even begin to discuss them. She's also really narrow in her scope. Unless you are a CIS-gendered, fairly successful, 30-something white woman, little will relate to your life. She doesn't comprehend queer, asexual, trans, or anything beyond her scope. She doesn't understand that you cannot generalize either of the binary genders, because she spends the book making generalizations. She cannot comprehend the experience of poor women, women of colour, or anyone on the queer spectrum–and the problem is that she generalizes so much, she seems to think anyone who identifies as woman or has woman bits thinks the way she does. No. She's also naive in thinking that any place a gay man deems a safe space means it's welcoming to women. Not necessarily. This is no manifesto. It's not even a good introduction. What it is is a memoir by a woman who is still trying to figure her own shit out.

That said, she is often very funny, and she makes some interesting statements regarding abortion and having children–with which I even agree at times! I appreciate the fact that she tells you flat out her initial experience giving birth was horrendous, and not the lovely joyful day one is told it will be. It is disgusting and horrifying and should almost be required reading.

So this book isn't useless. There are three decent chapters toward the end and some quite amusing life stories. But read with a grain of salt.