Kirsten Anderberg

There were some interesting topics covered in this anthology, but quite a few of the essays read more like personal anecdotes rather than gender/class/political analysis. This certainly has its place too, especially to those trying to increase their perspective of women's issues, but the book has its limits, and after a while I found some of the essays quite repetitive and the magazine feature type tone of the writing also started to lose its appeal.

Having said this, I think some of the essays are worth reading (notably number 19 on vaginas in art, mythology and history, number 20 on the lone woman of Saint Nicholas Island). I appreciated the discussion of the beauty industry and its use of chemicals and role in perpetuating unrealistic standards - something which the current idea of women's empowerment via purchasing power (status items purchased as an act of self love, make up and fashion solely presented as a means of expressing yourself, without reflection on the profit motive and/or effects on women's self esteem) would do well to read.

I gave this a three because a lot of the essays didn't interest me, but this hides that some of the essays in the book are 4-star, whilst others (quite a few) are only 1 or 2-star.… (more)