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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
Esta historia me hizo reflexionar sobre muchos aspectos de la maternidad y el "lugar" de las mujeres en la sociedad. Describe de manera tan sutil experiencias universales que vivimos por ser mujeres. Me hizo enojar, entristecerme e inspirarme.
Incluso en su condición psicologica se puede encontrar una respuesta: Kim Jiyoung somos todas.
Incluso en su condición psicologica se puede encontrar una respuesta: Kim Jiyoung somos todas.
4.5 stars
This was such a frustrating read-- in a good way.
Kim Jiyoung is a woman who became mentally unstable due to her past experiences and the book is an account of her life, how she faced misogyny from birth until motherhood. I felt extremely frustrated knowing that even though it is set in South Korea, women from all over the world still face these troubles, from subtle microaggressions to full-on harassment. I think the way the author handles feminism, misogyny in every area of a woman's life, extremely well considering they most likely went through the same thing. The language is simple yet effective and easy to digest. And the ending was just painstakingly spectacular. It made me realize that what women go through is not just the surface level that I'm aware of, but way more complex than that. This was a wonderfully eye-opening read and I'm glad that I picked it up.
This was such a frustrating read-- in a good way.
Kim Jiyoung is a woman who became mentally unstable due to her past experiences and the book is an account of her life, how she faced misogyny from birth until motherhood. I felt extremely frustrated knowing that even though it is set in South Korea, women from all over the world still face these troubles, from subtle microaggressions to full-on harassment. I think the way the author handles feminism, misogyny in every area of a woman's life, extremely well considering they most likely went through the same thing. The language is simple yet effective and easy to digest. And the ending was just painstakingly spectacular. It made me realize that what women go through is not just the surface level that I'm aware of, but way more complex than that. This was a wonderfully eye-opening read and I'm glad that I picked it up.
The footnotes at first are quite jarring, breaking form for the reader to imply, "I am not making this up". This suits the content; all the over-explaining and shrieking and manoeuvring that women have to do to be heard. Being taken at face value—being believed—is also a male privilege. Our author maintains this through and through, the rational and measured, almost clinical tone of her writing, the footnotes to published research and statistics—in what is supposed to be a work of fiction—and I would say, the final reveal at the end as well, all a rouse to be taken seriously.
At several points it comes across as a case study, again, we find out why towards the end. She chooses the form to be able to do justice to her content—she wants to describe, list, archive, with painstaking details, just how pervasive patriarchy is around us, even the kind we may have gotten used to. As if egging women to wake up to it.
The ending, however, does seem badly written to me, while the rest of the book has an explanation for its tone, however the ending could have been the author's moment to show finesse of her art, which for me, did not land at all.
At several points it comes across as a case study, again, we find out why towards the end. She chooses the form to be able to do justice to her content—she wants to describe, list, archive, with painstaking details, just how pervasive patriarchy is around us, even the kind we may have gotten used to. As if egging women to wake up to it.
The ending, however, does seem badly written to me, while the rest of the book has an explanation for its tone, however the ending could have been the author's moment to show finesse of her art, which for me, did not land at all.
informative
reflective
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
informative
reflective
The rage and helplessness this book made me feel.
“When Kim Jiyoung was in elementary school, her mother was reading a one-line comment her homeroom teacher had made on her journal assignment and said, ‘I wanted to be a teacher, too’
Jiyoung burst into laughter. She found the idea outrageous because she’d thought until then mothers could only be mothers.”
The way her mother went through so much because of her brothers when she was younger and had to work to pay for their tuition yet she still treated her daughters and son differently, made them sacrifice some things for him, made them do all the work and babied him, is baffling. And I can’t even be mad at that I kind of understand why she acted that way, it’s just disappointing.
My favorite topic to talk about and biggest mystery for me: menstrual cramps
“‘Half the population in the world goes through this every month. If a pharmaceutical company were to develop an effective pill specifically for menstrual cramps, not the “pain medication” that makes you sick, they would make a fortune.’
‘You’re right, in a world where doctors can cure cancer and do heart transplants, there isn’t a single pill to treat menstrual cramps.’ Her sister pointed at her own stomach. ‘The world wants our uterus to be drug-free. Like sacred grounds in a virgin forest’”
I always thought it was just impossible for doctors to come up with an “effective pill” for cramps but after reading this I get mad when I’m having excruciatingly painful period cramps. I seriously wanna know why we still have to suffer with it in this developed world.
Another point that actually made me sit and think for a long time after reading:
“‘The women take on all the cumbersome, minor tasks without being asked, while guys never do. Doesn’t matter if they’re new or the youngest - they never do anything they’re not told to do. But why do women simply take things upon themselves?’”
The fact that both Jiyoung’s in-laws and Jiyoung’s mother’s in-laws pressured them into getting pregnant and made it clear that it has to be a boy is terrifying. Look how much time passed and their mindset still hasn’t changed. I knew before even starting the book that she’s gonna quit her job to take care of her newborn but I still hoped and begged she wouldn’t while reading it. And the way her husband treated the situation so apathetically made me want to rip the damn book apart. I know he was showing her a little bit of support but he just watched her fall apart WHILE SHE’S TAKING CARE OF HISSS CHILD. He made her look and sound crazy tbh I hated him.
Plus his solution for his entire family literally calling his wife names and making fun of her for not getting pregnant, was “to just have a kid”.
Quite literally what he said was:
“‘Let’s just have a kid. If we’re going to have one eventually, why not avoid the lectures by just having one? We’re not getting any younger.’”
He must’ve thought for a long time to come up with that solution; a round of applause for him
“When Kim Jiyoung was in elementary school, her mother was reading a one-line comment her homeroom teacher had made on her journal assignment and said, ‘I wanted to be a teacher, too’
Jiyoung burst into laughter. She found the idea outrageous because she’d thought until then mothers could only be mothers.”
The way her mother went through so much because of her brothers when she was younger and had to work to pay for their tuition yet she still treated her daughters and son differently, made them sacrifice some things for him, made them do all the work and babied him, is baffling. And I can’t even be mad at that I kind of understand why she acted that way, it’s just disappointing.
My favorite topic to talk about and biggest mystery for me: menstrual cramps
“‘Half the population in the world goes through this every month. If a pharmaceutical company were to develop an effective pill specifically for menstrual cramps, not the “pain medication” that makes you sick, they would make a fortune.’
‘You’re right, in a world where doctors can cure cancer and do heart transplants, there isn’t a single pill to treat menstrual cramps.’ Her sister pointed at her own stomach. ‘The world wants our uterus to be drug-free. Like sacred grounds in a virgin forest’”
I always thought it was just impossible for doctors to come up with an “effective pill” for cramps but after reading this I get mad when I’m having excruciatingly painful period cramps. I seriously wanna know why we still have to suffer with it in this developed world.
Another point that actually made me sit and think for a long time after reading:
“‘The women take on all the cumbersome, minor tasks without being asked, while guys never do. Doesn’t matter if they’re new or the youngest - they never do anything they’re not told to do. But why do women simply take things upon themselves?’”
The fact that both Jiyoung’s in-laws and Jiyoung’s mother’s in-laws pressured them into getting pregnant and made it clear that it has to be a boy is terrifying. Look how much time passed and their mindset still hasn’t changed. I knew before even starting the book that she’s gonna quit her job to take care of her newborn but I still hoped and begged she wouldn’t while reading it. And the way her husband treated the situation so apathetically made me want to rip the damn book apart. I know he was showing her a little bit of support but he just watched her fall apart WHILE SHE’S TAKING CARE OF HISSS CHILD. He made her look and sound crazy tbh I hated him.
Plus his solution for his entire family literally calling his wife names and making fun of her for not getting pregnant, was “to just have a kid”.
Quite literally what he said was:
“‘Let’s just have a kid. If we’re going to have one eventually, why not avoid the lectures by just having one? We’re not getting any younger.’”
He must’ve thought for a long time to come up with that solution; a round of applause for him
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated