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Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson
2 reviews
pmhandley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Really enjoyable. Paulson treats herself with grace without letting herself off the hook for the harm she's done to others. In your head you're constantly thinking "well she has to get out NOW" but she sinks further in and feels trapped. Almost couldn't believe the getting a DUI in her new car, the night of her car party. I do wish the ties to white supremacy were articulated better. Not because I'm skeptical (I totally can believe MLMs uphold white supremacy and a specific image of white, Christian womanhood) but because Paulson asserts it a lot without deeper analysis. I got the feeling it was a more academic area that wasn't really in her wheelhouse for a memoir. Nonetheless, her criticism of larger power structures in the context of her MLM isn't talked about enough and I thought it was valuable that she pointed it out throughout her story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual assault and Homophobia
lilybear3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I might be a little obsessed about reading cults and MLMs. I think it's because myself and people outside of them can't fathom how powerful and influential they are on people. It's a car crash you can't seem to look away from. What makes this book stand out from others is the fact that Paulson was high up in the MLM scheme. She is brutally honest about her privilege as a white woman with a heteronormative family, her addiction recovery, and the inner workings of an MLM.
Writing is casual while giving readers information. At times, it is humorous with little quips, but overall, it is vulnerable and honest. I also appreciated the design of the cover. Best of all, the beginning of each chapter had flow chart/pyramid graphic of how her rank and downline continued to grow (and diminish). Absolutely genius.
While I'm super interested in the topic, objectively, this book is great and should be on everyone's reading list. I also appreciated that she says people who are in MLMs are simultaneously victims and abusers (may have used a different term, enablers?). It can seem like only fools would fall for these scams but the scams prey on vulnerable people and use compelling rhetoric. She says the book isn't to scold people, but to hopefully help them realize the danger these companies are. In addition, there's a paragraph about how be there for someone you know in an MLM. Importantly, she has resources for help with MLMs and addiction in the back of the book.
Writing is casual while giving readers information. At times, it is humorous with little quips, but overall, it is vulnerable and honest. I also appreciated the design of the cover. Best of all, the beginning of each chapter had flow chart/pyramid graphic of how her rank and downline continued to grow (and diminish). Absolutely genius.
While I'm super interested in the topic, objectively, this book is great and should be on everyone's reading list. I also appreciated that she says people who are in MLMs are simultaneously victims and abusers (may have used a different term, enablers?). It can seem like only fools would fall for these scams but the scams prey on vulnerable people and use compelling rhetoric. She says the book isn't to scold people, but to hopefully help them realize the danger these companies are. In addition, there's a paragraph about how be there for someone you know in an MLM. Importantly, she has resources for help with MLMs and addiction in the back of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cancer, Religious bigotry, and Medical content
Minor: Body shaming and Homophobia
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