Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories From the Twenty-first Century by Alice Wong

41 reviews

booksjessreads's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is such an eye-opening anthology of essays from disabled people to speak their realities of being disabled in such an ablest world. The stories were so deeply personal and evoked so much emotion. I liked how through the audio, the essays felt more like dialogue with the reader, or like an official talk. Alice Wong and Alejandra Ospina read this with the right tone and made it so digestible despite the heavier content. 

This book does not solely focus on disability, but contributors also discuss further intersections of identity, such as gender, sexuality, age, race and religion. This allows the reader to understand how society further disadvantages those with these intersections and offers a deeply moving and rage-inducing account of US society. 

I enjoyed the audio so much I am getting my own print version to get more familiar with the text. This is essential reading and is one of the most informative reads I have read this year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Ableism, Transphobia, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death and Pregnancy

metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Rape

amberinbookland's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Excrement, Ableism, Terminal illness, Mental illness, Blood, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Medical content, and Death

tigger89's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was an incredibly informative read. As Alice Wong notes in her introduction, these essays aren't presented with the intention of swaying abled readers. There's little sugarcoating or gentle easing in these chapters, and often the rage behind the words is palpable. With many of these essays, the reader is expected to meet the author where they are, and to do the work themselves to understand any concepts that don't make sense. This is okay. After all, we've got google in our pockets and are capable of searching up a reference.

It's not all frustration and anger, though. Several of the essays focus on community, companionship, and finding joy. I smiled the whole way through "Guide Dogs Don't Lead Blind People. We Wander as One." even at the inevitable moment of sadness. The collection also makes a point to end with positivity, with the entire last section focusing on community and the final essay detailing a moment of joy at a performance conducted by and for the disabled community.

I think most readers would walk away from this volume with at least a few thoughts to chew on, even if you've already spent some time pondering or working in disability advocacy. The sheer diversity of the voices presented virtually guarantees it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Chronic illness, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Excrement

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Rape

lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. Alice Wong as the editor has gathered a wide range of essays and interviews from people with disabilities, and the collection covers a huge range of topics. I liked the approach of reading about the different aspects of disabilities that people wanted to discuss; topics range from medical care, discrimination, wheelchairs and artificial limbs, transportation, and accessible clothing. I appreciated the wide selection of topics. The only flaw I would say with this book is that some of the essays are so short (three pages), that the reader is left wanting more. A few felt like they introduced a topic and then abruptly ended. Overall, a very strong collection of narratives and a fast read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Fatphobia, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Ableism, Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

atuin's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Truly an amazing collection detailing stories from people with different backgrounds all living in a world with disabilities. This book helps communicate how disabled people are not lesser in any way, and are perfectly able and willing to lead happy lives if given the proper chance. A must read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Ableism, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Sexism, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Medical content, Genocide, Death, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Police brutality, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Acephobia/Arophobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Sexism, Confinement, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Abortion

anniefwrites's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

This plethora of stories and voices shows that disability is not a monolith. As a non-disabled person, I really value the breadth of experience that Wong included, and I think it’ll be a great foray for me to become more involved with disability justice. Wong also has an ongoing GoFundMe for medical expenses if you read and got something out of this book and want to contribute: https://www.gofundme.com/f/alice-wong-stay-in-community

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Fatphobia

softgalaxy's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Everyone should read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Xenophobia, Colonisation, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Sexism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Classism, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Hate crime, and Sexual assault

Minor: Blood and Acephobia/Arophobia

madeline_the_terrible's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Rape