Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

21 reviews

sarah_speaks's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Abortion, Medical trauma, Ableism, Child abuse, Racism, Classism, and Infertility

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Cancer

marisamoo's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Abortion

Moderate: Grief and Child abuse

cdoubet's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Sexism

Moderate: Abortion, Body horror, Cursing, Alcohol, Blood, and Slavery

Minor: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Terminal illness, and Violence

jaduhluhdabooks's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Civil Townsend is a Black nurse who committed to healing her community, particularly the community of Black women in Montgomery, Alabama. Taking place in the early 1970s, this novel takes us on Civil’s journey with two of her patients, Erica and India - sisters who are recipient care from the clinic located in their part of town. Civil discovers that this clinic is doing much more than the prevention care it is aimed to do. After a horrific event, Civil vows to support the families in need who are victims of this injustice.

This a story about conquering. Conquering fears - whether it’s the fear of man or society, or the fear of self. This is a book about unconditioned love. What does it mean to love someone so deeply you would go to ends of the earth for them? Even if they’re not your blood, you would still give them everything to watch them know just how loved they are. This is a story about the realities of healthcare and Black maternal health, shining a light on the inequalities and inequities that existed then and continue to exist now when it comes to reproductive care and justice for Black women. It was heart wrenching and informative and a reminder that we still have so much work left to do.

In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, this is a powerful and critical book to read. I am grateful to have listened to this story. For the healthcare providers who are fighting for Black women’s healthcare rights and the justice that is indeed pertinent to the cause of safety and care when it comes to Black women. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Abortion, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, and Medical content

bowbeforeloki's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was emotionally driven , heartbreaking and wonderfully written. It speaks of the reality of what women of color experienced during this time span and captures 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Pregnancy, Grief, Infertility, Misogyny, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Ableism, and Classism

Minor: Sexual assault, Hate crime, Rape, Colonisation, and Sexism

arisol's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

A deeply troubling, but vital novel, connecting a long history of system abuses to what we continue to see today. The character development and relationship-building is moving and carries an important weight to the plot. Highly recommend, will read other books by this author.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Classism, Sexism, Abortion, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Ableism, and Infertility

Minor: Cancer

gremlinpride's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Pregnancy, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexism, Classism, and Racism

Minor: Abortion

Includes descriptions of the medical, psychological, and criminal consequences of involuntary sterilization of poor black children in the 1970s, though the actual procedure is not depicted on page.

allisonbuzard's review

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I thought that this story weaved together complex history, a compelling plot, and complicated but likable characters into a very readable story. The author explored the complexities of fertility, childbearing, childrearing, reproductive justice, and women’s choices tenderly and with nuance while detailing the horrifying intersections of race, class, and disability-based eugenics as part of the narrative. As a social worker, the main character was so relatable to me- her new-career- unhealthy-need-to-help was a mirror to my own early professional learning. I love a good back and forth past and present dueling time narrative. Definitely a book I’d recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Classism, and Sexism

Moderate: Abortion and Medical trauma

theladyjess's review against another edition

emotional informative sad slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexism, Medical trauma, Infertility, and Classism

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Cancer

bookishmillennial's review

 disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial 
 
This is based on a real lawsuit & on the true story of Mary Alice and Minnie Lee Relf who, in 1973 at ages 12 and 14, were surgically sterilized without their consent in Montgomery, Alabama. 💔

Dolen Perkins-Valdez painted such a rich story with important historical context! I had no idea about the lawsuit that inspired this book & while I was horrified & devastated for the women, I was not surprised that the horrific racism that seeped into our health care system. I really don’t understand how the federal government felt these were ever rooted in “good intentions”🤮

I related to Civil a lot because you already know I can be sanctimonious and self-righteous😅 However, she had damn good reason to be! She spoke up about the unethical, immoral shit that happened because she deeply cared not only for her patients but for Black women everywhere. She knew how important having a choice was & she never wanted that taken away from anyone.

If you’re a historical fiction girly, please give this one a go! The audiobook was FANTASTIC btw👏🏽
 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Classism, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Ableism, and Sexism