Half the Sky

I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of the socio-economic and political problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.

I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of socio-economic problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.

I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors basically ignore the causes of socio-economic problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating them in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north and are a bit racist. They make a huge deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this really has almost nothing to do with solving the problem. They also describe muslim women in a really patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves.