Women Don't Owe You Pretty

Women Don't Owe You Pretty is a 2020 book by the British activist and illustrator Florence Given. On the topic of intersectional feminism, Given writes about relationships, body image and self-esteem for women. The book sold 100,000 copies within six months of publication and was listed on The Sunday Times' bestsellers list for twelve consecutive weeks, peaking at second place.

Women Don't Owe You Pretty
Front cover
AuthorFlorence Given
CountryUnited Kingdom
SubjectIntersectional feminism
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherCassell
Publication date
11 June 2020
ISBN9781788402118

Background

Author Florence Given is an artist and campaignist, active on the social media platform Instagram.[1] She was aged 21 at the time of the book's release.[2] Given was both writer and illustrator.[3] Describing her aim with the book, Given said that she aimed to "hopefully poke some holes in [the] façade" that women "need men, their validation and the products they sell to us to make us look 'better'", saying that "capitalist patriarchy requires us to be submissive and insecure in this way".[4] She perceived that it would make readers "demand a new level of love for themselves".[5] Given found it hardest to write a chapter on consent and rape culture, saying that "the one thing [women] all have in common is that almost every single one of us has been sexually assaulted or sexually harassed by men".[2]

In September 2019, it was announced that Cassell—an imprint of the Octopus Publishing Group—had acquired the rights to the book.[1] The book was published on 11 June 2020.[4] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Given recorded narration of the audiobook from her home.[5] An Instagram campaign by Given began in August 2020, when Given had roughly half a million followers, encouraging users to post pictures of themselves holding her book.[6] A signed "gold edition" was released by Waterstones in late 2020.[7][8] Octopus Publishing Group began a guerilla marketing campaign in Birmingham, London and Manchester, and on social media, in December 2020.[8]

Chidera Eggerue, who was quoted on the front cover of the first edition and cited as one of Given's influences within the book, criticized the book as unusually similar to her own books in style and prose content. She argued that this was an instance of ideas from the black community being appropriated by white authors for profit. Eggerue also criticized Google for highlighting Given's work alongside or above her own for many readers who searched "Chidera Eggerue book", "black feminist books" or similar phrases. Given replied to Eggerue's comments, which included description of her previously donating part of her book advance to black liberation charities. Eggerue was dissatisfied with Given's response.[9][10][11][12]

Synopsis

Through the lens of intersectional feminism and social privilege analysis, Given discusses topics including body positivity and self-esteem, consent in relationships, emotional labour, internalised misogyny, masturbation, microaggressions, rape culture and slut-shaming. The book contains checklists and questions for the reader to consider. Given gives advice on recognising gaslighting, racial fetishism and other negative actions or signs in a relationship, as well as discussing how queer relationships affect a culture of heteronormativity. She has a fictional conversation with her younger self as a framing device for exploring the topic of male validation.

The book's title is derived from a quote by lexicographer Erin McKean, "prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked female".

Reception

According to Nielsen BookScan, roughly 50,000 copies had been sold by 20 June 2020, and the book reached 100,000 sales within six months of publication.[6][8] The book became a number one bestseller on Amazon and a 2020 bestselling hardback non-fiction book for Waterstones.[2][13] It was listed in The Sunday Times' bestseller list for twelve weeks from 21 June to 6 September 2020, debuting at third and peaking at second, with a lowest position of fourth.[14]

Phoebe Luckhurst of the Evening Standard gave the book four stars out of five, describing it as "rallying, radical and pitched perfectly for her generation" and praising the "stylish, stylised illustrations" and Given's tone as "vehement without being unremitting".[3] BBC Science Focus listed it as one of the "28 of the best non-fiction and fiction books" in 2020, with reviewer Camilla Pang writing that the book made her feel "safe but also empowered, abundant, and confident" in her womanhood.[15]

References
  1. Chandler, Mark (25 September 2019). "Cassell bags influencer Given's 'accessible leap into feminism'". The Bookseller. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  2. Aspinall, Georgia (15 June 2020). "'I Just Want To Make Women Wake Up To Their Power': Florence Given On Why You Will Feel Uncomfortable Reading Her New Book". Grazia. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  3. Luckhurst, Phoebe (4 June 2020). "Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given: rallying, radical and pitched perfectly for her generation". Evening Standard. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  4. Galvao, Carol Abbott (24 June 2020). "Florence Given". Wonderland. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. Bennett, Sophia. "Florence Given on her debut book Women Don't Owe You Pretty and acknowledging privilege". Gay Times. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  6. Comerford, Ruth (20 August 2020). "Women Don't Owe You Pretty author launches instagram campaign". The Bookseller. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  7. Waterstones [@Waterstones] (6 November 2020). "The must-have volume for any Florence Given fan: An exclusive special edition of her debut book Women Don't Owe You Pretty, signed by Florence herself and featuring gold sprayed edges. Secure a copy here:" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  8. Cowdrey, Katherine (7 December 2020). "Octopus unveils guerrilla campaign for Women Don't Owe You Pretty". The Bookseller. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  9. Young, Sarah (10 December 2020). "Chidera Eggerue accuses Florence Given of 'copying' her book: 'This is exactly how white supremacy works'". The Independent. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  10. Aspinall, Georgia (15 December 2020). "'If You Need A Diversity Reader, You Need To Pass The Mic': The Slumflower Responds To Florence Given's Statement". Grazia. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  11. "The Truth About Influencer Publishing: '50% Of Deals With Influencers Are As A Result Of Their Following, Rather Than Their Writing'". Grazia. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  12. Wray, Rebecca (18 December 2020). "From The Slumflower to Florence Given: why influencer books about feminism seem so similar". The Conversation. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  13. Lee-Potter, Emma (20 December 2020). "10 best non-fiction books of 2020: From Obama's memoir to Nigella Lawson's cookbook". The Independent. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  14. "The Sunday Times Bestsellers". The Sunday Times. All dates from 2020.
    • Second position: 28 June
    • Third position: 21 June, 19 July, 6 September
    • Fourth position: 5 July, 26 July to 30 August
  15. Barrett, Amy (8 December 2020). "28 of the best non-fiction and fiction books we read in 2020". Retrieved 20 December 2020.

Further reading
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