Thank you for this, I've not read Gilbert's book but still felt some catharsis in reading this. Def felt you when you went full caps, you have to wonder how someone can write a book where there's so much about sex but apparently hasn't ever talked to a kinky person once in their life.
Just saw this book in left bank and thought "I wonder what Raechel thinks about it."
Thank you for answering so thoroughly. Love love love, including the swerve to Sabrina and the at times unraveling tenor!! Just can't wait for your book.
Who even knows where to start but good grief, you absolutely nailed this. I’ve been banging on about what has been normalized and having many a conversation with A and community. Also, you just do femme queers so right— I am gushing.
Not that it needs saying but I’m going to anyway: YES YES YES.
The nuanced critique that encompasses and transcends Gilbert’s work, peppered with relatable exasperation, is SO refreshing. I always appreciate the historical context you bring to these arguments, pushing back on the ahistorical literalism so many writers are approaching these topics with.
thank you!!! I would love to sit down sometime and talk about (and/or interview you about) your work in anti-SV spaces because the anti-porn feminists 2.0 really love to claim we don't care about victims which is so truly crazy-making.....
The professionalized SV/DV/anti-trafficking fields have really contributed to incoherent critiques that disempower survivors from healing and empower carceral feminists to take up the torch of “saving women,” and I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I appreciated reading your perspective. I read the book, and enjoyed it, but didn’t read it critically. Mostly I was just sitting back listening to Ani DiFranco’s many albums from the aughts, thinking that I don’t understand straight people.
This is so fair, I’m glad you used it as an excuse for Ani!!!! (& “I don’t understand straight people” is kind of the crux of what led to my critical reading, because she ignores the queers!!)
Of course though there’s plenty to critique about The L Word, it was on the air from 2004-2009, but I’m not sure Gilbert mentioned that at all? I don’t remember.
Also relatedly (and making this about myself lmao) idk if you’ve caught my new white lotus episode but we unpack the sexual politics of it and I think you’d enjoy + agree (from one pervert to another ❤️🔥)
I have been soooo frustrated at the rewriting of Andrea Dworkin’s legacy as if she hasn’t always been SWERFy. It’s distressing!
Extremely distressing!!!
Thank you for this, I've not read Gilbert's book but still felt some catharsis in reading this. Def felt you when you went full caps, you have to wonder how someone can write a book where there's so much about sex but apparently hasn't ever talked to a kinky person once in their life.
Just saw this book in left bank and thought "I wonder what Raechel thinks about it."
Thank you for answering so thoroughly. Love love love, including the swerve to Sabrina and the at times unraveling tenor!! Just can't wait for your book.
<3 :) thank youuuu!
Who even knows where to start but good grief, you absolutely nailed this. I’ve been banging on about what has been normalized and having many a conversation with A and community. Also, you just do femme queers so right— I am gushing.
<3 <3
Not that it needs saying but I’m going to anyway: YES YES YES.
The nuanced critique that encompasses and transcends Gilbert’s work, peppered with relatable exasperation, is SO refreshing. I always appreciate the historical context you bring to these arguments, pushing back on the ahistorical literalism so many writers are approaching these topics with.
thank you!!! I would love to sit down sometime and talk about (and/or interview you about) your work in anti-SV spaces because the anti-porn feminists 2.0 really love to claim we don't care about victims which is so truly crazy-making.....
Would be honored!!!
The professionalized SV/DV/anti-trafficking fields have really contributed to incoherent critiques that disempower survivors from healing and empower carceral feminists to take up the torch of “saving women,” and I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I appreciated reading your perspective. I read the book, and enjoyed it, but didn’t read it critically. Mostly I was just sitting back listening to Ani DiFranco’s many albums from the aughts, thinking that I don’t understand straight people.
This is so fair, I’m glad you used it as an excuse for Ani!!!! (& “I don’t understand straight people” is kind of the crux of what led to my critical reading, because she ignores the queers!!)
Of course though there’s plenty to critique about The L Word, it was on the air from 2004-2009, but I’m not sure Gilbert mentioned that at all? I don’t remember.
haven't read the book but your review confirms some of my worries abt it. great review!
Thank you!!!!
Also relatedly (and making this about myself lmao) idk if you’ve caught my new white lotus episode but we unpack the sexual politics of it and I think you’d enjoy + agree (from one pervert to another ❤️🔥)
Oooo, I'm so behind on podcasts, putting that next in my queue!!!!!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
This is excellent 🙏🏻
Thank you so much!