Cover Image: Broader Standards

Broader Standards

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The brief essays, or "musings" you could say on Loustau's experiences and awareness of being female from a pre-teen up to her 70s are written with warmth and generosity. Loustau takes us through historically important moments for womankind whilst showing us the lacks that these highlight without preaching but rather by inviting us all to reflect on how we could help to shape the world we want to see.

At points funny, others sad, it is hard not to feel Loustau would be an ideal dinner guest with many interesting tales to tell. Though she highlights her many accomplishments, Loustau does not beat around the bushes telling us that her lack of acknowledgement for these is partly due to the patriarchal values held by large swathes of society and the inability of a single woman to change that.

Broader Standards book offers wisdom, humility and a hope for a brighter future for both men and women.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a set of short essays about being woman/female. The writer states that this book is not a biography, and the essays depict what it means to be a female in different years. The idea is indeed curious. The format serves the idea. Overall, this is a quick read, and some aspects of it will leave you thinking.
I would have liked to read longer essays with a little more depth into the subjects/periods discussed in relation to the context. Though, I understand that the intention was to offer a glimpse into being female, and we certainly need books that offer a practical read.

Was this review helpful?

I unfortunately decided to DNF this book at around 70% through.

I think my main problem with this is that it is centered around the US, their politics and politicians, their feminist issues and developments, and I am not American, so it felt utterly irrelevant to me. I usually give books I DNF one star but I think this would honestly be much more interesting for someone who is American, who understands the political terms and names of politicians. It just went straight over my head.

My other issue with this book is that it is very "white woman feminism". It lacks a perspective on intersectionality and it feels very self-centered. It didn't give me a new perspective on anything, but I would say it might be interesting for someone who is more new to the idea of feminism. I'm not.

I would still like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book, even if it wasn't a hit for me.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy reading this memoirs. It is an excerpts of author life in yearly summary. It's very interesting too that she added the major thing that's happening on that year, What is interesting, no matter what year it is, it feels like women nowadays is still fighting the same fight 50 years ago.

Just FYI for the publisher, check year 1990 - the chapter is writing 1989. i am sure it is a typo

Was this review helpful?