"Being a feminist means one thing to me: it means letting women make the decisions for themselves, and women having the opportunities and the equal playing field it takes in order to make those decisions for themselves. To me, everything else is just noise." The Frenemy blogger Alida Nugent (Don't Worry It Gets Worse) reiterates this belief in each of the essays that make up You Don't Have to Like Me. With unguarded honesty, blunt language and astute sarcasm Nugent confronts dieting, female friendships and sex. She humorously shares advice she's received and lessons learned in an attempt to invalidate negative stereotypes associated with the label "feminist."
While the content is presented in a playful manner, the underlying messages remain serious. Nugent dissects the logic of expecting women to be flattered by catcalling and highlights the dangers women confront daily, which require them to take precautions and be alert. She makes a stand against the discrepancies in subconscious lessons we teach boys and girls, how those messages need to change in order to create an equal playing field for both genders.
Nugent is forthright and at times quite explicit, which may make some readers uncomfortable. She doesn't expect every reader to want or need the same things she does. Her goal is, however, to have each reader realize those decisions are hers to make, and it's okay if their choices are different. You Don't Have to Like Me is wonderfully empowering and delightfully entertaining. For women or men, this collection of essays has valuable insight for everyone. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts