The Trouble With Women

The trouble with women is that our brains are so feeble and unable to comprehend complicated thoughts that the fact that this graphic novel is very pointed satire would be lost on us.

Fleming tongue-in-cheek points out the ridiculousness of believing women to be inferior to men intellectually, emotionally, physically, using historical examples. I laughed a number of times -- I laughed, so I wouldn't cry. The art is fantastic. The humor is biting. The commentary spot-on. Also, the "domestic sphere" may be the best play on words I've ever seen.

The trouble for women is that there are men who still think this way.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

I love my history with a snide of snark. And does author Jacky Fleming ever deliver in The Trouble With Women. In this season of unbridled misogyny on display on the campaign trail, Fleming’s book provides the perfect antidote.

This book, illustrated with winsome cartoons, recounts how “genius” after “genius” — Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher Immanuel Kant, critic John Ruskin; Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, and so many more — employed pretty much the same circular logic to defend keeping women down:



Fleming turns this all on its head with her cartoons and her insightful, satiric prose: “Schopenhauer show more said only men had the total objectivity necessary for genius, and that you only had to look at a woman’s shape to see that she wasn’t intended for much mental or physical work” (illustrated with a cartoon of the great genius philosopher pontificating while a woman carries an overflowing, capacious coal bucket by him.) Or “When African slave Phillis Wheatley wrote poetry, 18 men came to assess whether that was possible.”

But with The Trouble With Women, seeing Fleming’s work is believing:

A hilarious, if bittersweet, look at hundreds of years of rationalizing the subjugation of women. Highly, highly, highly recommended. And a special shout-out to Alienor, who introduced me to this fantastic book! show less

Well this was interesting. It's a look at different (male) "geniuses" from history and the things that they've said regarding women. It's an illustrated depiction of some of these observations, in all their ridiculous glory. (Did they not hear themselves? Did they know what they were saying?) It's a nod to accomplished women who have somehow not made it into the history books. It's a reminder of how difficult things have been for women—for all women, but especially women of color.

The illustrations are amazing, and Fleming approaches the subject with the perfect amount of snark. Laugh-out-loud funny in some places, and very moving in others. Be prepared to roll your eyes in a couple spots. 4.5 stars, rounded up because of the humor.

This is a wonderful little book that addresses the issue of why women have been left out of the history books. Focusing mainly on science, maths and art, Fleming details why women were just not good enough to stand alongside the great men of history. With a wonderful use of sarcasm and some on point witticism, she has rescued a few important women from the 'Dustbin of History' and shed light on the hardships women faced and the sneaky ways they found to get round such hardships. I absolutely loved how very done all the women looked in the illustrations, especially when those 'great' men were prattling on about women not being smart enough. It was also wonderful to see important historical women of colour rescued from the Dustbin of show more History, as they are even more likely to be not taught about at school.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will be shoving it in all my friends' hands. show less

I'd been waiting for this since I first heard about it, and it was a birthday present. It didn't disappoint.

Many of the pages had me laughing out loud. Very funny, and I learned a few things. I thought there'd be a little more information on some historic women, but I see that isn't the aim. I definitely encountered a few that I'd never seen before though. The quotes from Darwin and Schopenhauer are outrageous!

It's hard to communicate in a written review, but the women's expressions were very well done. I already knew Jacky Fleming's work from the internet, so the style and type of humour weren't a surprise. If you like her stuff, then this is worth a read.

Down through the ages, women have been trouble, or maybe that should be they have been troubled, or perhaps trouble just follows them. Regardless, they have overcome their shortcomings! Even though they started out with heads that were too small, arms that were too short, and bodies that fell over when not supported by corsets, the rise of feminism after only 2,000 years is something to behold and to hold on to. This lovely little book filled with delightful illustrations and satirical commentary will charm the socks off both male and female readers.

A unique tongue-in-cheek take on the history of women. I loved the sarcasm. Here are some of my favourite lines:

In the Older Days there were no women which is why you don't come across them in history lessons at school.

In the 700 years between Hildegard of Bingen and Jane Austen women writing was frowned upon, because it required thought, which interfered with childbirth.

Women found lifting a pen very tiring as it caused chlorosis which disrupted blood flow and in some cases led to uterine prolapse. Or was that the corset?

Some art by women has accidentally been considered great, a mistake easily rectified by placing it in the dustbin of history.

Girls weren’t allowed to study science because their reproductive organs made them show more irrational, and abstract thought doesn’t get the curtains hung.

Would highly recommend it. Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book. This review is my personal opinion and has not been influenced anyway by anyone. show less