"Purity"
"Abstinence"
"Chastity"
"Value" (equals no sex)
"Virginity"
For those who are utterly sick of these made-up words filled with made-up meanings conceived by men in order to control and shame women, 'The Purity Myth' is for you.
All the above words have the same fundamental purpose: To keep women young and caged. To keep their "chastity" - perceived cleanliness - fetishized, their value as a person to lie in their "pureness", their morality to depend on how much sex they have. Women as inexperienced, childlike, feminine, unsullied, not "dirty", and as submissive commodities.
Or keep women like un-sucked lollipops, un-plucked flowers, un-popped cherries (urgh! WHY?), and keep men like natural sex predators who need to have sex early with the "pure" girls (see the nonsensical contradiction and double standard already?).
It's just to keep women from doing anything at all, really, so they'll stay at home as ideal, silent wives and mothers, available for men to do as they please to them.
The US epidemic, the "virginity-movement", as the author describes it, and abstinence-only education - which is proven again and again never to work but is prioritised over actual, effective and safe sex education regardless, that's how entrenched our male-dominated society is in controlling women's sexuality - these really feel like a widespread cult. It's a system aiming to reinforce old sexist ideas to "protect" women, and empower men as the "keys" to open clean "locks" or passive "gatekeepers" (this rhetoric makes no sense whatsoever, but that's misogynistic double standards for you). It's another method of treating women like property to be owned and passed down from man to man - from father to husband. Women are continuously discouraged from having a choice in how they express their sexuality and live out their sexual lives - or even from thinking about it, except as a dirty thing only dirty, "impure" girls do. They aren't given the information they need for a healthy sex life, because the idea of a woman even having a sex life (especially if it isn't to please men) is viewed as immoral, unnatural.
It is natural. It is the idea of virginity and purity which is the dangerous lie.
Jessica Valenti writes like a kind, reassuring and savvy friend. She sources the facts, sites real stories relating to how the obsession with women's sex and virginity - how it is they who are made to be responsible for men's actions towards them - is endangering them. She analyses this issue and takes into account all its widespread, complicated angles (What is virginity, exactly? It doesn't physically, biologically exist, so how is it meant to work? Where did the notion come from? etc...)
There is America's disturbingly common tradition of the creepy "purity balls", filled with incestuous undertones and overtones (it's all about ownership; suddenly "daddy's little girl" takes on a much darker subtext). Abstinence pledges (which boys don't have to take, or aren't pressured to be as serious about it, because their sex lives are not made a huge part of who they are by society's standards, and they are not shamed because "Boys will be boys"). The culture of men and macho "manliness" applying to dominance and remaining above women in human rights.
There's the continuously-controversial debate on the rights to abortion - where the decisions are made, dictated and controlled by the men in the US and other governments. Their approaches to this include prioritising the humanity of the foetus over the pregnant woman (even hiring lawyers for the foetus, I wish I was joking), treating women like clueless idiots, and using scare and shame tactics to try to discourage them from having abortions. Even today, available US abortion health clinics are at risk - it is all about taking away women's right to make choices for herself, with or without a man's permission (I am pro-choice).
There's “femiphobia”, the patriarchy-created-and-controlled Madonna/Whore complex, the illogical fallacy of victim-blaming - which stems from misogyny, rape-apologists and the media's and law's desperate attempts to shift responsibility from the rapists, and how the "virginity-movement" completely erases the existence of the queer community and the experiences of anyone who isn't white, skinny, English-speaking, and of traditional, attractive and "safe" Christian values.
It's all ludicrous and insidious. When it comes to sex and women, it's all about dehumanising women - distrusting them, confining them, taking away their liberties, shaming them into traditional gender norms of marriage and sex only for procreation. Remember, sex for any other reason is immoral in a female; once she's seen as a slut or a whore, she is no longer worthy of human status as far as the patriarchy/virginity-movement is concerned (not that she had been respected much as a person before).
She is seen as less than nothing, because lord forbid that women enjoy sex.
This needs to stop now.
I love 'The Purity Myth' - an absolute must-read feminist book. So shocking, so utterly unbelievable, yet the stories included really are wretchedly happening. So reassuring - the end chapter gives the reader information about existing sex-positive, feminist factions that are honest and aspire to shatter purity myths in our ever-changing culture.
Mainly about America, but whose problems are present in other countries as well, here is a collection of important facts about the awful, over-funded epidemic of abstinence-only education, and the obsession with women's non-existent virginity status above everything else about her as a valued human being.
For girls, being good means sex after marriage, for marriage and babies is all the virginity-movement expects from them. Through communication, let us change that!
Final Score: 5/5
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Scribble #4
I write to open up all my senses.
It's got nothing to do with my menses.
It tenses.
Never condenses.
No pretences of soul.
I write to live. To be free. With new lenses.
It's got nothing to do with my menses.
It tenses.
Never condenses.
No pretences of soul.
I write to live. To be free. With new lenses.
Saturday, 30 January 2016
Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' by Peggy Orenstein
2023 EDIT: Part of my 2023 clear-up, of books I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
"Dispatches from the front-lines of the new girlie-girl culture." - A feminist text from 2011.
Another eye-opener - revealing the dark side to the cute sparkles and glamour often forced on girls, and then used to infantilize women. I'm wondering now whether the "girly" stuff I was into as a kid was due to my own taste, or if it was just because other girls seemed to like them and I unconsciously didn't want to be left out. To belong to the default "norm".
Now I identify myself as someone who likes both girly and not-so-girly things such as superheroes, books (of any genre), movies (action's a fave), and dark, tragic, clever storylines. And feminism too.
I recommend 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' for people who want to raise feminist daughters in a world that's ridiculously obsessed with dividing people into what's for boys and girls - all for marketing reasons, of course - and is saturated in PINK!
Our profitable, consumerist media and marketing commonly appear to have an exaggerated, perhaps warped, but definitely simplified, concept of what "masculine" and "feminine" mean. This can affect how we view gender from a very young age, and it is harmful. It limits potential in young people. It even threatens those who defy preconceived sexist assumptions and live free to be themselves.
'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' is snarky, well researched and insightful from start to finish. Indeed, it could save girls' lives -or at least their independence - commencing from infancy, before it's too late. Additionally it debunks biological difference myths (marketing techniques make it so natures becomes nurture. It’s its own stubborn self-fulfilling prophecy, whether it realises it or not).
Despite the excuses that "Girls will get over it eventually", "It's just a phase, they'll grow out of the princess stuff", and "It's just TV/music/a movie/make-up, why are you making a big deal out of nothing?" - used to avoid uncomfortable discussions - people are influenced by the media and it's stereotyped depictions all the time.
The book's personal touch comes from the author, Peggy Orenstein, talking about her own experiences in raising her daughter. They are charming, yet simultaneously heartbreaking; how can other people be so cruel to kids based on gender expectations? This is pressuring, and damaging; no wonder so many girls (and boys) have such low self-esteem. No doubt these contingencies are relatable to quite a few parents.
'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' also analyses: the phenomena of the Disney Princesses (Orenstein's right - none of them actually look at each other in any of the promotional materials, so much for girl power); superheroines (yey!); beauty pageants for girl toddlers (I loathe this subgenre of reality television to my very core, and I'm elevated to know it's addressed, researched and discussed thoroughly here); female celebrities and authority figures (young and older), and how the media trivializes, sexualizes and disrespects them in a world full of impressionable young girls; the Madonna/Whore complex; 'Twilight''s lack of agency and independence in its identifiable female "role models"; online and public misogynistic bullying and harassment; as well as a variety of other important topics which affect girls in their daily, social lives.
It isn't perfect, and I don't agree with everything Orenstein says (I personally love anything Disney in spite of its flaws), but it is a useful guide to making the world safer and more diverse for women and men - starting from birth. (And it's sometimes true that, in our patriarchal times, even foetuses are judged and catered to based on their perceived sex - before they've been born!)
Plus, if you didn't hate the colour pink before, after reading 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter', you might. You realise that PINK! is everywhere: in toy aisles for "girls", the toys/kitchen appliances/make-up kits/dolls themselves, "girls" floors, even whole stores for "girls". No wonder a lot of little girls say it's their favourite colour - it's like there's no other choice of colours available to them! Whereas boys are given more freedom of choice when it comes to ambitions, toys and media target demographic (action, trains, planes, cars, weapons, doing more practical/developing/creative stuff etc.)
I'm glad books like this exist, so as not to despair at the state of how society tends to treat girls and women. If Cinderella says, “A dream is a wish your heart makes”, then we can wish for a fairer world; make it our combined dream. Believe in a just cause - a change. Let us work together to make real “girl power” and inclusion happen.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
"Dispatches from the front-lines of the new girlie-girl culture." - A feminist text from 2011.
Another eye-opener - revealing the dark side to the cute sparkles and glamour often forced on girls, and then used to infantilize women. I'm wondering now whether the "girly" stuff I was into as a kid was due to my own taste, or if it was just because other girls seemed to like them and I unconsciously didn't want to be left out. To belong to the default "norm".
Now I identify myself as someone who likes both girly and not-so-girly things such as superheroes, books (of any genre), movies (action's a fave), and dark, tragic, clever storylines. And feminism too.
I recommend 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' for people who want to raise feminist daughters in a world that's ridiculously obsessed with dividing people into what's for boys and girls - all for marketing reasons, of course - and is saturated in PINK!
Our profitable, consumerist media and marketing commonly appear to have an exaggerated, perhaps warped, but definitely simplified, concept of what "masculine" and "feminine" mean. This can affect how we view gender from a very young age, and it is harmful. It limits potential in young people. It even threatens those who defy preconceived sexist assumptions and live free to be themselves.
'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' is snarky, well researched and insightful from start to finish. Indeed, it could save girls' lives -or at least their independence - commencing from infancy, before it's too late. Additionally it debunks biological difference myths (marketing techniques make it so natures becomes nurture. It’s its own stubborn self-fulfilling prophecy, whether it realises it or not).
Despite the excuses that "Girls will get over it eventually", "It's just a phase, they'll grow out of the princess stuff", and "It's just TV/music/a movie/make-up, why are you making a big deal out of nothing?" - used to avoid uncomfortable discussions - people are influenced by the media and it's stereotyped depictions all the time.
The book's personal touch comes from the author, Peggy Orenstein, talking about her own experiences in raising her daughter. They are charming, yet simultaneously heartbreaking; how can other people be so cruel to kids based on gender expectations? This is pressuring, and damaging; no wonder so many girls (and boys) have such low self-esteem. No doubt these contingencies are relatable to quite a few parents.
'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' also analyses: the phenomena of the Disney Princesses (Orenstein's right - none of them actually look at each other in any of the promotional materials, so much for girl power); superheroines (yey!); beauty pageants for girl toddlers (I loathe this subgenre of reality television to my very core, and I'm elevated to know it's addressed, researched and discussed thoroughly here); female celebrities and authority figures (young and older), and how the media trivializes, sexualizes and disrespects them in a world full of impressionable young girls; the Madonna/Whore complex; 'Twilight''s lack of agency and independence in its identifiable female "role models"; online and public misogynistic bullying and harassment; as well as a variety of other important topics which affect girls in their daily, social lives.
It isn't perfect, and I don't agree with everything Orenstein says (I personally love anything Disney in spite of its flaws), but it is a useful guide to making the world safer and more diverse for women and men - starting from birth. (And it's sometimes true that, in our patriarchal times, even foetuses are judged and catered to based on their perceived sex - before they've been born!)
Plus, if you didn't hate the colour pink before, after reading 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter', you might. You realise that PINK! is everywhere: in toy aisles for "girls", the toys/kitchen appliances/make-up kits/dolls themselves, "girls" floors, even whole stores for "girls". No wonder a lot of little girls say it's their favourite colour - it's like there's no other choice of colours available to them! Whereas boys are given more freedom of choice when it comes to ambitions, toys and media target demographic (action, trains, planes, cars, weapons, doing more practical/developing/creative stuff etc.)
I'm glad books like this exist, so as not to despair at the state of how society tends to treat girls and women. If Cinderella says, “A dream is a wish your heart makes”, then we can wish for a fairer world; make it our combined dream. Believe in a just cause - a change. Let us work together to make real “girl power” and inclusion happen.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Friday, 29 January 2016
Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Everyday Sexism' by Laura Bates
Read it. Seriously. It should be required reading for every single person alive.
'Everyday Sexism', written by Laura Bates, unstoppable journalist and founder of the online Everyday Sexism Project, is an unrepentant eye-opener. Of all the books about feminism I have read, none have affected me as personally as 'Everyday Sexism'. No other text has made me this angry, upset, horrified, and this gratified to say, "I'm not alone; I'm not the only one who thinks this!"
All texts have made me hopeful as well, and ‘Everyday Sexism’ is no exception.
In the 21st century, the world - the patriarchy - really seems dead set on objectifying, threatening, hurting, humiliating, abusing, controlling, and vilifying women. It seems constructed so that everything in the "free lives" of human girls and women is made unattainable and unsafe for them in general. Above all, the patriarchy wants to silence women and their experiences; to limit them, reduce them to invisibility, pornography and jokes.
To keep them compliant to what is normalised socially.
The consequence is that the problem of sexism/misogyny is now much harder to speak up about than ever before. This system was built by and for men; it caters to them - the winning, historically privileged gender - above all other, divided genders. The patriarchy is designed to make sure that women fail in every aspect of their lives - in order to give life still to old, harmful gender stereotypes and double standards. And retain the status quo.
It is a world against women; turning our society into women against the world.
'Everyday Sexism' bluntly states the importance of statistics, of listening to people's experiences, and in doing so it reveals deeply disturbing, rage-inducing and heartbreaking facts. It is also incredibly smart, witty, and approachable for all. Every argument is addressed, and comments/quotes from the Everyday Sexism Project - bravely posted by real women and men from different walks of life - are looked at and discussed. Laura Bates gets right to the root of the problem of sexism, and how it works in every aspect of our everyday culture. She explains why it is essential for a cultural shift to happen in order to dispel myths and illusions, and create a truly equal society that’s here to stay; one befitting this century.
Because change and hope are possible - we just need to be bigger, better and numerous enough, as a people, to demand them. Together. It is important to remember that none of us are alone.
Every passage and comment in this remarkable book deserves its own frame. However, I'll end my review with a couple of actual posts I'm paraphrasing, but which have stuck out for me because they put it best the ways sexism sadly lives on, obvious and effective:
"My gender is not an insult. I'm sick of this shit."
"We speak up against sexism, we are silenced. We shout loudly enough to be heard, they bring up the harpy-women-be-crazy card. Lose-lose."
This isn't fiction. This is happening even now, every day.
One of the most important texts I've ever felt the need to recommend universally.
Final Score: 5/5
'Everyday Sexism', written by Laura Bates, unstoppable journalist and founder of the online Everyday Sexism Project, is an unrepentant eye-opener. Of all the books about feminism I have read, none have affected me as personally as 'Everyday Sexism'. No other text has made me this angry, upset, horrified, and this gratified to say, "I'm not alone; I'm not the only one who thinks this!"
All texts have made me hopeful as well, and ‘Everyday Sexism’ is no exception.
In the 21st century, the world - the patriarchy - really seems dead set on objectifying, threatening, hurting, humiliating, abusing, controlling, and vilifying women. It seems constructed so that everything in the "free lives" of human girls and women is made unattainable and unsafe for them in general. Above all, the patriarchy wants to silence women and their experiences; to limit them, reduce them to invisibility, pornography and jokes.
To keep them compliant to what is normalised socially.
The consequence is that the problem of sexism/misogyny is now much harder to speak up about than ever before. This system was built by and for men; it caters to them - the winning, historically privileged gender - above all other, divided genders. The patriarchy is designed to make sure that women fail in every aspect of their lives - in order to give life still to old, harmful gender stereotypes and double standards. And retain the status quo.
It is a world against women; turning our society into women against the world.
'Everyday Sexism' bluntly states the importance of statistics, of listening to people's experiences, and in doing so it reveals deeply disturbing, rage-inducing and heartbreaking facts. It is also incredibly smart, witty, and approachable for all. Every argument is addressed, and comments/quotes from the Everyday Sexism Project - bravely posted by real women and men from different walks of life - are looked at and discussed. Laura Bates gets right to the root of the problem of sexism, and how it works in every aspect of our everyday culture. She explains why it is essential for a cultural shift to happen in order to dispel myths and illusions, and create a truly equal society that’s here to stay; one befitting this century.
Because change and hope are possible - we just need to be bigger, better and numerous enough, as a people, to demand them. Together. It is important to remember that none of us are alone.
Every passage and comment in this remarkable book deserves its own frame. However, I'll end my review with a couple of actual posts I'm paraphrasing, but which have stuck out for me because they put it best the ways sexism sadly lives on, obvious and effective:
"My gender is not an insult. I'm sick of this shit."
"We speak up against sexism, we are silenced. We shout loudly enough to be heard, they bring up the harpy-women-be-crazy card. Lose-lose."
This isn't fiction. This is happening even now, every day.
One of the most important texts I've ever felt the need to recommend universally.
Final Score: 5/5
Thursday, 28 January 2016
Non-Fiction Book Review - 'We Should All Be Feminists' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2020 EDIT: Changing my rating. Read this review here for the reason why.
While I take away only one star because Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie does bring up some very good points, I cannot in good conscience support exclusionary feminism, by a blatantly exclusionary feminist. Feminism that isn't inclusive isn't feminism, it's the height of arrogance, ignorance, hypocrisy, patriarchal and conservative complacency, and refusing to progress, grow and move on with the times (that is, acknowledging that queer people have always existed - and in the millions, if not billions - and they matter as much as het and cis people). Humans' ability to grow and progress in society is what feminism has always been about.
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. LBGTQ people - including the trans and nonbinary communities - matter, and deserve equal rights. Transphobes and TERFs seem to be so obsessed with biology, genitals and what's between other people's legs - which is invasive and dehumanising. And they call trans people perverted.
To deny anyone basic human rights; to deny the existence of, or to ignore, or to attack, or to tell lies about, people who are hurting no one, who have done nothing to you, who don't affect your life in any way, and who you have probably never met - that is hateful. And feminism isn't about hatred, division and ignorance. Because that's what the patriarchy is about, and we have to be better than that.
Additionally, when it comes to 'We Should All Be Feminists', what is with people, including "feminist" women!, being in favour of the idea that men are inherently physically stronger than women. Even of that were true (it isn't; look up Kati Sandwina and other women like her), so what? How does that prove that women are inferior and deserve to be treated as subhuman? Why does it mean that men are biologically superior to women? What meaningful conclusion can be reached from the "because biology" statement (hint: biology and genetics aren't everything and don't apply to everyone)? What does possessing physical strength have to do with being a leader - being able to run a business, or rule an entire country? It only further highlights how much patriarchal societies are obsessed with violence and aggression. And women do not have smaller craniums and smaller brains; I thought that myth had been debunked over a century ago.
Bigots, keep remembering what century you're in, please.
That's my new review. Have a nice, lovely, safe day.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
'"You know, you're a feminist."
It was not a compliment. I could tell from his tone -- the same tone with which a person would say, "You're a supporter of terrorism."' - page 8.
Lilly Ledbetter Law - “in the US, a man and a woman are doing the same job, with the same qualifications, and the man is paid more because he is a man.” - page 17.
My first five star book of 2016!
This essay, adapted from the author's TEDx talk, on why we need feminism and why it is so important for everyone, happened to be in a bookshop when I went travelling to go shopping. I read it in half an hour, while waiting for my bus back home. It turned a rainy day into one full of hope. I'm so glad texts like this are being distributed and sold publically.
I had read and loved other acclaimed feminist textbooks before, but 'We Should All Be Feminists' is short, basic yet insightful enough to be easily accessible to absolutely anyone in one sitting. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks briefly about the history of sexism, the reasons for sexist human divisions, and her own experiences of sexism throughout her life; giving it a personal, warm, relatable touch, like a letter from a friend.
An important letter which speaks the truth, breaks down the gendered bullshit in certain cultures, and shatters myths that are built and indulged in by the patriarchy and white supremacy working hand-in-hand.
I love Adichie stating how society raises boys to be "manly" in an extremely narrow sense. We raise them to be emotionless, where only anger and dominance are preferred expressions. We raise them to be physically stronger; to be “hard”, masculine, and violently reject anything considered feminine, like crying - a perfectly natural thing for humans to do but is discouraged in males all the time. By social rule, to be in any way associated with girls is the ultimate insult. In consequence, we stifle men’s humanity. I wanted to cheer when Adichie says that by perpetrating this normalised behaviour, we leave men with very fragile egos. And girls are raised to cater to those fragile egos, lest they feel "emasculated" (the author hates this word as much as I do). How ironic that women are generally believed to be too emotional or “crazy”, when at the slightest upset to their ego men are actually shown to overact and become “overly emotional”, meaning angry.
By shaming girls in nearly every aspect, and limiting them in their potential abilities (don't be "too good", they say, otherwise you will threaten men), we also reduce the humanity of boys by teaching them not to be emotional. Unless it's to be violent, and dominant, sexual predators. And that's seen as okay because "boys will be boys". This outdated phrase is dangerous, by the way. It deliberately shifts responsibilities from men and avoids discussions on how we raise them to think they’re above everything - to think they’re more important than women. Let us stop using it for excusing men and boys from facing consequences for their own individual actions.
I too hate how women who are in charge of anything are seen as bitchy and aggressive, no matter what tone of voice they use, and that they even have to "police" their tone to begin with! I hate that women’s appearances are judged constantly; that they’re more often than not seen as just a body. I hate how, from babyhood, girls are unconsciously taught to be ashamed of being female; by “covering up” and not showing “too much skin”, and not to “cause a scene”. I hate that in this day and age, marriage and babies are all that's expected for those who have a vagina. I hate that women are taught to be afraid of pretty much everything, including success, and of not being seen as "likable" (in a female, meaning smiling and submissive). I hate being shown, over and over again, that a man's ego is far more important than a woman's well-being and ambition (seriously, fuck that). I hate how women the world over, in 2016, are still seen as second-class citizens - half the human race is largely, unfairly measured as being less than.
Adichie also puts the point across that culture can and must change in order for all people to be free and happier. It is true that culture does not make people - people make culture.
So let us all stop making assumptions of people based on their gender. Imagine if archaic gender expectations would just die already in the mainstream consciousness - how can anyone object to that, when it benefits all? Patriarchy hurts men as well as women, after all - it is a system which strives us to limit ourselves, to not express ourselves fully, for fear of being ostracized just because of our biological sex.
Intersectionality, and understanding every one person's experience is different, are also key issues the essay refers to.
'We Should All Be Feminists' is up to 50 pages long, and doesn't get into issues such as gender expectations hurting the LBGQ and transgender community. But it is a great start for anyone wishing to understand what feminism actually means, and how it can help in changing the world.
Because the fact that talks like this one exist, proves we’ve still got a long way to go to achieve true gender equality.
Final Score: 5/5
While I take away only one star because Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie does bring up some very good points, I cannot in good conscience support exclusionary feminism, by a blatantly exclusionary feminist. Feminism that isn't inclusive isn't feminism, it's the height of arrogance, ignorance, hypocrisy, patriarchal and conservative complacency, and refusing to progress, grow and move on with the times (that is, acknowledging that queer people have always existed - and in the millions, if not billions - and they matter as much as het and cis people). Humans' ability to grow and progress in society is what feminism has always been about.
Trans women are women. Trans men are men. LBGTQ people - including the trans and nonbinary communities - matter, and deserve equal rights. Transphobes and TERFs seem to be so obsessed with biology, genitals and what's between other people's legs - which is invasive and dehumanising. And they call trans people perverted.
To deny anyone basic human rights; to deny the existence of, or to ignore, or to attack, or to tell lies about, people who are hurting no one, who have done nothing to you, who don't affect your life in any way, and who you have probably never met - that is hateful. And feminism isn't about hatred, division and ignorance. Because that's what the patriarchy is about, and we have to be better than that.
Additionally, when it comes to 'We Should All Be Feminists', what is with people, including "feminist" women!, being in favour of the idea that men are inherently physically stronger than women. Even of that were true (it isn't; look up Kati Sandwina and other women like her), so what? How does that prove that women are inferior and deserve to be treated as subhuman? Why does it mean that men are biologically superior to women? What meaningful conclusion can be reached from the "because biology" statement (hint: biology and genetics aren't everything and don't apply to everyone)? What does possessing physical strength have to do with being a leader - being able to run a business, or rule an entire country? It only further highlights how much patriarchal societies are obsessed with violence and aggression. And women do not have smaller craniums and smaller brains; I thought that myth had been debunked over a century ago.
Bigots, keep remembering what century you're in, please.
That's my new review. Have a nice, lovely, safe day.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
'"You know, you're a feminist."
It was not a compliment. I could tell from his tone -- the same tone with which a person would say, "You're a supporter of terrorism."' - page 8.
Lilly Ledbetter Law - “in the US, a man and a woman are doing the same job, with the same qualifications, and the man is paid more because he is a man.” - page 17.
My first five star book of 2016!
This essay, adapted from the author's TEDx talk, on why we need feminism and why it is so important for everyone, happened to be in a bookshop when I went travelling to go shopping. I read it in half an hour, while waiting for my bus back home. It turned a rainy day into one full of hope. I'm so glad texts like this are being distributed and sold publically.
I had read and loved other acclaimed feminist textbooks before, but 'We Should All Be Feminists' is short, basic yet insightful enough to be easily accessible to absolutely anyone in one sitting. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks briefly about the history of sexism, the reasons for sexist human divisions, and her own experiences of sexism throughout her life; giving it a personal, warm, relatable touch, like a letter from a friend.
An important letter which speaks the truth, breaks down the gendered bullshit in certain cultures, and shatters myths that are built and indulged in by the patriarchy and white supremacy working hand-in-hand.
I love Adichie stating how society raises boys to be "manly" in an extremely narrow sense. We raise them to be emotionless, where only anger and dominance are preferred expressions. We raise them to be physically stronger; to be “hard”, masculine, and violently reject anything considered feminine, like crying - a perfectly natural thing for humans to do but is discouraged in males all the time. By social rule, to be in any way associated with girls is the ultimate insult. In consequence, we stifle men’s humanity. I wanted to cheer when Adichie says that by perpetrating this normalised behaviour, we leave men with very fragile egos. And girls are raised to cater to those fragile egos, lest they feel "emasculated" (the author hates this word as much as I do). How ironic that women are generally believed to be too emotional or “crazy”, when at the slightest upset to their ego men are actually shown to overact and become “overly emotional”, meaning angry.
By shaming girls in nearly every aspect, and limiting them in their potential abilities (don't be "too good", they say, otherwise you will threaten men), we also reduce the humanity of boys by teaching them not to be emotional. Unless it's to be violent, and dominant, sexual predators. And that's seen as okay because "boys will be boys". This outdated phrase is dangerous, by the way. It deliberately shifts responsibilities from men and avoids discussions on how we raise them to think they’re above everything - to think they’re more important than women. Let us stop using it for excusing men and boys from facing consequences for their own individual actions.
I too hate how women who are in charge of anything are seen as bitchy and aggressive, no matter what tone of voice they use, and that they even have to "police" their tone to begin with! I hate that women’s appearances are judged constantly; that they’re more often than not seen as just a body. I hate how, from babyhood, girls are unconsciously taught to be ashamed of being female; by “covering up” and not showing “too much skin”, and not to “cause a scene”. I hate that in this day and age, marriage and babies are all that's expected for those who have a vagina. I hate that women are taught to be afraid of pretty much everything, including success, and of not being seen as "likable" (in a female, meaning smiling and submissive). I hate being shown, over and over again, that a man's ego is far more important than a woman's well-being and ambition (seriously, fuck that). I hate how women the world over, in 2016, are still seen as second-class citizens - half the human race is largely, unfairly measured as being less than.
Adichie also puts the point across that culture can and must change in order for all people to be free and happier. It is true that culture does not make people - people make culture.
So let us all stop making assumptions of people based on their gender. Imagine if archaic gender expectations would just die already in the mainstream consciousness - how can anyone object to that, when it benefits all? Patriarchy hurts men as well as women, after all - it is a system which strives us to limit ourselves, to not express ourselves fully, for fear of being ostracized just because of our biological sex.
Intersectionality, and understanding every one person's experience is different, are also key issues the essay refers to.
'We Should All Be Feminists' is up to 50 pages long, and doesn't get into issues such as gender expectations hurting the LBGQ and transgender community. But it is a great start for anyone wishing to understand what feminism actually means, and how it can help in changing the world.
Because the fact that talks like this one exist, proves we’ve still got a long way to go to achieve true gender equality.
Final Score: 5/5
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
Today I went out shopping in Haywards Heath. When I came home, men on scaffolding were fixing up my house, making a lot of noise. My cat didn't like it. I popped out a couple of times, and when I hung up my coat for the last time, I didn't notice my cat sneaking past me inside the cupboard under the stairs. I inadvertently locked her in. Two hours later, after the men left and I was worrying a little, I heard faint mewing squeaks, and it finally came into my mind to look in the cupboard. Hence my cat discovered the perfect hiding place!
Manga Review - 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Short Stories Vol. 2' by Naoko Takeuchi, William Flanagan (Translator)
2026 REREAD:
WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
It's my final rereview of the 'Sailor Moon' manga series and stories proper, before I move on to the alternate first volume editions/translations and 'Codename Sailor V' volumes.
I'll get started on my renewed thoughts on 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Short Stories, Vol. 2' right away:
'Princess Kaguya's Lover' remains a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt story. It's about love, appreciating and gifting the special people in your life, working towards your dream, civilian lives, candy, snow, crystals, NASA and space. I can tell how much hard work and passion Takeuchi-sensei put into writing and drawing this original tale, featuring the Sailor Guardians, but it is really about Luna, and the ordinary humans with big dreams, Kakeru and Himeko (the female NASA astronaut!). You can't help but feel for Luna in her love for Kakeru, despite how she's essentially cheating on Artemis, when he tries so hard.
A few things I've noticed this time round:
At the beginning everyone celebrates the birthday of Makoto and Minako, like they share the same birthday. Makoto is a Sagittarius and was born on December 5th, and Minako is a Libra and was born on October 22nd. These are days in the winter period, or an approximation of the season, but they are not the same day, as the manga seems to treat it, as a birthday party for both Makoto and Mina.
It turns out that the enemy, the alien invader Princess Snow Kaguya, might not be the actual Princess Kaguya of the folktale, 'Tale of the Bamboo Cutter'. When she first appears before Kakeru, she says, "I received my name from you." Kakeru named her, or rather her comet, and the lonely space wanderer of 4.5 billion years (!) did not originate from the Moon of the solar system. Princess Kaguya of the Moon is depicted as an ambiguous figure at best, with Luna in human form even assuming her identity to Kakeru at the end.
While we're talking about human Luna: it is something she wishes for, for the sickly Kakeru, and the benevolent Super Sailor Moon grants her her Christmas wish via the Holy Grail and Silver Sailor Crystal... and the grand, wondrous moment is ruined by Artemis getting a nosebleed. I never thought I'd see a cat get a spurting nosebleed from sexual arousal in a manga or anime, but here we are, the medium is nothing if not full of surprises.
And at the end of Himeko's journey, her space trip to the Moon, is it implied she is pregnant with Kakeru's child? She holds her stomach, and says, "Next time, let's... all come together." All come together? Unless she'll give birth to the reincarnation of the real Princess Kaguya - which would at least be interesting - this is a big fat NOPE from me. Not every woman needs to be a mother. Not every woman wants to be a mother. Not every woman is family-orientated. Let her have her career first and foremost.
'Casa Blanca Memory' is a very nice character piece for Rei/Sailor Mars, and it's where we learn more about her, her family, and her past, when she is usually closed off and doesn't like to talk about herself. It has a touching and human theme of nostalgic music bringing back both happy and sad memories, like memories of lost loves. On rainy days. There is also the thoughtful pairing of Rei and Makoto, when we hardly see them interact (even they say, "We've never really sat down and talked, have we?").
But I'm more deeply uncomfortable with Rei's "romance" with Kaidō than ever. She is still a teenager. He is significantly older than her - has known her since she was a little girl - and he works for her politician father, and is set up to get into the position of power and politics himself. The red flags are crimson, and more powerful and dangerous than the Moon's gravitational pull of the Earth.
I am not liking Japanese stories' normalisation of "romances" between adult men and girls who are literal children, especially in the '90s.
The only consolation is that Rei's 'Casa Blanca Memory' doesn't last, and she is happily single by the end.
Is the woman pianist who turns out to be the villain (I mean, besides Kaidō and Rei's neglectful politician father) actually a man? And at her/his/their defeat - we don't see them being destroyed by Sailor Mars - when they say, "I was hoping to avenge Jadeite", what is that about? Who are they? What is their name? Is this somehow connected to Sailor Mars' supposed destined romance with Jadeite, hinted at on the cover art way back in Act 14? We are not given any explanation.
'Casa Blanca Memory' - a love story - about friendship between girls. Sailor Mars says as such on the second-to-last page, "The current me doesn't need love. Because I have comrades who share the same goal as me. Because I've got all of you."
'Parallel Sailor Moon' is just bad. Like bad fanfiction. It's not even entertaining or funny bad, like a lot of the stories of the first volume collection - there's little to no thought put into 'Parallel'. It has only a couple of genuinely funny moments, and they're at the end, and involve cats and space rabbits. But the humans suck. The "Sailor Guardians" suck, and so do their "Sailor Guardian" daughters. I just now realised that Ko-usagi's pink cat who gets her to transform isn't even given a name.
Like with my 'Short Stories, Vol. 1' rereview, read my original review below for more info and thoughts on 'Short Stories, Vol. 2', as much has not changed.
However, I may have to bump a star off in my new rating. 'Princess Kaguya's Lover' is definitely the best story here, and makes up the most of the manga's four stars. 'Casa Blanca Memory' suffers from the problematic and frankly abhorrent romanticization of grown men in positions of power and influence grooming young girls. And 'Parallel Sailor Moon' is simply rubbish, like an eight-year-old wrote it, when Takeuchi-sensei can always do so much better.
Other notes to wrap things up:
Some of the best art ever is present in these stories, and their covers. The hard work paid off in so many ways.
Sailor Moon/Usagi herself is not a big focus in any of the short stories. Not even in 'Princess Kaguya's Lover', where she interacts with and helps Himeko, and helps Luna, and defeats Princess Snow Kaguya in space, as Super Sailor Moon, with the other solar system Sailor Guardians. These self-contained side stories give the other characters a chance to shine, to be heroes in their own spotlight, and it's an opportunity to expand on their lives and world.
Both Usagi and Minako using their respective transformation pens/devices for disguises still gets used, if more sparingly as the series progresses and moves on.
We never find out what happens to the spirits of Jadeite, Kunzite, Nephrite and Zoisite, and whether they watch over Mamoru forever, do we?
There are a few hints throughout this story collection that Mamoru is, in fact, a terrible boyfriend. Usagi talks to Luna about their relationship and what they do together, or don't do together, as Mamoru would read and ignore her while she talks - "Mamo-chan's always reading difficult books and doesn't really pay me any attention" - and nod off to sleep in front of her. She says she's never received any flowers from a guy, ever, or at least a bouquet of them. It seems that Mamoru would mostly only get Usagi a present is if she whines and nags him for what she specifically wants, and he would give in just to shut her up - and he can afford to, as well, since he's loaded. Mamoru is borderline neglectful, and Usagi is very possessive, clingy and childish. So both of them are not great together, actually.
It is from the 'Sailor Moon' timeline, the '10 years of love and miracles' at the end of 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Short Stories, Vol. 2', where I learned that in volume 8, Sailor Moon, as "the Messiah" (does that mysterious identity ever come back? Is she Neo Queen Serenity there, or... Sailor Cosmos?), is the one who 'revives Hotaru's life and and body with her miraculous powers.' So it is because of Sailor Moon that the self-sacrificing Sailor Saturn/Hotaru comes back as a baby. There is barely an indication of this originally.
Rei plays the piano. I did not know that.
What fun! What emotions!
Next up is 'Sailor Moon: Eternal Edition 1'. I can't wait to read and discuss that enchanting edition again!
WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
It's my final rereview of the 'Sailor Moon' manga series and stories proper, before I move on to the alternate first volume editions/translations and 'Codename Sailor V' volumes.
I'll get started on my renewed thoughts on 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Short Stories, Vol. 2' right away:
'Princess Kaguya's Lover' remains a beautiful, emotional and heartfelt story. It's about love, appreciating and gifting the special people in your life, working towards your dream, civilian lives, candy, snow, crystals, NASA and space. I can tell how much hard work and passion Takeuchi-sensei put into writing and drawing this original tale, featuring the Sailor Guardians, but it is really about Luna, and the ordinary humans with big dreams, Kakeru and Himeko (the female NASA astronaut!). You can't help but feel for Luna in her love for Kakeru, despite how she's essentially cheating on Artemis, when he tries so hard.
A few things I've noticed this time round:
At the beginning everyone celebrates the birthday of Makoto and Minako, like they share the same birthday. Makoto is a Sagittarius and was born on December 5th, and Minako is a Libra and was born on October 22nd. These are days in the winter period, or an approximation of the season, but they are not the same day, as the manga seems to treat it, as a birthday party for both Makoto and Mina.
It turns out that the enemy, the alien invader Princess Snow Kaguya, might not be the actual Princess Kaguya of the folktale, 'Tale of the Bamboo Cutter'. When she first appears before Kakeru, she says, "I received my name from you." Kakeru named her, or rather her comet, and the lonely space wanderer of 4.5 billion years (!) did not originate from the Moon of the solar system. Princess Kaguya of the Moon is depicted as an ambiguous figure at best, with Luna in human form even assuming her identity to Kakeru at the end.
While we're talking about human Luna: it is something she wishes for, for the sickly Kakeru, and the benevolent Super Sailor Moon grants her her Christmas wish via the Holy Grail and Silver Sailor Crystal... and the grand, wondrous moment is ruined by Artemis getting a nosebleed. I never thought I'd see a cat get a spurting nosebleed from sexual arousal in a manga or anime, but here we are, the medium is nothing if not full of surprises.
And at the end of Himeko's journey, her space trip to the Moon, is it implied she is pregnant with Kakeru's child? She holds her stomach, and says, "Next time, let's... all come together." All come together? Unless she'll give birth to the reincarnation of the real Princess Kaguya - which would at least be interesting - this is a big fat NOPE from me. Not every woman needs to be a mother. Not every woman wants to be a mother. Not every woman is family-orientated. Let her have her career first and foremost.
'Casa Blanca Memory' is a very nice character piece for Rei/Sailor Mars, and it's where we learn more about her, her family, and her past, when she is usually closed off and doesn't like to talk about herself. It has a touching and human theme of nostalgic music bringing back both happy and sad memories, like memories of lost loves. On rainy days. There is also the thoughtful pairing of Rei and Makoto, when we hardly see them interact (even they say, "We've never really sat down and talked, have we?").
But I'm more deeply uncomfortable with Rei's "romance" with Kaidō than ever. She is still a teenager. He is significantly older than her - has known her since she was a little girl - and he works for her politician father, and is set up to get into the position of power and politics himself. The red flags are crimson, and more powerful and dangerous than the Moon's gravitational pull of the Earth.
I am not liking Japanese stories' normalisation of "romances" between adult men and girls who are literal children, especially in the '90s.
The only consolation is that Rei's 'Casa Blanca Memory' doesn't last, and she is happily single by the end.
Is the woman pianist who turns out to be the villain (I mean, besides Kaidō and Rei's neglectful politician father) actually a man? And at her/his/their defeat - we don't see them being destroyed by Sailor Mars - when they say, "I was hoping to avenge Jadeite", what is that about? Who are they? What is their name? Is this somehow connected to Sailor Mars' supposed destined romance with Jadeite, hinted at on the cover art way back in Act 14? We are not given any explanation.
'Casa Blanca Memory' - a love story - about friendship between girls. Sailor Mars says as such on the second-to-last page, "The current me doesn't need love. Because I have comrades who share the same goal as me. Because I've got all of you."
'Parallel Sailor Moon' is just bad. Like bad fanfiction. It's not even entertaining or funny bad, like a lot of the stories of the first volume collection - there's little to no thought put into 'Parallel'. It has only a couple of genuinely funny moments, and they're at the end, and involve cats and space rabbits. But the humans suck. The "Sailor Guardians" suck, and so do their "Sailor Guardian" daughters. I just now realised that Ko-usagi's pink cat who gets her to transform isn't even given a name.
Like with my 'Short Stories, Vol. 1' rereview, read my original review below for more info and thoughts on 'Short Stories, Vol. 2', as much has not changed.
However, I may have to bump a star off in my new rating. 'Princess Kaguya's Lover' is definitely the best story here, and makes up the most of the manga's four stars. 'Casa Blanca Memory' suffers from the problematic and frankly abhorrent romanticization of grown men in positions of power and influence grooming young girls. And 'Parallel Sailor Moon' is simply rubbish, like an eight-year-old wrote it, when Takeuchi-sensei can always do so much better.
Other notes to wrap things up:
Some of the best art ever is present in these stories, and their covers. The hard work paid off in so many ways.
Sailor Moon/Usagi herself is not a big focus in any of the short stories. Not even in 'Princess Kaguya's Lover', where she interacts with and helps Himeko, and helps Luna, and defeats Princess Snow Kaguya in space, as Super Sailor Moon, with the other solar system Sailor Guardians. These self-contained side stories give the other characters a chance to shine, to be heroes in their own spotlight, and it's an opportunity to expand on their lives and world.
Both Usagi and Minako using their respective transformation pens/devices for disguises still gets used, if more sparingly as the series progresses and moves on.
We never find out what happens to the spirits of Jadeite, Kunzite, Nephrite and Zoisite, and whether they watch over Mamoru forever, do we?
There are a few hints throughout this story collection that Mamoru is, in fact, a terrible boyfriend. Usagi talks to Luna about their relationship and what they do together, or don't do together, as Mamoru would read and ignore her while she talks - "Mamo-chan's always reading difficult books and doesn't really pay me any attention" - and nod off to sleep in front of her. She says she's never received any flowers from a guy, ever, or at least a bouquet of them. It seems that Mamoru would mostly only get Usagi a present is if she whines and nags him for what she specifically wants, and he would give in just to shut her up - and he can afford to, as well, since he's loaded. Mamoru is borderline neglectful, and Usagi is very possessive, clingy and childish. So both of them are not great together, actually.
It is from the 'Sailor Moon' timeline, the '10 years of love and miracles' at the end of 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Short Stories, Vol. 2', where I learned that in volume 8, Sailor Moon, as "the Messiah" (does that mysterious identity ever come back? Is she Neo Queen Serenity there, or... Sailor Cosmos?), is the one who 'revives Hotaru's life and and body with her miraculous powers.' So it is because of Sailor Moon that the self-sacrificing Sailor Saturn/Hotaru comes back as a baby. There is barely an indication of this originally.
Rei plays the piano. I did not know that.
What fun! What emotions!
Next up is 'Sailor Moon: Eternal Edition 1'. I can't wait to read and discuss that enchanting edition again!
Happy September Moon!
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
Really, I don't think my review could do justice to the breathtakingly beautiful 'Sailor Moon' story, 'Princess Kaguya's Lover'. But I'll try.
Welcome to my fourteenth and last 'Sailor Moon' manga review, 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Short Stories Vol. 2'.
The first short story is the above-mentioned 'Princess Kaguya's Lover', the longest of the three. Basically it's about Luna falling in love with a human man, centring on the classic Japanese folktale about the moon princess Kaguya (already it had inspired the entire ‘Sailor Moon’ plot), commonly known as 'Tale of the Bamboo Cutter' (the animation company, Studio Ghibli, recently made a film version entitled, 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya', which I highly recommend).
But it's so much more than that.
There are numerous great characters of old and new. Especially Himeko Nayota, an aspiring astronaut who achieves her dream on her own, not limiting herself or putting anything aside for the man she loves. She remains set in her ambitions and fights on, never giving in to sexism: women should pursue any career they choose, regardless of what's expected of them or is normalised. This is a fantastic message to send to young female readers - to see a smart, confident woman literally reach for the stars to live out her lifelong dream. In fact, she is more dynamic and practical to the story than her male counterpart, who, despite being the main focus, is sick and rendered bedridden for the most part. A clever role reversal that doesn't bring attention to itself in the least.
Kakeru Ohzora, the object of both Luna's and Himeko's affections, is a wonderful man who supports his childhood friend Himeko, and feels guilty when he finds he might be glad if she never becomes an astronaut - because that is also his dream, made impossible due to his own tragic, individual circumstance. Yet he never comes across as bitter, overbearing or "emasculated" (why does this word even exist?). He's just lonely - a main theme in the story. With his love of candy and belief in stories about princesses on the moon, Kakeru has a childlike charm to his character; extending the substance of his tragic tale. I could buy Luna falling for him completely, even though she is already with Artemis, as destiny would have it. (Don't worry, the defeated cat Art has his moments too in regards to Luna).
'Princess Kaguya's Lover' could be called a Christmas story, since it's set around that time, and winter plays an important part. But like everything else, this feature is underplayed, thus subtly emphasising the story's rich complexities. It is a thing of beauty - a crystal charm.
Other highlights include Luna innocently eating Konpeitō (star-shaped candy), and asking Usagi about her relationship with Mamoru. There's homesick Chibiusa talking about playing the "lead role" in receiving a most-wanted gift in 30th century Christmas - seemingly included for funzies at first, but this becomes a plot point at the end. The Inner and Outer Guardians (minus the strangely absent Hotaru) team up and fight the enemy alien - Princess Snow Kaguya herself - in space. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Chibi-Moon even combine their powers into "Pink Sugar Tuxedo Attack!!" - This is so funny and adorable, and it shows how far they've come in their father-and-daughter bond.
One other thing that makes 'Princess Kaguya's Lover' a stand-out and dare-I-say revolutionary story in the 'Sailor Moon' ethos? Sailor Moon actually interacts and engages with a citizen!
I mean, we see this in the anime, with its fill of 200 episodes, but never in the manga format. Himeko, a side character, gets to not only meet Sailor Moon, but talk to her, and be entrusted with knowledge about the Soldiers' tactical plans of saving the world from an enemy invasion. Himeko is an ordinary woman who, on the verge of a larger-than-life dream of going into space and landing on the moon - on top of supporting her sick friend/lover Kakeru - finds out that magic and aliens exist. Even Luna talks to her! (The two are never perceived as rivals for a man's affections, thank Serenity). We see how she deals with all this, and it's one of the many reasons why I think Himeko Nayota is the best "normal" character in 'Sailor Moon'. Brave and determined, she is a remarkable woman in her own way - without Sailor Guardian powers, she still goes into space, and saves those she loves.
Together with Luna's truly selfless love (she is unquestionably the main character) and the ambiguous ending, there isn't a standalone 'Sailor Moon' story which comes as close to perfection as 'Princess Kaguya's Lover'.
Yes, for I know it isn't perfect. The villain Snow Kaguya is given a great opportunity for character development and actually being sympathetic. She was left alone in space for 4.5 billion years after being cast out of ruling the earth by (it's speculated) the Legendary Silver Crystal. She feeds off of people's loneliness, so it could be she wants to gain back memories of companionship and love, and isn’t just power-hungry, as would be expected. But Snow Kaguya is presented as a typical evil invader in almost all her too-few appearances, no less predictable than Queen Beryl or other alien monsters. There is no clear indication that she might have gone insane with loneliness after billions of years in deep space. Not helped by the Sailor Guardians - including the paragon of love and justice Sailor Moon - calling her "ugly" and "primeval" and a "has-been". A weak antagonist is sadly the main downfall.
There's also this line from Makoto: "Being alone on Christmas Eve is really lonely". Redundancy is really redundant, don't you think? Though maybe that's a translation flub.
But flaws aside, 'Princess Kaguya's Lover' stands the test of time. It may be not only one of my favourite 'Sailor Moon' stories, but one of my favourite stories, period.
The ending comes with journal entries from Naoko Takeuchi herself on actually going to NASA for research during the development stage of 'Princess Kaguya's Lover'. She also gives out details on her research into antiques, inspiring her villain designs. It gives an account of how passionate she was about this particular story, how far she went into making it a fully-fledged, authentic tale. Her passion and joy shows in the end result, reciprocated by the spellbound reader.
It is gorgeous - taking an old folk-yarn, mixing it with a modern spin; with new advanced technology allowing humans to go into space and see the moon from on high. Plus feminism. Nuanced and a real tear-jerker, I love it.
Now onto the last two stories, which are much shorter, so they'll get bit reviews.
'Casa Blanca Memory' is not as good as 'Princess Kaguya's Lover', but it's lovely all the same. Definitely recommended for Rei fans. It's her story of how she first fell in love, how it mostly made her melancholy, and whether or not it was one-sided and in her then-naive imagination. It’s about why she ultimately decided never to trust or associate herself with men. Despite its creepy vibe of men-following-underaged-girls that's in 'Sailor Moon' more often than is comfortable, 'Casa Blanca Memory' has an atmosphere overflowing with sad yet optimistic emotions, implemented in aid of the message about moving forward steadily in life and to not dwell on the past or past love. Flowers and budding are its core symbols. It gets a little confusing in where its flashbacks are placed, but this is no big deal overall. It's beautiful, mysterious and takes things slowly, just like Rei/Sailor Mars:
"If I were to ever fall in love, I'd likely want to claim everything of that person and keep it completely to myself. I might end up destroying that person. That's why I'm not going to love. The current me doesn't need love. Because I have comrades who share the same goal as me. Because I've got all of you."
She is awesome.
Then there's 'Parallel Sailor Moon', a non-canon alternate universe "story" that somehow got into this serious short story volume and not the previous, sillier one. Even for charity, it is just a load of messing around; sticking in parody bits here and there. In an alternate reality set in a sunny Suburb, every single character is a spoilt wretch, with the bonus of also being either an arsehole or an idiot. The Inner Senshi all have daughters who are named after them, and they are horrible brats who bully and leave to die a second daughter of Usagi's, Ko-Usagi. The only bizarre thing that happens that can be called entertaining is the ending, where the earth is under attack by a giant herd of rabbits from outer space. The Guardian children defeat it by merging a bunch of cats into a giant lynx to eat the rabbits in a meagre couple of pages. It's so insane it's genuinely funny. Doesn't save the rest from being mean-spirited and kind of a waste of time.
I'm giving the whole volume five Milky Way shooting stars for 'Princess Kaguya's lover' and 'Casa Blanca Memory' alone.
Well, that's it. I hope people have enjoyed reading my 'Sailor Moon' reviews as much as I've enjoyed writing and reliving them. Talking in detail about why you love the things you love is a triumphant experience, and I know how it is to care for something, warts and flaws and all. I adore the girl power, the characters, the artwork, the stories, the mixing of different elements of mythology. These are all special and give something - a role big or small - for everyone.
Nothing more to add.
Except, "The End".
But not really, because Sailor Moon, a classic fictional guardian of love and peace, still popular today, will always live in my heart.
Final Score: 5/5
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
Really, I don't think my review could do justice to the breathtakingly beautiful 'Sailor Moon' story, 'Princess Kaguya's Lover'. But I'll try.
Welcome to my fourteenth and last 'Sailor Moon' manga review, 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Short Stories Vol. 2'.
The first short story is the above-mentioned 'Princess Kaguya's Lover', the longest of the three. Basically it's about Luna falling in love with a human man, centring on the classic Japanese folktale about the moon princess Kaguya (already it had inspired the entire ‘Sailor Moon’ plot), commonly known as 'Tale of the Bamboo Cutter' (the animation company, Studio Ghibli, recently made a film version entitled, 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya', which I highly recommend).
But it's so much more than that.
There are numerous great characters of old and new. Especially Himeko Nayota, an aspiring astronaut who achieves her dream on her own, not limiting herself or putting anything aside for the man she loves. She remains set in her ambitions and fights on, never giving in to sexism: women should pursue any career they choose, regardless of what's expected of them or is normalised. This is a fantastic message to send to young female readers - to see a smart, confident woman literally reach for the stars to live out her lifelong dream. In fact, she is more dynamic and practical to the story than her male counterpart, who, despite being the main focus, is sick and rendered bedridden for the most part. A clever role reversal that doesn't bring attention to itself in the least.
Kakeru Ohzora, the object of both Luna's and Himeko's affections, is a wonderful man who supports his childhood friend Himeko, and feels guilty when he finds he might be glad if she never becomes an astronaut - because that is also his dream, made impossible due to his own tragic, individual circumstance. Yet he never comes across as bitter, overbearing or "emasculated" (why does this word even exist?). He's just lonely - a main theme in the story. With his love of candy and belief in stories about princesses on the moon, Kakeru has a childlike charm to his character; extending the substance of his tragic tale. I could buy Luna falling for him completely, even though she is already with Artemis, as destiny would have it. (Don't worry, the defeated cat Art has his moments too in regards to Luna).
'Princess Kaguya's Lover' could be called a Christmas story, since it's set around that time, and winter plays an important part. But like everything else, this feature is underplayed, thus subtly emphasising the story's rich complexities. It is a thing of beauty - a crystal charm.
Other highlights include Luna innocently eating Konpeitō (star-shaped candy), and asking Usagi about her relationship with Mamoru. There's homesick Chibiusa talking about playing the "lead role" in receiving a most-wanted gift in 30th century Christmas - seemingly included for funzies at first, but this becomes a plot point at the end. The Inner and Outer Guardians (minus the strangely absent Hotaru) team up and fight the enemy alien - Princess Snow Kaguya herself - in space. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Chibi-Moon even combine their powers into "Pink Sugar Tuxedo Attack!!" - This is so funny and adorable, and it shows how far they've come in their father-and-daughter bond.
One other thing that makes 'Princess Kaguya's Lover' a stand-out and dare-I-say revolutionary story in the 'Sailor Moon' ethos? Sailor Moon actually interacts and engages with a citizen!
I mean, we see this in the anime, with its fill of 200 episodes, but never in the manga format. Himeko, a side character, gets to not only meet Sailor Moon, but talk to her, and be entrusted with knowledge about the Soldiers' tactical plans of saving the world from an enemy invasion. Himeko is an ordinary woman who, on the verge of a larger-than-life dream of going into space and landing on the moon - on top of supporting her sick friend/lover Kakeru - finds out that magic and aliens exist. Even Luna talks to her! (The two are never perceived as rivals for a man's affections, thank Serenity). We see how she deals with all this, and it's one of the many reasons why I think Himeko Nayota is the best "normal" character in 'Sailor Moon'. Brave and determined, she is a remarkable woman in her own way - without Sailor Guardian powers, she still goes into space, and saves those she loves.
Together with Luna's truly selfless love (she is unquestionably the main character) and the ambiguous ending, there isn't a standalone 'Sailor Moon' story which comes as close to perfection as 'Princess Kaguya's Lover'.
Yes, for I know it isn't perfect. The villain Snow Kaguya is given a great opportunity for character development and actually being sympathetic. She was left alone in space for 4.5 billion years after being cast out of ruling the earth by (it's speculated) the Legendary Silver Crystal. She feeds off of people's loneliness, so it could be she wants to gain back memories of companionship and love, and isn’t just power-hungry, as would be expected. But Snow Kaguya is presented as a typical evil invader in almost all her too-few appearances, no less predictable than Queen Beryl or other alien monsters. There is no clear indication that she might have gone insane with loneliness after billions of years in deep space. Not helped by the Sailor Guardians - including the paragon of love and justice Sailor Moon - calling her "ugly" and "primeval" and a "has-been". A weak antagonist is sadly the main downfall.
There's also this line from Makoto: "Being alone on Christmas Eve is really lonely". Redundancy is really redundant, don't you think? Though maybe that's a translation flub.
But flaws aside, 'Princess Kaguya's Lover' stands the test of time. It may be not only one of my favourite 'Sailor Moon' stories, but one of my favourite stories, period.
The ending comes with journal entries from Naoko Takeuchi herself on actually going to NASA for research during the development stage of 'Princess Kaguya's Lover'. She also gives out details on her research into antiques, inspiring her villain designs. It gives an account of how passionate she was about this particular story, how far she went into making it a fully-fledged, authentic tale. Her passion and joy shows in the end result, reciprocated by the spellbound reader.
It is gorgeous - taking an old folk-yarn, mixing it with a modern spin; with new advanced technology allowing humans to go into space and see the moon from on high. Plus feminism. Nuanced and a real tear-jerker, I love it.
Now onto the last two stories, which are much shorter, so they'll get bit reviews.
'Casa Blanca Memory' is not as good as 'Princess Kaguya's Lover', but it's lovely all the same. Definitely recommended for Rei fans. It's her story of how she first fell in love, how it mostly made her melancholy, and whether or not it was one-sided and in her then-naive imagination. It’s about why she ultimately decided never to trust or associate herself with men. Despite its creepy vibe of men-following-underaged-girls that's in 'Sailor Moon' more often than is comfortable, 'Casa Blanca Memory' has an atmosphere overflowing with sad yet optimistic emotions, implemented in aid of the message about moving forward steadily in life and to not dwell on the past or past love. Flowers and budding are its core symbols. It gets a little confusing in where its flashbacks are placed, but this is no big deal overall. It's beautiful, mysterious and takes things slowly, just like Rei/Sailor Mars:
"If I were to ever fall in love, I'd likely want to claim everything of that person and keep it completely to myself. I might end up destroying that person. That's why I'm not going to love. The current me doesn't need love. Because I have comrades who share the same goal as me. Because I've got all of you."
She is awesome.
Then there's 'Parallel Sailor Moon', a non-canon alternate universe "story" that somehow got into this serious short story volume and not the previous, sillier one. Even for charity, it is just a load of messing around; sticking in parody bits here and there. In an alternate reality set in a sunny Suburb, every single character is a spoilt wretch, with the bonus of also being either an arsehole or an idiot. The Inner Senshi all have daughters who are named after them, and they are horrible brats who bully and leave to die a second daughter of Usagi's, Ko-Usagi. The only bizarre thing that happens that can be called entertaining is the ending, where the earth is under attack by a giant herd of rabbits from outer space. The Guardian children defeat it by merging a bunch of cats into a giant lynx to eat the rabbits in a meagre couple of pages. It's so insane it's genuinely funny. Doesn't save the rest from being mean-spirited and kind of a waste of time.
I'm giving the whole volume five Milky Way shooting stars for 'Princess Kaguya's lover' and 'Casa Blanca Memory' alone.
Well, that's it. I hope people have enjoyed reading my 'Sailor Moon' reviews as much as I've enjoyed writing and reliving them. Talking in detail about why you love the things you love is a triumphant experience, and I know how it is to care for something, warts and flaws and all. I adore the girl power, the characters, the artwork, the stories, the mixing of different elements of mythology. These are all special and give something - a role big or small - for everyone.
Nothing more to add.
Except, "The End".
But not really, because Sailor Moon, a classic fictional guardian of love and peace, still popular today, will always live in my heart.
Final Score: 5/5
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