100 Times: A Memoir of Sexism

by Chavisa Woods

Paperback, 2019

Status

Available

Publication

Seven Stories Press (2019), 240 pages

Description

"Shirley Jackson Award-winning author and three-time Lambda Finalist, Chavisa Woods presents one hundred personal stories of sexism, harassment, discrimination, and assault. Recounting her experiences with sexist discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence--beginning in childhood, through the present--Woods lays out clear and unflinching personal vignettes that build in intensity as the number of times grows. Individually, and especially taken as a whole, these stories amount to powerful proof that sexual violence and discrimination are never just one-time occurrences, but part of a constant battle all women face every day. In these extraordinary pages, sexual violence and sexist discrimination occur regardless of age, in all spheres of society, in rural and urban areas alike, in the US and abroad, from Woods' youth through adulthood. Demonstrating how often people are conditioned to endure sexism and harassment, and how thoroughly men feel entitled to women's spaces and bodies,100 Times forces the reader to witness the myriad ways in which sexism and misogyny continuously shape women's lives, and are built-in facets of our society"-- "An undeniably powerful account of one hundred experiences of sexism, harassment, discrimination and assault by Shirley Jackson Award Winner, Chavisa Woods. Here are Woods's personal stories of 100 times she suffered or was witness to a sexually charged experience--from gender-based discrimination in work places, to unsolicited groping from strangers in public, to sexual assault--beginning from the time she was five years old to the present. Laid out in direct and unflinching vignettes, building one after another, the stories are powerful proof that sexual violence and discrimination are never just one-time occurrences, but part of a constant battle women face every day. In these extraordinary pages, sexual violence and sexist discrimination happen to women regardless of their age, in multiple spheres of society, in rural, and urban areas alike, in the U.S. and abroad, from the time they are very young or come out as women. Demonstrating how often women (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, queer, and transgender alike) are conditioned to endure sexism and harassment, and how men are allowed to feel entitled to women's spaces and bodies, 100 Times is powerful in its blunt and straightforward recitation"-- Recounting her experiences with sexist discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence-- beginning in childhood, through the present-- Woods lays out clear and unflinching personal vignettes that build in intensity as the number of times grows. Her personal stories-- some only one page long-- amount to powerful proof that sexual violence and discrimination are never just one-time occurrences, but part of a constant battle all women face every day. -- adapted from back cover… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
This book is laid out with a very simple format: Woods has put down on paper 100 different instances of sexual harassment and sexual abuse, ranging from discrimination, to verbal abuse to groping to out and out assault. These instances are laid out chronologically, from age 5 to her mid-30s. These
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have happened everywhere; in school (by a teacher), in places of employment, in bars, and even in her own apartment – by her male roommate who refused to wear pants. And they are not by any means *all* the problems she has had with sexist men. She writes plainly and simply, just laying out what happened with no melodrama attached.

Most women reading this will be horrified, but will also recognize their own lives. Most of us have endured these kinds of discrimination, harassment and assault. I cringed, because I certainly have, from the mildest to the worst. And despite the fact that these things happen to almost all of us, a huge segment of men- even men who are feminists- do not believe that sexual harassment happens. It is so ingrained in our society that it’s become invisible. We mostly shrug it off.

I wish this book were given to each and every middle school student in some kind of health or even civics class. These problems need to become visible, before the kids get out there navigating adult life. Five stars, and kudos to the author.
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Original language

English

Physical description

240 p.; 5 inches

ISBN

1609809130 / 9781609809133

Local notes

autobiography
Page: 0.3517 seconds