My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
Book Review
I read this book in one day… I couldn’t put it down.
In her debut book, model/actress/activist Emily Ratajkowski writes about the commodification of her image and the fetishization of women’s bodies. This insightful and vulnerable collection of essays is less memoir and more feminist manifesto, as it offers a compelling look inside the modeling industry and contemplates the subjugation of the female form.
I find it interesting that this book has received mostly four, five or one star reviews on Goodreads. The one star reviews seem to mostly focus on the author’s privilege and admonish her harsh criticism of the industry that “made her,” though she clearly acknowledges these things in the book.
Despite the fact that she’s made a living selling her image, the author rightfully condemns the entertainment industry which unequivocally demeans women to a place where their sexuality is commodified and their power depends upon the number of men who find them desirable.
In addition to discussing the admiration of her body, the author also recounts the assault of her body. In the moments her body was violated, rather than feeling imminent outrage, she initially contemplated if she was somehow “asking for it” because of the sexy image she projects to the world.
In one story, in which she discusses her mother and her relationship to beauty, she notes that many women feel as though their whole lives might be different if they could just change one small physical characteristic. While this saddened me to read, it’s a feeling I understand and found relatable.
One of the things I liked most about the book was Emily’s honest and raw exploration of her insecurities. From comparing herself to other women to stressing about Instagram likes, she proves that no amount of beauty or success can eliminate self-doubt.
In the final chapter of the book, the author’s body completes the difficult task of birthing new life. For a woman who has built a career based on the perception of her body, it felt incredibly empowering to read about the utility of that body to not only generate money, but to also conceive, house and deliver new life.
I highly recommend this one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
