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In her debut book of essays, the model and actor bravely explores her own experience of living in a female body while trying to determine what female empowerment even means.
After following Emily Ratajkowski for years on social media, I was intrigued to see what she would have to say about her body after seeing the title of her book. The first thing that came to mind was I mean, she can't complain. I've always thought the model, actress, and entrepreneur was "goals" as they say - as in, I thought of her as the definition of beauty and perfection. I'm not sure I would say that I envied her, but I did wonder what it would be like to be so undeniably cool, stylish, thin, sexy, and drop-dead gorgeous. In Ratajkowski's debut book, My Body, I was able to get an idea - and it's not as lovely as one may think.
This book of essays is a beautiful, honest, and unapologetic exploration that follows the writer's own experience navigating what her body and appearance mean in terms of her worth and position in the world, even from a very young age. Ratajkowski recounts remembering what it felt like to realize the power of her body as an early teen and then into her career and adulthood. The author discusses the ups and downs of this power - while she feels she was able to succeed in the industry because of her body, she is not lost on all of the ways that she has been objectified by her vessel either.
"What does true empowerment even feel like? Is it feeling wanted? Is it commanding someone's attention?" - Emily Ratajkowski, My Body
Although the author is famous in the entertainment industry, I found the book incredibly relatable. In exploring her own female experience in terms of her body and what it means to exist in it, we are able to ponder on the commodification of the female body within modern culture as a whole.
The author's tone is so honest and authentic throughout - Ratajkowski is not looking for sympathy from readers. Many times, she states that she knows the ways in which her beauty has paid off, however, she is also aware of how it has come at a cost. In portraying her own female experience, the author brings up an important question: What is female empowerment and what does it look like? And is it different for everyone?
I would recommend this read to anyone interested in how female bodies are objectified, sexualized, and celebrated in both popular culture and everyday life. Pick it up, both your body and your mind will thank you for it.
"It is both so extraordinary and so common, the way our bodies take us through our lives." - Emily Ratajkowski, My Body
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Purchase the book at the link: https://www.amazon.com/My-Body-Emily-Ratajkowski/dp/1250817862
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