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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Unscrewed summary
Jaclyn Friedman
Women, Sex, Power, and How to Stop Letting the System Screw Us All
17 mins
Brief summary
'Unscrewed' by Jaclyn Friedman is a feminist manifesto that uncovers how our culture's attitudes towards sexuality shape our lives. She challenges us to break free from the shame and stigma surrounding sex and embrace pleasure and consent instead.
Table of Contents
Unscrewed
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Our patriarchal society leads to discrimination and violence, especially toward minority women.
Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking otherwise: We still live in a society that routinely demeans women and robs them of their right to control their bodies. And when women are sexually assaulted or attacked, it’s all too common for them to be blamed by authorities and the public.
While these things can happen to any women in America, there is an especially troubling history of mistreatment and dehumanization of women from minority groups. They continue to be the most vulnerable to violence.
Native American women, in particular, have a long history of being characterized as inhuman savages, even by certain church leaders. It’s likely a significant reason why this group has experienced the highest rate of rape in the United States, with 49 percent having suffered instances of sexual violence.
Likewise, the number of transgender women being attacked and murdered is outrageous. Many cities and states force them to use men’s public restrooms, which leaves them unnecessarily vulnerable to potentially deadly violence.
At the heart of this violence lies the way society views these people. When we see them as different from other human beings, our empathy for them decreases and we are able to treat them differently than we would expect to be treated ourselves.
Black women are another group with a long history of dehumanization. For centuries following America’s foundation on chattel slavery, black women were treated more as animals than humans, as if they needed taming by the white man. This disturbing perception has been used to justify countless crimes of rape and abuse, even until our present day, where black women suffer disproportionate injustice.
This injustice can also be seen in current statistics from the United States showing how young black women with a history of sexual abuse are far more likely to be in prison as a result of the abuse they’ve endured than white women with a similar background. Even though only 14 percent of all girls in the United States are black, in juvenile prisons, 33% of the girls are.
As we’ll see in the blinks ahead, women of all races and backgrounds are being subjected to inequality, injustice and limitations to their freedom and liberty.
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What is Unscrewed about?
Unscrewed (2017) looks at the numerous obstacles that women face every day on their path to equality and respect. Author Jaclyn Friedman shows the way forward. She shines a light on those who are already hard at work dismantling these barriers and explains why even though the current system may be imbalanced, but we can build a new one.
Unscrewed Review
Unscrewed (2017) is an eye-opening exploration of how we can embrace and redefine sexuality in a world that often shames and objectifies it. Here's why we think this book is a must-read:
- It offers deep insights into the intersection of sex, power, and culture, providing a fresh perspective on our society's deeply-rooted beliefs and attitudes.
- The book celebrates sexual autonomy and empowers readers to embrace their desires, encouraging open and honest conversations about consent, pleasure, and agency.
- Through empowering stories and thought-provoking analysis, it challenges societal norms and encourages readers to actively participate in creating a more inclusive and sex-positive future.
Best quote from Unscrewed
The most dominant model of sexuality in the United States treats sex as a commodity in which women give it up and men get some.
—Jaclyn Friedman
Who should read Unscrewed?
- Women and men interested in sexual politics
- Sociology students
- Readers who want to be better sex educators
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Unscrewed FAQs
What is the main message of Unscrewed?
In Unscrewed, Jaclyn Friedman explores how society's attitudes towards sex and consent can be transformed to create a more equitable world.
How long does it take to read Unscrewed?
Reading time for Unscrewed varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Unscrewed a good book? Is it worth reading?
Unscrewed is a thought-provoking book that challenges societal norms. It offers valuable insights and is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Unscrewed?
Jaclyn Friedman is the author of Unscrewed.
What to read after Unscrewed?
If you're wondering what to read next after Unscrewed, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West
- Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Why Taiwan Matters by Kerry Brown
- Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Translated and commentated on by Sri Swami Satchidananda
- We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- The Practice of Not Thinking by Ryunosuke Koike
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
- Sovereign Self by Acharya Shunya
- She/He/They/Me by Robyn Ryle