A review by krystalicia_
I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya

reflective slow-paced

4.0

Short memoir and packs a punch. Vivek Shraya, a transwoman discusses the everyday instances that lead to her fearing men, dating back to when she was a child living life as a boy into her adulthood and living as a woman and how the fear doesn’t really leave, just looks a little different. 
A few things that really stuck with me and I’ve been reflecting on a lot were:
  1. What it meant to be masculine when she was living as a boy, both closeted and as part of the gay community (when she did begin to opening identify as a gay man before coming out as a transwoman)
  2. The Internalized and repressed misogyny ingrained in women that can make them act like they need to defend men
Over all a really interesting insight I her life, but more over a good piece of literature to make you stop and think about gender norms, roles, and some of the implied violence that people continue to perpetuate in their communities. Still much to think about.