The View From Down Here:
Life as a Young Disabled Woman
Life as a Young Disabled Woman
Author: Lucy Webster
Published by: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Pages: 208
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★★★
Published by: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Pages: 208
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★★★
Sometimes being a disabled woman is hard, and sometimes it’s wonderful. Often, though, it’s just a case of trying to find yourself in a world so steeped in ableism that it fails to see you as a woman at all.
Women’s lives are shaped by sexism and expectations.
Disabled people’s lives are shaped by ableism and a complete lack of expectations.
But what happens when you’re subjected to both sets of rules?
Women’s lives are shaped by sexism and expectations.
Disabled people’s lives are shaped by ableism and a complete lack of expectations.
But what happens when you’re subjected to both sets of rules?
My thoughts:
This powerful, honest, funny and at times furious memoir from journalist and advocate Lucy Webster takes a deeply personal look at life as a young disabled woman; the struggles, the joys, and the unseen realities that disabled women go through in their day to day lives.
The View From Down Here is a beautifully written book, refreshingly honest and raw. From navigating the worlds of education and work, dating and friendship; to managing care; contemplating motherhood and learning to find self-acceptance, Webster’s story is written with such openness. It shows readers how ableism can manifest in the real world and what that means, and how disabled women are affected by acts of ableism and sexism.
Throughout the book, Lucy Webster offers examples of her own experiences and perspectives which break down preconceptions around disability. Webster is a freelance journalist and writer known for her coverage of disability rights and living with disability. She has been writing about these topics for almost a decade and is a lifelong wheelchair user. Her voice shines a light on what it really means to move through the world as a disabled woman.
The writing is engaging, deeply thought-provoking and I found this a highly emotional read. Despite the difficulties Webster has faced and the struggles she has overcome, the memoir is enlightening, funny and honest. The phrase 'must read' is often overused but it is absolutely applicable here. This book is both devastating and light-hearted; I read it in one sitting and loved every page of this.
Overall reaction:
This powerful, honest, funny and at times furious memoir from journalist and advocate Lucy Webster takes a deeply personal look at life as a young disabled woman; the struggles, the joys, and the unseen realities that disabled women go through in their day to day lives.
The View From Down Here is a beautifully written book, refreshingly honest and raw. From navigating the worlds of education and work, dating and friendship; to managing care; contemplating motherhood and learning to find self-acceptance, Webster’s story is written with such openness. It shows readers how ableism can manifest in the real world and what that means, and how disabled women are affected by acts of ableism and sexism.
Throughout the book, Lucy Webster offers examples of her own experiences and perspectives which break down preconceptions around disability. Webster is a freelance journalist and writer known for her coverage of disability rights and living with disability. She has been writing about these topics for almost a decade and is a lifelong wheelchair user. Her voice shines a light on what it really means to move through the world as a disabled woman.
The writing is engaging, deeply thought-provoking and I found this a highly emotional read. Despite the difficulties Webster has faced and the struggles she has overcome, the memoir is enlightening, funny and honest. The phrase 'must read' is often overused but it is absolutely applicable here. This book is both devastating and light-hearted; I read it in one sitting and loved every page of this.
Overall reaction: