This graphic novel let me know I overrated “The Trouble With Women.” It takes the same concept of examining the destructive idiocy of men at understanding women through the ages and ratchets up the outrage, social criticism, and intimate details such as the history of representations of the vulva. Some insights:
• The actual size and design of a major human body part was not discovered until 1998 — the clitoris. She asks us to think how ridiculous this oversight in the study of human anatomy would be if it were a part shared with men, such as the pancreas. And then she cites a 2006 college human anatomy text book that still gets the size of the clitoris wrong.
• Stromquist highlights men obsessed with women’s genitals through the ages, such as priests who demanded to examine women to see if they had a “teat like” bit of flesh between their legs, which was a sign of being a witch. And then there were the men obsessed with Saartjie Baartman, a woman from South Africa who was a slave put on display throughout Europe in the 1800s for her “enormous buttocks.” I’d known her sad story as the “Hottentot Venus” but not about Dr. George Cuvier, who upon hearing of her death, raced to the scene to dissect her vulva and preserve it in alcohol. He wrote a 16-page autopsy with nine of them devoted to her vulva, which he used to spread his racist “scientific” analysis that it was a sign of black women's “animal sexuality” that white women didn’t have.
• I especially liked her analysis of how men for centuries enforced the “inferiority” of women by pointing out that God said so. But when scientific reasoning became vogue in the 1800s, they had to come up with scientific reasons, like that menstruation takes blood from the brain and causes women to be flighty. She cites a doctor named Azel Ames, who argued that women should not be allowed to work in industry because of menstruation. “Oddly enough, I haven’t found one researcher or doctor in history who has concluded … that women’s dangerous mood swings make them unfit to care for children. No one has written a scholarly paper about how women with PMS yell at their kids too much and therefore men should stay home with the kids while women go out into the workforce. Why not? Discuss in small groups.”
Grade: A
P.S. The negative review from "Anna Reader" saying the book is ugly and not funny at all and will turn people off of feminism inspired me to buy the book. The tone in the review felt like someone who didn't actually read it but glanced at a few pages and was offended. Not sure if that's true, but I can see how glancing at the preview or flipping through a few pages in a store might cause one to come away with the impression that it's crass. It is anything but. It is smart, sharp AND funny.
Kindle Price: | $14.99 |
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Fruit of Knowledge: The Vulva vs. The Patriarchy Kindle & comiXology
From Adam and Eve to pussy hats, people have punished, praised, pathologized, and politicized vulvas, vaginas, clitorises, and menstruation. In this graphic nonfiction book, drawn in chunky, punky pen, Swedish cartoonist Liv Strömquist traces how different cultures and traditions have shaped women's health and beyond. Her biting, informed commentary and ponytailed avatar guides the reader from the darkest chapters of history (a clitoridectomy performed on a five-year-old American child as late as 1948) to the lightest (vulvas used as architectural details as a symbol of protection). Like humorists Julie Doucet (Dirty Plotte), Alison Bechdel (Dykes to Watch Out For), and Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant), she uses the comics medium to reveal uncomfortable truths about how far we haven't come.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherFantagraphics
- Publication dateAugust 15, 2018
- Reading age16 years and up
- File size216238 KB
- Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download
- Read this book on comiXology. Learn more
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Given the current political climate in the United States, Strömquist’s vibrant, excoriating work is more necessary than ever. Fruit of Knowledge is the kind of self-care Western culture needs―accessible, intelligent, and engaging renderings of culture and history―that provide the encouragement to help us finally name and reclaim the female body."
― The Establishment
"How I loved reading Liv Strömquist’s Fruit of Knowledge. If her strips are clever, angry, funny and righteous, they’re also informative to an eye-popping degree. Should you be in possession of a teenage daughter, you absolutely must buy it for her and all her friends, in addition to those copies you will now immediately purchase for yourself and all of yours."
― The Guardian
"Liv Strömquist is one of those brilliant artists who manages to combine light-hearted rage with biting humour."
― Book Riot
"Strömquist doesn't pull any punches as she covers topics from the horrific to the absurd. Entertaining, educational and essential!"
― The Gosh!
"In this lively feminist graphic essay collection, Strömquist embraces an often fraught topic, balancing serious analysis and irreverent, R-rated humor."
― Publishers Weekly
― The Establishment
"How I loved reading Liv Strömquist’s Fruit of Knowledge. If her strips are clever, angry, funny and righteous, they’re also informative to an eye-popping degree. Should you be in possession of a teenage daughter, you absolutely must buy it for her and all her friends, in addition to those copies you will now immediately purchase for yourself and all of yours."
― The Guardian
"Liv Strömquist is one of those brilliant artists who manages to combine light-hearted rage with biting humour."
― Book Riot
"Strömquist doesn't pull any punches as she covers topics from the horrific to the absurd. Entertaining, educational and essential!"
― The Gosh!
"In this lively feminist graphic essay collection, Strömquist embraces an often fraught topic, balancing serious analysis and irreverent, R-rated humor."
― Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Melissa Bowers is a translator and editor. She lives in Seattle.
Liv Strömquist was born in Sweden and lives in Malmö. She is a radio host with a degree in political science. An activist, her left-leaning, award-winning comics have been published in zines and magazines. Fruit of Knowledge has sold 40,000 copies in Sweden, been adapted for the stage, and has been published worldwide.
Liv Strömquist was born in Sweden and lives in Malmö. She is a radio host with a degree in political science. An activist, her left-leaning, award-winning comics have been published in zines and magazines. Fruit of Knowledge has sold 40,000 copies in Sweden, been adapted for the stage, and has been published worldwide.
Product details
- ASIN : B078924ZT5
- Publisher : Fantagraphics; Illustrated edition (August 15, 2018)
- Publication date : August 15, 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 216238 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Sticky notes : Not Enabled
- Print length : 136 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,656,945 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #858 in Comic Strips (Kindle Store)
- #920 in Cartoons
- #1,094 in Fantagraphics Comics & Graphic Novels
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
218 global ratings
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019
This was very informative and entertaining. I'm confused by the other reviewer that said it was antifeminist. The book has a lot of history about attitudes surrounding female external genitalia and menstruation over the centuries.
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2018
Every once in a while I come across a piece of art that changes my view myself and what humans are capable of. This book is one of these. I wish it was taught in schools.
It contains:
1. An explanation of the strange, unnamed body shaming that permeates White, Western Culture.
2. A hilarious re-imagining of the Adam and Eve story and other gender-organizing mythology.
3. A lot of asides in the storytelling/narration.
4. Philosophy.
5. History surrounding women, fertility, and vulvas. Some of it horrific, some of it funny.
6. Personal accounts of body shame around female anatomy and the thread that connects them all together.
I could not recommend it more highly for anyone to read and I think a low star review must be from someone who can't handle the parts of the book covering non-binary gender, or (eye roll) naming the vulva.
It contains:
1. An explanation of the strange, unnamed body shaming that permeates White, Western Culture.
2. A hilarious re-imagining of the Adam and Eve story and other gender-organizing mythology.
3. A lot of asides in the storytelling/narration.
4. Philosophy.
5. History surrounding women, fertility, and vulvas. Some of it horrific, some of it funny.
6. Personal accounts of body shame around female anatomy and the thread that connects them all together.
I could not recommend it more highly for anyone to read and I think a low star review must be from someone who can't handle the parts of the book covering non-binary gender, or (eye roll) naming the vulva.
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020
But short! I expected more, and the author's tone was sometimes a little annoying. Wish this were a good old-fashioned research instead of a comic book.
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2018
The cover is visually interesting and various online reviews were very positive. I expected a funny, intelligent, well-drawn feminist work. It is very disappointing - the kind of stuff that gives feminism a bad name. It proposes to give a history of research into female anatomy and physiology, sexuality etc., in a politically engaged and funny way. There is nothing funny about the presentation and the 'facts' and explanations are very badly wrong. I'd be ashamed to give this book to anyone who knows anything at all about the history of the relevant sciences. The pages are full of statements in big capital letters with many exclamation points, and the drawings are rather ugly. A great pity, for the general idea of the book is excellent.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2019
Interesting, funny and at times outrageous commentary on the prevalence of discomfort with women's anatomy in western white culture (especially). Very thought provoking and entertaining. I wish I had read it as a young woman.
Top reviews from other countries
Le Tigre
5.0 out of 5 stars
AMAZING
Reviewed in France on May 23, 2021
A must for anyone who has a vagina or is interested in them.
c mandel campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it. Read it. Share it.
Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2019
Loved it.
Mariana Mondragon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty and well-documented taboo-buster
Reviewed in Germany on April 18, 2020
The author analyzes and debunks with intelligence and humor cultural taboos and misconceptions still alive around the female genitals. This is a brilliant and informative read for everybody.
I recommend it for pre-teens (female, male, diverse) and their parents. This book contributes to a clear understanding and appreciation of the human body, which are essential for sexual and mental health.
I recommend it for pre-teens (female, male, diverse) and their parents. This book contributes to a clear understanding and appreciation of the human body, which are essential for sexual and mental health.
Tnuctip
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be grateful for 21st Century authors and publishers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 15, 2019
This is an interesting illustrated book. At first I found the comic book framed format irritating, with the narrator shown, but she disappears as the book progresses. The photographs are only in the first few pages also. The drawings do illustrate the condition of being female throughout history very well, and the book is a much clearer read than a solid text on the subject, which I would never have even sampled.
This is a book better read in print than Kindle edition. I am certain I would not have bought the print edition, without first reading the Kindle free sample. The text (on a Paper white) is beyond tiny, and cannot be enlarged, and even maximum brightness, which I have never used before does not make it any clearer. I am extremely short sighted and could only make the text large and bright enough to read on my phone screen. Continually zooming in and out before turning pages ruined the reading experience for me. It was also a surprise to find the illustrations in black/red/white on my phone screen. Anyway, this has mostly been a comment on the limitations of e-readers rather than on the book itself
The content was information that was new to me, and well sprinkled with references, if I was inclined to follow them up. I only looked into a Freud patient's history which was summarised perfectly by the author. I was shocked that so many horrendous medical procedures had been carried out as recently as the 20th century in the Western world on female genitals. The current awareness of FGM in world religions has been a long time coming. I am in awe of the brave young women who have spoken about their experiences, something I would have hidden, even with a western upbringing and education. I thank the author for opening my eyes on this awareness.
This is a book better read in print than Kindle edition. I am certain I would not have bought the print edition, without first reading the Kindle free sample. The text (on a Paper white) is beyond tiny, and cannot be enlarged, and even maximum brightness, which I have never used before does not make it any clearer. I am extremely short sighted and could only make the text large and bright enough to read on my phone screen. Continually zooming in and out before turning pages ruined the reading experience for me. It was also a surprise to find the illustrations in black/red/white on my phone screen. Anyway, this has mostly been a comment on the limitations of e-readers rather than on the book itself
The content was information that was new to me, and well sprinkled with references, if I was inclined to follow them up. I only looked into a Freud patient's history which was summarised perfectly by the author. I was shocked that so many horrendous medical procedures had been carried out as recently as the 20th century in the Western world on female genitals. The current awareness of FGM in world religions has been a long time coming. I am in awe of the brave young women who have spoken about their experiences, something I would have hidden, even with a western upbringing and education. I thank the author for opening my eyes on this awareness.
bergkvist
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and educational and very very smart
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2023
I love Liv Strömquist and was delighted to see this translation so I could share the books with my English speaking friends and ended up gifting it to many friends for Xmas. It’s funny, smart, educational, bold and just absolutely brilliant! Delighted her books are starting to be available to an English speaking audience!