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chrysfey 's review for:
A Witch's 10 Commandments: Magickal Guidelines for Everyday Life
by Marian Singer
This book wasn't for me. I personally thought that a lot of it could be used as gatekeeping in the Pagan and Wiccan communities, which there already is a lot of that.
Also, there were a few things that bothered me. Based on what the author said in the part subtitled "Political Correctness," I'm not sure if the things that bothered me would ever bother the author, such as how "Transgenderism" was added to this subtitle: "The Big Box of Crayons: Bisexuality, Homosexuality, Transgenderism." That subtitle is in Chapter 7, which says, "All Acts of Love and Pleasure Are Sacred." I agree with that last statement. However, "transgenderism" is not a term the transgender community commonly use. It's a term used by anti-transgender activists to reduce who trans people are to "a condition" they have. (It's not a condition.) Also, this section was about sexuality. Even if "transgenderism" was replaced in the subtitle with another term for transgender people, it would still be inaccurate because gender identity and sexual orientation are different. A transgender person can be straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, etc.
The other thing that bothered me personally was in Chapter 9 "Love is the law, love under will." I found this chapter to exclude the experience of asexuals (individuals who have a lack of sexual attraction to others or have no desire for sexual activity, but many do still experience romantic attractions and want romance/love). Anytime love without physicality (or the absence of "desire for sexual manifestation") was mentioned, it was constantly referred to as the love someone has for close friends and family. As someone who is asexual, I would've liked for there to have been a nod toward asexuals somewhere.
I also noticed what another reviewer said about "squaw" and how the author said it was offensive because it means "female genitalia." My first thought when I read that was that it's an slur that has been used against Native women. The author doesn't mention that.
I think this book could use updating with the help of someone with an eye for these things (a sensitivity reader).
Also, there were a few things that bothered me. Based on what the author said in the part subtitled "Political Correctness," I'm not sure if the things that bothered me would ever bother the author, such as how "Transgenderism" was added to this subtitle: "The Big Box of Crayons: Bisexuality, Homosexuality, Transgenderism." That subtitle is in Chapter 7, which says, "All Acts of Love and Pleasure Are Sacred." I agree with that last statement. However, "transgenderism" is not a term the transgender community commonly use. It's a term used by anti-transgender activists to reduce who trans people are to "a condition" they have. (It's not a condition.) Also, this section was about sexuality. Even if "transgenderism" was replaced in the subtitle with another term for transgender people, it would still be inaccurate because gender identity and sexual orientation are different. A transgender person can be straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, etc.
The other thing that bothered me personally was in Chapter 9 "Love is the law, love under will." I found this chapter to exclude the experience of asexuals (individuals who have a lack of sexual attraction to others or have no desire for sexual activity, but many do still experience romantic attractions and want romance/love). Anytime love without physicality (or the absence of "desire for sexual manifestation") was mentioned, it was constantly referred to as the love someone has for close friends and family. As someone who is asexual, I would've liked for there to have been a nod toward asexuals somewhere.
I also noticed what another reviewer said about "squaw" and how the author said it was offensive because it means "female genitalia." My first thought when I read that was that it's an slur that has been used against Native women. The author doesn't mention that.
I think this book could use updating with the help of someone with an eye for these things (a sensitivity reader).