Happy Monday Hawthorne Quarantine Media Club members! We are so excited to continue our weekly media reviews with thoughts from one of our Account Supervisors, Britt Logan DiGiulio, and one of our Summer Interns, Jennifer Wright. Britt and Jennifer are sharing their thoughts on Chanel Miller’s memoir, Know My Name, and the body positivity podcast, She’s All Fat. Check out what they have to say below!
Britt’s Thoughts on Know My Name:
What type of media is it?
Book
How did you discover the media and why did you start it?
I became interested in reading Know My Name from media coverage surrounding the book release but seeing it as one of my recommended books from Audible encouraged me to finally dive in.
Where can others find this media?
It’s available in print or as an audio book. If you like audio books, I highly recommend it for a very personal experience as it is narrated by the memoir’s author, Chanel Miller. (In addition to the book, she also includes a full reading of her statement from Brock Turner's sentencing hearing).
What is it about, and what was the most impactful takeaway?
Chanel Miller’s memoir chronicles the challenges and victories of life as "Emily Doe.” Miller, whose identity was protected until she came out publicly through her memoir, was the woman assaulted by Brock Turner at Stanford in 2015. In her memoir, Miller details her life before, during, and after her assault, including the psychological and life-altering impact of processing her trauma.
Miller paints a powerful picture of sexual assault that should be required reading for every human being. Her raw, honest approach to describing her experience made me laugh, cry, and occasionally gasp. It frequently sent chills throughout my body as she welcomed me into her incredibly personal struggle.
Has this media changed your perspective on society/current events? How?
As someone who has always seen myself as an ally for survivors of sexual assault, I was amazed by how much more Miller's book opened my eyes to the experience, and how much it challenged my perspective, especially in relation to Turner’s sentencing and what justice means to a victim of sexual assault.
While the book is powerful for people that identify with or support survivors, I especially recommend the memoir to individuals who tend to mistrust or discredit those survivors. Beyond telling “her side” of the story, Miller walks readers through an intellectual exercise that is as educational as it is personal. "Know My Name" is overwhelming and inspiring, emotional, and informative, and a must read.
Jennifer’s thoughts on She’s All Fat:
What type of media is it?
Podcast
How did you discover the media and why did you start it?
My sister recommended this podcast after I expressed interest in learning more about the body positivity movement.
Where can others find this media?
The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play. The podcast also has a website where listeners can read the show notes and learn more about the mission of the podcast.
What is it about?
This podcast focuses on the body positivity movement. The hosts discuss what it means to have a body that is perceived as “fat” and how it has shaped their life experiences. They also have guests who range from sustainable clothing designers to models. The podcast also focuses on inclusivity and diversity within the body positive movement.
What was the most impactful takeaway?
I think the most impactful takeaway from this podcast was how much our society looks down on people who are considered to be “fat”. This podcast also does a wonderful job of promoting “radical self-love” and providing differing perspectives on what it means to love your body. My favorite aspect to this podcast is how uplifting and empowering it is.
Has this media changed your perspective on society/current events? How?
I really enjoy this media because I find it to be lighthearted and educational. It has changed the way that I understand the body positivity movement, and it has also opened my eyes to another layer of inclusion and diversity. I had always heard of size inclusivity and had noticed more of a call out for it from large brands, but this podcast has shown me that there is so much more to the body positivity movement than just size inclusivity. I also became more aware of how people who have been socially othered for one reason or another are treated within society.
If you have already or are interested in listening to either of these podcasts, and you want to keep the conversation going, reach out to us with your thoughts in the comments below!