Fury: Women Write About Sex, Power and Violence

by Samantha Trenoweth

In Fury: Women write about sex, power and violence, 16 exceptional writers, led by editor Samantha Trenoweth, put violence against women into the spotlight.

Their perspectives range from the searingly personal to the positively political. What emerges is a fascinating exploration of the power dynamic between men and women, and some creative strategies to address the inequalities built into it.

Mandy Sayer gives a moving account of her childhood spent fleeing a violent stepfather; Anne Summers revisits the anarchic early days of the women’s refuge movement; Van Badham and Susan Chenery give accounts of violence in suburban Australia and pastoral Tuscany that suggest even the smartest women are vulnerable to assault; Indian poet and novelist Meena Kandasamy addresses rape culture on the subcontinent; and inspiring young activist Fahma Mohamed writes of her crusade against female genital mutilation.

In recent times, we have seen girlfriends shot in their bathrooms and thrown from balconies; mothers and kids turned away from underfunded refuges; women raped on Indian buses, American campuses, and in Australian homes. It’s time we talked about it. Fury explores the intersection between culture, gender and social change through voices that are passionate, insightful and, above all, empowering.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Feminism

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

For the past thirty years, Samantha Trenoweth has worked as a journalist, author and editor in book and magazine publishing, online and also in radio. She has written and co-written five books and edited more than a dozen magazines. She has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, HQ and Rolling Stone, among others, and has worked at the ABC.

Reviews

[Hermine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me more writing that advocates for the dismantling of systems which foster institutionalised violence, or give me death. Break all the stuff, re-envision, and build anew for systemic change.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is presented as a selection of short articles written by women based on their lived experiences. This book presents a woman's perspective on how society and more particularly how men have treated them.
Each author presents a different perspective, some very raw demonstrating the vulnerability and mistreatment of women in a culture that ignores and in relation to aspects of the law, supports or makes it very difficult for women to achieve firstly safety, support and then justice.
The only real criticism of this book is that it lacks a summation, and perhaps the chapter by Natasha Stott Despoja comes closest to this, and re-situating this chapter at the end of the book could have lead to a summation. The book acknowledges that #metoo has raised awareness, and in some states there has been a change in laws, most recently in Queensland in regard to cohersive control brought about by the murder of Hannah Clark and her three children. As I write the coronal inquest is in progress. What is obvious is the disconnect between awareness and application or enforcement of laws and the support that women need when they finally do leave an abusive relationship.
I presented this book to my reading group. It did raise some interest, and the old bogey man of...but men experience violence in domestic situations too...was raised. As I was in polite company and in another member's house, my response was that this book was written from a woman's perspective and as a society we cannot accept the murders and deaths that occur on a weekly basis by some men. The figures of are so overwhelming, there needs to be a much stronger acknowledgment that domestic violence is a cultural problem and responsibility for change lies with men.
I think the chapter which had the most impact on me was that written by Nancy Lombard as an essay relating to her doctoral research. This chapter explores cultural attitudes on domestic abuse. The study interviewed 10 to 12 year old girls and boys in Scotland, and what astounded me most was the acceptance of the young girls that domestic violence was what is part of a married relationship. Interview responses such as 'You sometimes hit a girl if you get annoyed if they say something to you'...Hitting a girl was quite OK. There was not one mention in the essay of mutual respect in a relationship. The change is going to take a long time if we as a society work through the generations waiting for change.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

such an incredible book. i particularly loved reading people’s personal experiences and antidotes.

womanhood can be really scary and tough but also so beautiful and joyful and i feel like these stories really echoed that. this book made me feel really heard and it is so raw and emotional.

would absolutely recommend as a thought provoking, eye opening and honest read.

[Stephanie Youssef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading.

[Phillippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent and informative essays.

[Pirate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This was something he had done to all the women in his life: abruptly leaving; causing shock, anguish, pleading; playing into fears of abandonment; destabilising. It was his way of gaining the upper hand."

So much of this book resonated with me. An important feminist text.

[S Pearlyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fury is a collection of stories, accounts, and essays focusing on domestic violence. They come from different regions (primarily Australia) and bring you different perspectives. Some talk about personal experiences, some just about statistics, but they all disturb you at some level. With campaigns like White Ribbon, domestic violence is finally being talked about. But most of us just hear these words, it doesn't resonate with everyone. Until you sit down and read something like this anthology. I found myself nodding along so many times. "Yes, it has happened to me". "Yes, I have felt that frustrated". "Oh, I didn't know it still happens".
It'll depress you. Oh, it'll haunt you. But then you read about activists who working on making a change and you feel better. Of course, some of the pieces could've been done better. But overall, it's a fantastic effort and everyone must read it.

[Emma Monfries · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this book and I generally enjoy reading essays. The mixture of authors was interesting and produced a diverse range of topics. Some pieces were exceptional and some were disappointing. The subject matter is so relevant and important that I think anyone, even those who read texts like this often, would get something new out of at least one of the essays. For me, 'Kev' will stay with me for a long time and I was amazed and inspired by the stories of the women who started the first women's shelters in Australia. Worth reading.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passionate, thought provoking and sometimes confronting. A valuable addition to the discussion around these topics.

[Lucinda Streetola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is triggering, intense and brilliant.