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Un autre regard #1-2
The Mental Load: A feminist comic
'Women, put down your never-ending to-do list and read this book cover to cover.' Rebecca Huntley
'The gender wars of household chores' - The Guardian
'Funny and relevant, this is a book to slip on all your colleagues' desks.' - Elle
'Emma talks about the clitoris like nobody else.' - Huffington Post
'Her comics perfectly explain the mental load that women bear in the household' - Marie Claire
'Widely shared on the net, her comic strips echo the feeling of many women who are exhausted by the need to always think of everything' - L'Express
'The mental load. It's incessant, gnawing, exhausting and disproportionately falls to women.' Leah Rupanner, ABC
'The mental load is the running commentary that plays in the minds of (mostly) women, of all the things that need doing that no one else sees but you.' AV Williams, news.com.au
In her first book of comic strips, French artist Emma reflects on social and feminist issues by means of simple line drawings, dissecting the mental load, ie all that invisible and unpaid organizing, list-making and planning women do to manage their lives, and the lives of their family members. Most of us carry some form of mental load - about our work, household responsibilities, financial obligations and personal life; but what makes up that burden and how it's distributed within households and understood in offices is not always equal or fair.
In her strips Emma deals with themes ranging from maternity leave (it is not a vacation!), domestic violence, the clitoris, the violence of the medical world on women during childbirth, and other feminist issues, and she does so in a straightforward way that is both hilarious and deadly serious. If you're not laughing, you're probably crying in recognition. Emma's comics also address the everyday outrages and absurdities of immigrant rights, income equality, and police violence.
Emma has over 300,000 followers on Facebook, her comics have been shared 215,000 times, and have elicited comments from 21,000 internet users. An article about her in the French magazine L'Express drew 1.8 million views - a record since the site was created. She is now a regular contributor to The Guardian. Many women will recognize themselves in The Mental Load, which is sure to stir a wide-ranging, important debate on what it really means to be a woman today.
'The gender wars of household chores' - The Guardian
'Funny and relevant, this is a book to slip on all your colleagues' desks.' - Elle
'Emma talks about the clitoris like nobody else.' - Huffington Post
'Her comics perfectly explain the mental load that women bear in the household' - Marie Claire
'Widely shared on the net, her comic strips echo the feeling of many women who are exhausted by the need to always think of everything' - L'Express
'The mental load. It's incessant, gnawing, exhausting and disproportionately falls to women.' Leah Rupanner, ABC
'The mental load is the running commentary that plays in the minds of (mostly) women, of all the things that need doing that no one else sees but you.' AV Williams, news.com.au
In her first book of comic strips, French artist Emma reflects on social and feminist issues by means of simple line drawings, dissecting the mental load, ie all that invisible and unpaid organizing, list-making and planning women do to manage their lives, and the lives of their family members. Most of us carry some form of mental load - about our work, household responsibilities, financial obligations and personal life; but what makes up that burden and how it's distributed within households and understood in offices is not always equal or fair.
In her strips Emma deals with themes ranging from maternity leave (it is not a vacation!), domestic violence, the clitoris, the violence of the medical world on women during childbirth, and other feminist issues, and she does so in a straightforward way that is both hilarious and deadly serious. If you're not laughing, you're probably crying in recognition. Emma's comics also address the everyday outrages and absurdities of immigrant rights, income equality, and police violence.
Emma has over 300,000 followers on Facebook, her comics have been shared 215,000 times, and have elicited comments from 21,000 internet users. An article about her in the French magazine L'Express drew 1.8 million views - a record since the site was created. She is now a regular contributor to The Guardian. Many women will recognize themselves in The Mental Load, which is sure to stir a wide-ranging, important debate on what it really means to be a woman today.
Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
156 people are currently reading
3240 people want to read
About the author
Emma
206 books153 followersDessinatrice de trucs moches mais qui veulent dire des choses. Féministe inclusive, antiraciste, anticapitaliste.
Emma is a computer technician who lives in Paris but who says she learns "all over the place." She podcasts programs for the radio station France Culture, and her comics run in The Guardian.
Emma's strips have a history of going viral. "You Should've Asked" was viewed on mommy blogs around the world, and an article about her in thew French magazine L'Express drew 1.8 million viewers -- a record since the site was created.
A former member of the collective Stop harcèlement de rue (Stop Street Harassment), she is confident that her feminist beliefs have now made it onto the "information superhighway" for good.
Emma is a computer technician who lives in Paris but who says she learns "all over the place." She podcasts programs for the radio station France Culture, and her comics run in The Guardian.
Emma's strips have a history of going viral. "You Should've Asked" was viewed on mommy blogs around the world, and an article about her in thew French magazine L'Express drew 1.8 million viewers -- a record since the site was created.
A former member of the collective Stop harcèlement de rue (Stop Street Harassment), she is confident that her feminist beliefs have now made it onto the "information superhighway" for good.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
November 16, 2020
I’d never say The Mental Load could replace a book that explores feminist issues in depth, but I found it surprisingly thorough. The author is "Emma," a computer technician who, going by what's here, experiences plenty of sexism and disrespect in her field.
Emma covered various topics such as the male gaze; the uneven divide of domestic tasks between heterosexual partners; and the prioritization of work over family for men and vice versa for women. Specifically, the male gaze chapter delves into the damage caused by objectification of women. I appreciated this chapter especially and am glad that Emma touched on the fact that women are objectified by men and by women themselves; most women perpetuate objectification by enthusiastically objectifying themselves, as they were socialized to do. The solution isn't various celebrities and influencers "being real" by posting photos of their cellulite or heavy thighs. The solution isn't "sex positive" feminism. The solution is shifting attention away from the body entirely to focus on actual talents, intelligence, accomplishments, and character. As long as they are objectified, women will never achieve true equality.
The "You Should've Asked" chapter explains that in heterosexual relationships, research shows that women still do most of the domestic work, even in households where both partners work full time. Most women have to ask their male partners to help with or do some domestic task while the women do domestic tasks unprompted. The book's title comes from this chapter:
"The Wait" is important for explaining how men are socialized to prioritize work, and women to prioritize family. Such imbalanced prioritizing means too many men find a way to make time for work-related extras, such as happy hours with coworkers, but won't for home life. Women can’t afford to prioritize work and work-related things. Emma presented several reasons for why, but the example I found strongest is of daycare-pickup at the end of the workday. Picking up the kids on time necessitates leaving work whether or not tasks are completed. Daycare pickup often falls on the mother's shoulders, putting her at a disadvantage in jobs where staying late is valued and can help lead to promotion.
Most of the many chapters are grounded in reality, and females everywhere will no doubt relate to some, if not all. When the author got metaphorical, such as in a weird chapter entitled "Show Me That Bosom," I thought the greater point got lost, rendering the chapter less powerful. Another chapter, on the clitoris, seems out of place, though not invaluable.
This graphic novel confronts a lot that can leave one in despair, but it's not all negative. In each chapter it's clear what the solution is, and Emma offered food for thought on lots, including maternal and paternal leave, universal basic income, and "bullshit jobs" (an actual, not bullshit, concept). Her graphic novel is an easy way to get versed quickly on some crucial issues. For those interested in feminism presented accessibly, it doesn’t get much more accessible than The Mental Load.
Complementary reading:
Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women
Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture
All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation
Emma covered various topics such as the male gaze; the uneven divide of domestic tasks between heterosexual partners; and the prioritization of work over family for men and vice versa for women. Specifically, the male gaze chapter delves into the damage caused by objectification of women. I appreciated this chapter especially and am glad that Emma touched on the fact that women are objectified by men and by women themselves; most women perpetuate objectification by enthusiastically objectifying themselves, as they were socialized to do. The solution isn't various celebrities and influencers "being real" by posting photos of their cellulite or heavy thighs. The solution isn't "sex positive" feminism. The solution is shifting attention away from the body entirely to focus on actual talents, intelligence, accomplishments, and character. As long as they are objectified, women will never achieve true equality.
The "You Should've Asked" chapter explains that in heterosexual relationships, research shows that women still do most of the domestic work, even in households where both partners work full time. Most women have to ask their male partners to help with or do some domestic task while the women do domestic tasks unprompted. The book's title comes from this chapter:
When a man expects his partner to ask him to do things, he's viewing her as the manager of household chores. So it's up to her to know what needs to be done and when. The problem with that is that planning and organizing things is already a full-time job. [...] The mental load means always having to remember. Remember that you have to add cotton swabs to the shopping list. Remember that today's the deadline to order your vegetable delivery for the week. Remember that we should have paid the caretaker for last month's work by now. [...] The mental load is almost completely [borne] by women.The book then goes on to illustrate various kinds of "mental loads," with some chapters more successful than others.
"The Wait" is important for explaining how men are socialized to prioritize work, and women to prioritize family. Such imbalanced prioritizing means too many men find a way to make time for work-related extras, such as happy hours with coworkers, but won't for home life. Women can’t afford to prioritize work and work-related things. Emma presented several reasons for why, but the example I found strongest is of daycare-pickup at the end of the workday. Picking up the kids on time necessitates leaving work whether or not tasks are completed. Daycare pickup often falls on the mother's shoulders, putting her at a disadvantage in jobs where staying late is valued and can help lead to promotion.
Most of the many chapters are grounded in reality, and females everywhere will no doubt relate to some, if not all. When the author got metaphorical, such as in a weird chapter entitled "Show Me That Bosom," I thought the greater point got lost, rendering the chapter less powerful. Another chapter, on the clitoris, seems out of place, though not invaluable.
This graphic novel confronts a lot that can leave one in despair, but it's not all negative. In each chapter it's clear what the solution is, and Emma offered food for thought on lots, including maternal and paternal leave, universal basic income, and "bullshit jobs" (an actual, not bullshit, concept). Her graphic novel is an easy way to get versed quickly on some crucial issues. For those interested in feminism presented accessibly, it doesn’t get much more accessible than The Mental Load.
Complementary reading:
Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women
Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture
All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation
Read
April 6, 2021Honestly? I'm torn.
This comic tackles the issues of so many women so well! It even made me come to some new conclusions... and I work in a feminist NGO. The writing's good, the arguments are good. So why am I torn?
Well, it's a comic book, right? So it should be somewhat visually appealing and, maybe, easy to read? Yes? No?
The font (is it handwritten?) isn't the best, I really struggled to decipher it. The drawings are, well, very basic. Which sometimes is perfectly finne, but there is also A LOT of text. So much of it that it could actually be more readable in a form of an essay instead of comic bubbles.
To sum it up: the content is A+ but the form... well, it just made it difficult for me to truly appreciate and enjoy the content.
This comic tackles the issues of so many women so well! It even made me come to some new conclusions... and I work in a feminist NGO. The writing's good, the arguments are good. So why am I torn?
Well, it's a comic book, right? So it should be somewhat visually appealing and, maybe, easy to read? Yes? No?
The font (is it handwritten?) isn't the best, I really struggled to decipher it. The drawings are, well, very basic. Which sometimes is perfectly finne, but there is also A LOT of text. So much of it that it could actually be more readable in a form of an essay instead of comic bubbles.
To sum it up: the content is A+ but the form... well, it just made it difficult for me to truly appreciate and enjoy the content.
October 22, 2025
In a Nutshell: A graphic comic highlighting several systemic social and feminist problems in modern society, especially but not only related to women and women’s rights. This collects books 1 and 2 of the author’s feminist comics series. As the tagline indicates, this is “feminist”, and in the right way, not in the male-bashing way. Some of the topic choices were unexpected, but most left a mark. The translation didn’t satisfy me a few times. A worthy read, nonetheless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Emma is a Parisian running a successful podcast as well as creating comic strips that make us question many things society takes for granted. She has published four books in her “Un autre regard” series, the first two of which are combined in this English edition.
The book works like a social manifesto, making a call for action not through unjustified aggression or finger-pointing, but through a logical justification of all problematic issues with real-life examples. It is not focussed merely on “feminism” in its (un)popular meaning but on understanding the embedded negative social strictures in the correct light and rectifying them as needed. It also highlights the power of a collective united voice and collective intelligence.
The book begins with a powerful introductory note by the author. She says these comics were an outcome of “two years of social analysis and observation in pictures”. It shows. Her topics cover several essential topics that are relevant to us at an individual, societal, political, and global level.
The titular “mental load” is explained in the very first chapter, and honestly, I was blown away by it. I have complained about this for years to my husband, but he never gets my point. This chapter made me feel heard and validated. (Not that it will make much difference at home. But at least I know I am not the only one and that we can change things for the next generation.) Because of topics like this, the book also feels infuriating; it brings to the surface all the emotions we are so accustomed to suppressing.
The main content is divided into twelve topic-wise chapters, not all of which are about womanly concerns. Hypersexualisation in movies and forced episiotomies in some chapters; police brutality and corporate grindwork in some other chapters. The topics are varied but also relatable and relevant to the common person. Three chapters come in the form of narrative stories; these are very disturbing because they represent our twisted and hate-filled society accurately.
The tagline calls this a “feminist comic”, and this might turn some people away from the book. However, the writing is such that even though Emma brings out the flawed behaviour of men, she does so without sounding accusatory. Rather, she questions why society has allowed this kind of evolution, why men have been conditioned to act and react this way. This probing approach is much more helpful than hitting men on the head with the agenda of equality.
The translation seemed mostly okay. The textual content and intent seemed to come out well. Wherever a clarification is needed, there are explanatory footnotes. But why use the vulgar word “pussy” while referring to the female pubic region? It’s such a turn-off.
The page layout of the book is quite good. This is not like a comic with scene development. The message mostly comes through text. But there is never an overload of the textual content per page. It is nicely spaced out, leaving plenty of room for illustrations that complement the textual points perfectly.
Overall, this was an insightful and eye-opening read. Most of the chapters strongly resonated with me. While some chapters were a bit disconnected from my life, I still saw the necessity to highlight those issues.
A must-read, and not just for women.
4.25 stars.
On an aside: “In France, the time spent at work is seen as more important than the work effectively accomplished.”
I thought this was a problem only in India!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Emma is a Parisian running a successful podcast as well as creating comic strips that make us question many things society takes for granted. She has published four books in her “Un autre regard” series, the first two of which are combined in this English edition.
The book works like a social manifesto, making a call for action not through unjustified aggression or finger-pointing, but through a logical justification of all problematic issues with real-life examples. It is not focussed merely on “feminism” in its (un)popular meaning but on understanding the embedded negative social strictures in the correct light and rectifying them as needed. It also highlights the power of a collective united voice and collective intelligence.
The book begins with a powerful introductory note by the author. She says these comics were an outcome of “two years of social analysis and observation in pictures”. It shows. Her topics cover several essential topics that are relevant to us at an individual, societal, political, and global level.
The titular “mental load” is explained in the very first chapter, and honestly, I was blown away by it. I have complained about this for years to my husband, but he never gets my point. This chapter made me feel heard and validated. (Not that it will make much difference at home. But at least I know I am not the only one and that we can change things for the next generation.) Because of topics like this, the book also feels infuriating; it brings to the surface all the emotions we are so accustomed to suppressing.
The main content is divided into twelve topic-wise chapters, not all of which are about womanly concerns. Hypersexualisation in movies and forced episiotomies in some chapters; police brutality and corporate grindwork in some other chapters. The topics are varied but also relatable and relevant to the common person. Three chapters come in the form of narrative stories; these are very disturbing because they represent our twisted and hate-filled society accurately.
The tagline calls this a “feminist comic”, and this might turn some people away from the book. However, the writing is such that even though Emma brings out the flawed behaviour of men, she does so without sounding accusatory. Rather, she questions why society has allowed this kind of evolution, why men have been conditioned to act and react this way. This probing approach is much more helpful than hitting men on the head with the agenda of equality.
The translation seemed mostly okay. The textual content and intent seemed to come out well. Wherever a clarification is needed, there are explanatory footnotes. But why use the vulgar word “pussy” while referring to the female pubic region? It’s such a turn-off.
The page layout of the book is quite good. This is not like a comic with scene development. The message mostly comes through text. But there is never an overload of the textual content per page. It is nicely spaced out, leaving plenty of room for illustrations that complement the textual points perfectly.
Overall, this was an insightful and eye-opening read. Most of the chapters strongly resonated with me. While some chapters were a bit disconnected from my life, I still saw the necessity to highlight those issues.
A must-read, and not just for women.
4.25 stars.
On an aside: “In France, the time spent at work is seen as more important than the work effectively accomplished.”
I thought this was a problem only in India!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
November 29, 2018
A French blogger effectively and humorously lays out progressive and feminist hot topics of the day in a dozen essays in comic book format.
I was a stay-at-home dad when my daughter was young, so I can relate to the first entry, "You Should've Asked," about the mental load that can be felt by the homemaker in a couple when it comes to doing household chores and taking care of children. And as a liberal, I found myself agreeing with her points about sexism, sexual harassment, childbirth, universal income and police brutality.
Emma is not doing a deep dive on any of these topics or offering up a lot of insight, but she certainly sets up a delightful little echo chamber for the likeminded.
I was a stay-at-home dad when my daughter was young, so I can relate to the first entry, "You Should've Asked," about the mental load that can be felt by the homemaker in a couple when it comes to doing household chores and taking care of children. And as a liberal, I found myself agreeing with her points about sexism, sexual harassment, childbirth, universal income and police brutality.
Emma is not doing a deep dive on any of these topics or offering up a lot of insight, but she certainly sets up a delightful little echo chamber for the likeminded.
June 9, 2019
Several of the comics are really useful primers on feminism, while others gave me a glimpse into the minds of French & European feminists.
I was somewhat puzzled over the comic about topless women, I'm pretty sure it was a parable in response to the burqua bans and other crackdowns on headscarves in Europe.
I liked the comic on universal income but had to laugh when Emma complained about having to rush eating lunch during an hour-long break! Really? As a part time worker, I get 15 minute breaks, now that is rushed eating!
I think this book is better suited for newbie feminists and those interested in learning more about feminism but unsure where they stand on the topic.
I was somewhat puzzled over the comic about topless women, I'm pretty sure it was a parable in response to the burqua bans and other crackdowns on headscarves in Europe.
I liked the comic on universal income but had to laugh when Emma complained about having to rush eating lunch during an hour-long break! Really? As a part time worker, I get 15 minute breaks, now that is rushed eating!
I think this book is better suited for newbie feminists and those interested in learning more about feminism but unsure where they stand on the topic.
January 13, 2020
Emma is a comic writer cum creator.
I stumbled upon her comics, when I was reading an article about the Millennial generations and the art of 'mental load', which I find, yes, you are right Emma, you are absolutely right. Emma's comics resonates well with the housekeeper cum housewife cum working moms.
Women, for generations, had always bear the brunt of the mental load - from planning till execution.
Do you want me to do it ? (no)
And this is one of the comics that resonates well, which I found in her website.
And she also included the topic of Islamophobia, or about black people being killed during police interrogation. Horrendous, I would say.
I stumbled upon her comics, when I was reading an article about the Millennial generations and the art of 'mental load', which I find, yes, you are right Emma, you are absolutely right. Emma's comics resonates well with the housekeeper cum housewife cum working moms.
Women, for generations, had always bear the brunt of the mental load - from planning till execution.
Do you want me to do it ? (no)
And this is one of the comics that resonates well, which I found in her website.
And she also included the topic of Islamophobia, or about black people being killed during police interrogation. Horrendous, I would say.
May 27, 2021
So well articulated. I'm planning on sharing this with every man I know. Hopefully, it will do something.
December 17, 2024
i read the initial comic after i heard people using the term on tiktok and came away feeling like the complaint was asking men to be mind readers. after having read the whole
book, i will slightly amend my initial takeaway because women in heterosexual relationships frequently do take on the role of the household managers, but the issue still stands that if women want equal relationships then we have to communicate those needs. it’s not fair to us or our partners if we’re not sharing what our expectations and needs are. so that they will learn what to look for, but they do need to get a clue.
overall, the rest of the book is entirely reliant upon personal experiences and a tiny study. i understand that this is a beginners’ guide to feminism for moms but it feels entirely insulting to their intelligence to not use either better sources or work with an editor to flesh out the anecdotes. also the font is so hard to read. not to mention there’s little to no flow with the chapters.
another critique was during the internalized misogyny chapter, she cited women objectifying themselves or other women as examples of this. which the former is fine but the latter excludes women who attracted to other women.
book, i will slightly amend my initial takeaway because women in heterosexual relationships frequently do take on the role of the household managers, but the issue still stands that if women want equal relationships then we have to communicate those needs. it’s not fair to us or our partners if we’re not sharing what our expectations and needs are. so that they will learn what to look for, but they do need to get a clue.
overall, the rest of the book is entirely reliant upon personal experiences and a tiny study. i understand that this is a beginners’ guide to feminism for moms but it feels entirely insulting to their intelligence to not use either better sources or work with an editor to flesh out the anecdotes. also the font is so hard to read. not to mention there’s little to no flow with the chapters.
another critique was during the internalized misogyny chapter, she cited women objectifying themselves or other women as examples of this. which the former is fine but the latter excludes women who attracted to other women.
February 28, 2019
I actually read the “You Should’ve Asked” story on Facebook within the last year or so, but didn't even recognize Emma’s name or her style until I was reading it again in this book. It's not that it's unmemorable or anything, more a comment on my aging brain and the sheer volume of comics I’ve read over the years. It apparently never occurred to me that I’d ever encounter it in physical media …
Anyway, the book is wonderful! Emma is strongly, positively feminist. Her comics will make you smile, occasionally enrage you, but also make you question and, most importantly, think. Or at least that was my experience. Her style is charming and cartoony, with perhaps a bit too much empty space on some pages.
If you're of the conservative persuasion you will probably not enjoy this book. For everyone else, recommended!
Anyway, the book is wonderful! Emma is strongly, positively feminist. Her comics will make you smile, occasionally enrage you, but also make you question and, most importantly, think. Or at least that was my experience. Her style is charming and cartoony, with perhaps a bit too much empty space on some pages.
If you're of the conservative persuasion you will probably not enjoy this book. For everyone else, recommended!
July 19, 2019
I gather that the author is an internet sensation, and I appreciated that this translation from the French exposed me to her work .
This is a collection of comic strips that tackles social and feminist issues with the aid of simple line drawings. Some of the strips are more compelling than others, but this would make a great introduction to some of the themes explored here, albeit with a distinctive French perspective on certain topics. The one I found most compelling was "You Should've Asked," which is an exploration of the mental load borne by most, if not all, women. The art itself is rather basic and not really the point, and there wasn't much in terms of diversity, but it's still worth a read. This would make for excellent discussions if read with partners and older teens - a family book group suggestion.
This is a collection of comic strips that tackles social and feminist issues with the aid of simple line drawings. Some of the strips are more compelling than others, but this would make a great introduction to some of the themes explored here, albeit with a distinctive French perspective on certain topics. The one I found most compelling was "You Should've Asked," which is an exploration of the mental load borne by most, if not all, women. The art itself is rather basic and not really the point, and there wasn't much in terms of diversity, but it's still worth a read. This would make for excellent discussions if read with partners and older teens - a family book group suggestion.
September 1, 2020
Great conversation starter honestly. The book not only gives insight into how women (and men!) benefit from feminism, but it also taps into issues of islamaphobia and police brutality. A great graphic novel that presents complex issues in a way that can be easily understood and empathised with.
December 17, 2018
I'm in two minds about this one - it touches on a lot of really important issues and gets across some important points. The titular 'mental load' was something that had never occurred to me and is so interesting!
However, for a graphic novel (does it count as a novel if it's non-fiction?), this wasn't a particularly a strong one for me. The illustrations seemed relatively basic (recognising I definitely couldn't do better!) and didn't tell a story or convey the humour I see in a lot of graphic novels (even ones that are on quite serious topics). I didn't really get a sense of the author's personality through her drawings or through the book overall and it was essentially a lot of monologues which felt like a waste of the graphic novel format.
However, for a graphic novel (does it count as a novel if it's non-fiction?), this wasn't a particularly a strong one for me. The illustrations seemed relatively basic (recognising I definitely couldn't do better!) and didn't tell a story or convey the humour I see in a lot of graphic novels (even ones that are on quite serious topics). I didn't really get a sense of the author's personality through her drawings or through the book overall and it was essentially a lot of monologues which felt like a waste of the graphic novel format.
December 26, 2022
Este é um daqueles livros que deveríamos oferecer a todos os nossos amigos e amigas.
O livro debruça-se sobre uma série de desigualdades, umas mais visíveis e outras nem tanto. Tal como a autora, espero que muitas destas questões fiquem claras e resolvidas até à próxima geração.
Leitura obrigatória.
O livro debruça-se sobre uma série de desigualdades, umas mais visíveis e outras nem tanto. Tal como a autora, espero que muitas destas questões fiquem claras e resolvidas até à próxima geração.
Leitura obrigatória.
May 10, 2020
A short but phenomenal volume, this is a series of beautifully articulated and illustrated feminist essays. I saw the first one, "You should've asked," on her blog (https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/...), a brilliant piece demonstrating how women are expected to do both the program management (i.e., identification of needs, coordination and delegation of tasks, tracking progress, and often the ultimate responsibility) as well as the execution (doing the actual labor) of household tasks, whereas men will often only volunteer to do the execution. When asked why they're not carrying their share of the load, they'll often respond with the title phrase, "you should've asked." This perspective struck a nerve in me as I see an analogous situation in terms of (a lack of) allyship towards women and people of color in many settings - the typical person not in these categories will say "nobody asked me to do anything" or "I followed all the policies, what else do you want" or "I didn't know how to help" - in other words, they will only agree to do things that are delegated to them; they will not take ownership of the goals and get involved at the program management level. I plan to use this essay going forward as a thought-provoking argument for why they need to do more.
...and that was just the first essay! There are several other really fantastic pieces - one about the male gaze, one about female anatomy, a particularly clever one about the hypocrisy of the burqa bans in France/Quebec, another about police discrimination, among several others. Each one makes important points illustrated not only with pictures but also with clever thought experiments and succinct, memorable arguments. It's a quick read that I'd highly recommend; while you can read many of these on her blog, I'd argue for supporting her with a book purchase if you can afford it.
...and that was just the first essay! There are several other really fantastic pieces - one about the male gaze, one about female anatomy, a particularly clever one about the hypocrisy of the burqa bans in France/Quebec, another about police discrimination, among several others. Each one makes important points illustrated not only with pictures but also with clever thought experiments and succinct, memorable arguments. It's a quick read that I'd highly recommend; while you can read many of these on her blog, I'd argue for supporting her with a book purchase if you can afford it.
November 4, 2020
I found THE MENAL LOAD: A FEMINIST COMIC a the very least funny. Funny, because this little French girl is just discovering what women have known for years.... that we women are not completely equal in the world! That regardless of race or ethnicity, women are the same, worldwide... unless you look at the mythical Amazon Basin where female warriors reside.
Even worst for her, this little French girl seems to believe that she should have some control over her life, her body, her beliefs! It may be happening, but it has not been achieved yet. What I always consider is that she is raising a boy baby. Where do little boys come from, women, yet these issues she points out seem to be repeated generation after generation.
Welcome to the world, Mon petit rayon de Soleil! I completely agree with everything that she says, but the issue is that we raise them... women raise sons... so why does it continue? It must be coming from somewhere...
5 stars
Happy Reading!
Even worst for her, this little French girl seems to believe that she should have some control over her life, her body, her beliefs! It may be happening, but it has not been achieved yet. What I always consider is that she is raising a boy baby. Where do little boys come from, women, yet these issues she points out seem to be repeated generation after generation.
Welcome to the world, Mon petit rayon de Soleil! I completely agree with everything that she says, but the issue is that we raise them... women raise sons... so why does it continue? It must be coming from somewhere...
5 stars
Happy Reading!
January 29, 2022
Powerful stuff. I feel seen and at the same time I see more. Pick it up when you get the chance.
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February 15, 2022
A feminist comic about sexism, racism, police brutality and many more things.
Absolutely loved it and I kinda like the comic format for educational books. 👌🏻✨
Absolutely loved it and I kinda like the comic format for educational books. 👌🏻✨
December 23, 2025
I really like the selection of causes the author champions but I do feel a little put off with her lecturing tone and the barrage of texts
March 14, 2023
Very surface level, white feminism. Idk what else to say about this, I really don't get all the praise. Especially having just finished "Hood Feminism" by Mikki Kendall, calling this book "feminist" simply seems ridiculous. I understand that the topics discussed in the book affect a large number of women, but the author fails to acknowledge that she caters to a white, middle-class audience for most of the part. She does mention some points that also come up in debates around intersectional feminism, but they make up a really, really small part of the book. I was especially shocked about the chapter concerning police brutality, in which she admits that for most of her life, she thought the murders of unarmed Black men who run away from the police must be justified since the running away "must be for a reason". She then tries to alleviate that statement by saying that "a person running away doesn't deserve to die any more than anyone else". This is such a horrible point to bring up in this debate?? So you still suspect the person to be a criminal? By the way: the chapter about police brutality was preceded by one about the clitoris and followed by one about rude men at the workplace? Idk, both of these are very trivial compared to a topic like police brutality. All in all I was very disappointed and would not recommend this book to anyone. To all the people praising it: please educate yourself and read up on intersectional feminism.
November 27, 2020
Es gibt durchaus seichtere Titel zu den hier beschriebenen Themen.
Gefallen haben mir die Kapitel über Mental Load und die Polizeigewalt in Frankreich und den dort vorherrschenden Rassismus. Dessen war ich mir noch nicht in dieser Intensität bewusst und ich werde mich hier vermutlich weiter informieren.
Schockiert war ich über das Kapitel der Schwangerschaft und den ersten Woche als neue Mutter...
Was mir leider nicht so gut gefallen hat war die "Radikalität", mit der Emma an gewisse Themen gegangen ist. Insbesondere die Theorie, dass man alle "Bullshitjobs", die für die Gesellschaft nicht relevant sind (Relevant in diesem Kontext: Merkt man unmittelbar, dass diese nicht mehr existieren) restlos streichen könnte und wir so alle weniger arbeiten müssten. Dies erscheint mir ein wenig naiv und profan, und ich denke die komplexen Wirtschaftsstrukturen lassen sich nicht mit einem so banalen Gerüst entkräften.
Als Denkanstoß ist dieses Buch aber dennoch geeignet, auch wenn man selbst nicht mit allen Sichtweisen und Thesen übereinstimmt.
Gefallen haben mir die Kapitel über Mental Load und die Polizeigewalt in Frankreich und den dort vorherrschenden Rassismus. Dessen war ich mir noch nicht in dieser Intensität bewusst und ich werde mich hier vermutlich weiter informieren.
Schockiert war ich über das Kapitel der Schwangerschaft und den ersten Woche als neue Mutter...
Was mir leider nicht so gut gefallen hat war die "Radikalität", mit der Emma an gewisse Themen gegangen ist. Insbesondere die Theorie, dass man alle "Bullshitjobs", die für die Gesellschaft nicht relevant sind (Relevant in diesem Kontext: Merkt man unmittelbar, dass diese nicht mehr existieren) restlos streichen könnte und wir so alle weniger arbeiten müssten. Dies erscheint mir ein wenig naiv und profan, und ich denke die komplexen Wirtschaftsstrukturen lassen sich nicht mit einem so banalen Gerüst entkräften.
Als Denkanstoß ist dieses Buch aber dennoch geeignet, auch wenn man selbst nicht mit allen Sichtweisen und Thesen übereinstimmt.
November 12, 2018
The mental load is an intersectional feminist comic that uses simple illustrations to convey current issues. While the content goes beyond this, the main focus here is on the domestic. We already know about the imbalance in hours spent on activities such as cooking, cleaning, and child care, and how that negatively impacts women (especially those who work full time), but what about the impact of the mental load? The strain that comes from mentally balancing the dozens of seemingly small tasks in the household that men are, too often, blind to?
The Mental Load is a French comic translated into English, but the majority of the content found here should be relatable to American readers. The author and illustrator, Emma, does a wonderful job stating and illustrating her arguments. This is especially true in a chapter that finds a western-friendly way to explain the hijab. While the font choice is unfortunate, the content is worth your time.
The Mental Load is a French comic translated into English, but the majority of the content found here should be relatable to American readers. The author and illustrator, Emma, does a wonderful job stating and illustrating her arguments. This is especially true in a chapter that finds a western-friendly way to explain the hijab. While the font choice is unfortunate, the content is worth your time.
March 28, 2021
Brilliantly poignant, funny and a must read for all women.
June 26, 2020
I love the exploration of the mental load, which is a legit thing. I have an amazing, super-involved husband who is great at so many things and cares for our children as much as I do. But the little things - who needs to go to the eye doctor, who has what teacher for what subject, who needs a prescription refill, which kids need presents for friend's birthday parties- these are things I have to remember or they don't occur to him. It is not like that with housework or taking care of kids - he is fantastic, unlike the men depicted in this book who are clueless. But the main idea is the same - he will do it if I ask him, but it is my job to remember and either ask or do it myself. That is somehow my responsibility, and it is tiring.
I was also interested to see how things are different and the same in France (where the author is) and the United States (where I am). I was under the impression that things like maternity leave, police brutality, and the capitalist mindset were not as big of a problem in France, but they have room for improvement as well (although we have much further to go in the U.S. - France's maternity leave policies and death by cop stats look like a dream compared to ours).
The art is okay, and I certainly didn't agree with everything the author had to say, but this is well worth the read.
I was also interested to see how things are different and the same in France (where the author is) and the United States (where I am). I was under the impression that things like maternity leave, police brutality, and the capitalist mindset were not as big of a problem in France, but they have room for improvement as well (although we have much further to go in the U.S. - France's maternity leave policies and death by cop stats look like a dream compared to ours).
The art is okay, and I certainly didn't agree with everything the author had to say, but this is well worth the read.
October 6, 2020
This comic has a great message and I think it should be a mandatory reading for all! However, I think the art could've been better: the fonts were hard to read a lot of times and I think the art itself could've been more impacting.
Still, I would like the read the other volume that the author wrote because I think her message is truly important — through her art, the author manages to shed a spotlight on social and feminist issues that MUST be discussed such as gender inequality, household responsibilities, maternity leave and others.
If you have the chance to read this comic, please do.
Still, I would like the read the other volume that the author wrote because I think her message is truly important — through her art, the author manages to shed a spotlight on social and feminist issues that MUST be discussed such as gender inequality, household responsibilities, maternity leave and others.
If you have the chance to read this comic, please do.
October 2, 2019
This book is not particularly funny, or well-drawn- but it's smart, and apt, and I was nodding along throughout it all. Emma illustrates her points and highlights many of the problems with the world today, and I found comfort in the solidarity she shares with her art. Above all this book is just SO relatable. I hope that there are people out there reading it and having their eyes opened to these issues for the first time and growing their empathy.
January 22, 2025
I really enjoyed learning from this author. A lot, I could relate to. I found it validating and helpful. Some of her points, I previously didn't realize were just as big of issues in France as they are in the U.S.
I debated between 4 and 5 stars for this book. I know some of my friends would really love this book.
I debated between 4 and 5 stars for this book. I know some of my friends would really love this book.
April 11, 2024
From the French perspective, but still relevant to Americans (even moreso, I argue, since we have no federal maternity/paternity leave and even more of us are killed by police).
June 24, 2019
The main focus was on the mental load cis women carry in heterosexual relationships and in their workplace. Covers important topics but could have been more inclusive. Also, the design and the layout of the book leaves a lot to be desired.
April 24, 2022
Brilliant.
March 28, 2021
Took me a while to get through, as I read a section at a time, over quite a while (Sam, sorry for keeping your book so long!)
Like many people I read “you should’ve asked” when it made the rounds on the internet a few years ago, and I was interested in seeing what the rest was all about. My favourite sections were “work” and “chill out”.
Like some other people, I’d say that the art style is not really my favourite and I greatly dislike the font choice, but the ideas and discussions inside are good and I would recommend it to people.
Like many people I read “you should’ve asked” when it made the rounds on the internet a few years ago, and I was interested in seeing what the rest was all about. My favourite sections were “work” and “chill out”.
Like some other people, I’d say that the art style is not really my favourite and I greatly dislike the font choice, but the ideas and discussions inside are good and I would recommend it to people.
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