Rude

October 26, 2020
Journalist Reid debuts with a breezy feminist guide to being more assertive. Reid urges women to defy social pressures and argues they should reclaim their right to be “rude” in a positive sense by “judging that your wants and needs are at least as important as everyone else’s and then acting accordingly.” Each chapter explores a realm in which she believes women struggle to advocate for themselves—work, friendships, family, sex, and money, among others—and features a profile of a woman who embraced positive rudeness. For instance, Reid explains how women can be smarter, savvier consumers with tips on when and how to make complaints, and cites Rosa Parks as a paragon for judging “what is fair and not fair” and standing up for what is “inarguably right.” Reid advises women to allow themselves to express rage at friends when they disappoint, to create clear boundaries with family, and to never “feel obligated to spare anyone else’s feelings” when it comes to finding a partner. The casual tone (“Rudeness is the absolute opposite of being ladylike. In fact, Rude throws a full martini in the face of ladylike and then sleeps with its husband”) makes for fun reading. While not groundbreaking, this jaunty exhortation will be a welcome jolt for women looking for ways to better assert themselves.