Book Review: She Wants It: Desire, Power and Toppling the Patriarchy

Film and television director, seven-time-nominated and two-time Emmy winner, and winner of a Golden Globe, Jill Soloway is a force to be reckoned with. Their hits include the feature length film Afternoon Delight, and the Amazon favourites I Love Dick and Transparent. And now Soloway has turned once more to writing, with this, their second book She Wants It: Desire, Power and Toppling the Patriarchy.

Dealing with numerous topics including parenthood, gender, sexuality, family relations and love of all kinds, She Wants It is a must read for anyone interested in Soloway’s work, the #MeToo movement, and the issues they raise and deal with during the course of this memoir.

Beginning with the revelation that their father, who they believed was male, actually identified as transgender, Soloway goes on to explore how this pivotal moment changed the course of their and their family and colleagues’s lives. Indeed, the seed of Transparent was born, and during the creative process of the programme’s conception, Soloway began to question their own sexuality and gender identity, eventually asserting that they were non-binary.

Mixed in with this, Soloway also speaks of their love life, including divorce and a string of subsequent girlfriends, the not-so-glamorous side of showbusiness, such as the constant rejections from the male-orientated Hollywood, and the defining moments of the #MeToo movement, where many of America’s most powerful figures met to discuss the sordid revelations being gradually revealed to the wider world. The effect of this on Soloway’s show, Transparent, with their central actor accused of inappropriate behaviour, is also explored delicately and appropriately.

Overall, Soloway’s message is inclusivity, diversity and joy, something incredibly powerful when hearing about their experiences first-hand. This book is truthful, open and intriguing, much like I imagine Soloway themself to be after reading it. For fans of Soloway’s creative work or for anyone interested in the issues the book raises, get your copy now. It opened my eyes to the struggles faced by the transgender and non-binary communities, whilst being an incredible insight into film-making simultaneously. A truly unique book, the likes of which I haven’t read before.

Featured Image courtesy of Jill Soloway Official Facebook Page.

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