Strong Female Character by Fern Brady: Book Review
Autism, Prescriptions, and Fatphobia
Author’s Note: This post is very out of character for me. I never write negative reviews because I don’t believe in them, but I had to make an exception for this. I have tried to reign in my anger for the purpose of making this readable.
TW: Fatphobia, Eating Disorders
The very first time I heard about Fern Brady was when I came across a clip of her on TikTok explaining that Autism may not be a superpower, and to imagine Superman talking at you about Sylvia Plath. That was when I had convinced myself we were on the same page, but I would be surprisingly wrong.
I started ‘Strong Female Character’ on Audible; often listening to it as I went to the supermarket. It didn’t take long for the issues to arise. I noticed how the only time Brady detailed people’s appearances, it was when she perceived them as fat and ugly. The steaming, honking parcel of fatphobia hit me square in the face.
Not only was I shocked, but I was pretty perturbed at Brady’s excusing of it, as though it’s just part of being autistic. As a self-diagnosed neurodivergent, I know the difference between saying something accidentally and insulting someone on purpose. Reading her call people she has met “Fat, bearded geeks” and “Specky virgins,” made me feel sick. What makes it so soul destroying is knowing what this memoir is supposed to be about. Autism in women is such an important topic to discuss, but the blatant fatphobia and gross insults completely absorb the purpose of ‘Strong Female Character’.
After a few chapters, I had to abandon listening to it. As a person who struggles with their weight, fatphobia is something that affects me in a direct and painful way. I knew I wanted to write about the book’s harmful portrayals, but I felt I couldn’t do so in good faith without finishing it. Therefore, I made myself push through to the end.
Fern Brady falls into the toxic culture of gym goers who believe exercise is a cure for all. While it may work for her, that is not a universal experience, but she fails to express this. I think it’s important to make that distinction as we are often told by medical professionals that exercise is the answer to all our problems. The way in which exercise and food are portrayed in this book is harmful and oftentimes prescriptive.
It surprises me that I have only found two reviews out of hundreds who mention how insulting Brady is. Everyone around her seems to be the problem, and she is the perfectly skinny (not too far off what she actually says) woman who just so happens to struggle with Autism. Her portrayal of neurodivergence is very narrow, and I fear this may add to the negativity surrounding it. There was opportunity for reflection on how different our experiences can be, but I found none of that anywhere. Instead, Brady took the time to describe every overweight person in a hateful light, which doesn’t help in her search for empathy.
I did some research on Fern Brady after reading, and what I found stunned me even further. On the ‘Off Menu’ podcast with Ed Gamble and James Acaster, she almost seems to advocate for a Paltrow style diet; with no recognition of the harm that kind of thing can cause. Not only that, but if you search the word “fat” along with her Twitter handle, you will find many fatphobic tweets. I mention this not to ‘cancel’ her, but to express firmly that fatphobia is not acceptable. From tweet expressing sympathy for parents of fat children, to discussing celebrities in demeaning ways, she is seemingly proud of her vanity and callousness.
In the end, I, for the first time in my life, wouldn’t recommend this book. However, if you do decide to read this book, be prepared for the things I have discussed. I hope that Fern Brady grows up in the future, sooner rather than later.