The Mental Load: A Feminist Comic - Emma - ★★★★.¼

AUTHOR: Emma

SERIES: Un autre regard, #1-2

GENRE: Graphic Nonfiction

PUBLICATION DATE: October 23, 2018

RATING: 4.25 stars.

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.

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!