This Space is Claimed: Empowered From the Start

TL;DR because of this book, I'm kinder (to myself) and more certain of myself and my decisions.

I resisted the urge to share this book, constantly, until chapter 3. At that point, I couldn't resist any longer because I KNEW so many people needed this as much as I did. It gave me a the courage, and now the confidence, to become the advocate that I've been encouraging the people around me to be. I can again stir the shit pot of inequality and injustice for those around me without feeling as if I'm in the wrong just by being present. Moreso, I find myself adjusting my posture, tone, and thinking wherever I am so that people can know that I'm a CFB and not to be dismissed.

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Fantastic!

I recommend this for every woman. This book was not only validating, but inspiring and practical. This is an essential for every woman’s library.

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This book might just start a revolution!

I just listened to A Women's Guide to Claiming Space by Eliza VanCort on Audible and it was eye opening. Have you ever felt like you were not being heard? Have you ever stated an idea only to watch someone else get the credit? Have you experienced these things and thought, "Did that just happen or am I crazy?" You're not crazy! Claiming Space identifies these problems, gives them a name and actually gives you solutions! Listening to the author read this book was amazing. You can tell she really cares about the message in the book and she makes you want to listen more! We have the power within ourselves to change how we present ourselves to others and Claiming Space teaches women how to do it!!

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3 people found this helpful

A must read for every man and woman!

This book is excellent! Such amazing truth, love, and applicable advice for women especially, but men also.. on living and how to handle difficult and abusive people, and really on how to be a substantially better person in this world. I dare everyone — regardless of your situation to read this with an open mind and an open heart. I love the audiobook and I’m going to buy the hardcopy just so I can have it has something to study more closely. A must read for EVERYONE.

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Best Book in the History of Ever!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The information gleaned from this book was priceless! Eliza makes it very interesting, so you are never at risk of dozing off. This book is a total game-changer. I bought the physical book as well…and I only buy physical books when a book is special enough to warrant the space it will claim on my bookshelf. =) Eliza’s book is like the pages you were missing from your owners manual, except written and delivered in a way that’s the complete opposite of an owners manual. My words cannot do her justice - her words can though! She’s truly amazing. Happy Listening!

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This is an incredible book! 100% recommend!

This is an INCREDIBLE book! Many times throughout listening to an advance copy of the audiobook I found myself thinking of so many people I know who would be inspired by it. I will be buying several copies as gifts. If the material is completely new to you it will be a revelation. Prepare to have your world expanded. If its stuff You’re already gathered through lived experience, it will be an affirmation and a celebration. Strong women make the world go around! Thank you Eliza VanCort for claiming your rightful space and showing the world how it's donel

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3 people found this helpful

READ THIS BOOK TODAY!

The COVID pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, but we women have been impacted in ways unique to our gender. Eliza Van Cort’s new book is a lifeline for all women who are seeking enhanced wellbeing and success during this tumultuous time. Van Cort’s meticulously crafted A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space was written in order to show individual women how to lift themselves up, quite literally (there is a lot of great information on heightening your posture and body language).

A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space was also written to inspire women to lift one another up. Ms. Van Cort employs anecdotes in a manner which demonstrates that the ability of each woman to claim space is tied to her ability to network with other women. If you are imaging a slick, corporate, self-help manual written by a corner office exec., then you will be delightfully surprised! Listening to Ms. Van Cort read her book is like discovering a new best friend. She is funny. She is uncompromising. She is nobody’s fool. A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space is part memoir, part manifesto. This writer’s goal is nothing short of starting a movement. A movement of white women reaching out to women of color. A movement of women of color propping up other women of color, rather than competing for the same spot at the (white men’s) table.

Ms. Van Cort has coached all sorts of people. Throughout her career she has been especially focused on empowering women of color. She has been brought in by Professors of color at top Universities to do workshops with young women of color pursuing STEM fields. She has worked with at least one CEO on an actual private island. But her well-organized, good-humored advice is always the same. Don’t make yourself small. Use your voice strategically. Claim one armrest the next time you fly. (Let someone else have the other armrest.) Learn how to claim space in a way that makes the world a better place for you—and a better place for all of us who identify as women and girls.

I encourage you to listen to this book! You will love it. You will grow in unexpected, beautiful ways. And you will claim space. I certainly did!

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3 people found this helpful

Please share this with your Women friends!

Eliza’s book will inspire women and educate men on how women claiming space can make a more equitable world for us all. The first few chapters go over important ways women can make adjustments to body language through posture, assert themselves in ways that people will pay attention and what to watch for when others try to make them small and take their power.
Eliza has a few chapters about Mansplaining and how even well meaning male allies can do better at helping us claim space in a way that doesn’t undermine women.
Lastly, she talks throughout her book about Inter-sectionalism and how White women can educate themselves, Listen to BIPOC voices and elevate them and how we need to claim space in order to be able to elevate all Women so they can claim space as well.

Eliza’s reading is engaging, funny and enjoyable to listen to. I’m really glad I got the Audiobook because you can really get a feel for exactly what she’s trying to convey. You feel like you are a trusted friend who has been pulled into the kitchen or bathroom and Eliza is there to tell you the secrets to claiming space she has learned. I’ve never rated or written a review for an audiobook but I feel this book is super important and I want to do my part to elevate Eliza’s words.

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1 person found this helpful

A godsend to the women in my life

I read this book and then I bought a copy for my wife, my daughter, my niece, my other niece, my mother, and all three of my sisters.
From posture in the boardroom to dealing with unhealthy behaviors in relationships Eliza VanCort lays it all out.
So if there is a woman in your life that needs a step by step guide to being a boss a$$ b!tch then ook no further.

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2 people found this helpful

A life-changing book every woman and transgender individual should read.

Wow. As a white, non-binary person who was designated female at birth and raised in strict purity culture, this book was eye opening. I will be reading it again. And probably again after that. I’ll be getting a digital copy so I can take notes and highlight as I listen.
VanCort’s book touches on a range of essential topics for those of us who never learned the language of dominant-coded behavior. It also dives deep into the topics of systemic sexism, systemic racism, and allyship. The goal of this book is not just to teach the audience how to make themselves heard, but how to empower others to be heard as well.
As a non-binary person, I was not initially sure if this book was meant for me. However, as the book continues, the author does use the words “all genders” more frequently. Because I understand the nuance of gender, gendered spaces, and how people in Western society are generally either socialized “boy” or “girl,” I felt comfortable reading this book. Dysphoric transmascs and non-binary individuals who want to learn how to speak for themselves or use their voices to empower others should be forewarned that, as per the title, the intended audience is still -women- and the verbiage of the book reflects this.
I especially appreciated VanCort’s frank and informed discussion on racism. She used the voices and input from her BIPOC students, colleagues, and friends to call out the racism inherent to the white audience, myself included, and remind white readers that being a white woman (or white transgender individual) is not the same as being a BIPOC woman (or BIPOC transgender individual). This book would not have been complete without this section, and its discussion about allyship is genuine and informative.
VanCort’s audiobook is well produced. Her performance is on par with most high-production narrations, and the recording even includes the voices of four of her BIPOC students.
Ultimately, this book covered a lot of good basic jumping-off points which I hope VanCort will expand into more in-depth topic-specific books of their own. I also hope to see more from VanCort targeted toward the transgender community in the future.

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