Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter
SKU: 61353685124

Ugly: A Letter to My Daughter

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Ugly: A Letter to My DaughterA tender, moving, and insightful account of queer motherhood and an interrogation of life on the margins of American culture as a self described "ugly" woman "A rigorous ladyballs out polemic that also tells the most raw, tender, against all odds story of parenthood that I've ever read." Mary Gaitskill, author of Veronica Ugly is a word with fangs that can kill a woman's self esteem in one bite. Edicts about how women should look, behave, and think

A tender, moving, and insightful account of queer motherhood and an interrogation of life on the margins of American culture as a self-described "ugly" woman

"A rigorous ladyballs-out polemic that also tells the most raw, tender, against-all-odds story of parenthood that I've ever read." --Mary Gaitskill, author of Veronica

Ugly is a word with fangs that can kill a woman's self-esteem in one bite. Edicts about how women should look, behave, and think are the brutal forge through which they are made -- not born -- as Simone de Beauvoir famously argued in The Second Sex. And to defy the pretty imperative is to experience a kind of invisibility. It can be a hard thing to admit to yourself, let alone to your child, to say the words "I am ugly" or "I am seen as ugly." But early on in her motherhood journey, watching her young daughter begin to wrestle with beauty standards, Stephanie Fairyington felt compelled to face her own demons and to unpack her own ugly self-perception, one that she could trace to her own childhood, in order to conquer this seemingly immoveable frontier, far too taboo even among women to broach: the ways in which women's lives are unfairly contoured by the nature of their looks.

The multiple iterations of ugliness that Fairyington saw in her young self--her physical appearance, her formative gender dissonance, and obvious lesbianism--are not present in her beautiful and traditionally feminine daughter. But Fairyington's old feelings of inadequacy take on new meaning as she confronts fresh insecurities around her role as the nonbiological mother in her relationship, exacerbating wounds from a lifetime of being treated differently, from the poverty of her genetic inheritance to questions about her parentage to doubts about the legitimacy of her family.

Interlacing cultural history and analysis with memoir, Ugly is a probing investigation into cultural norms and the formation of our aesthetic sense of self. Fairyington contrasts her so-called ugliness with her daughter's attractiveness and adherence to beauty ideals, a tender and tenuous condition that her daughter was already walking a tightrope to maintain at age six. By sharing the history of her troubled self-image, Fairyington invites us to go rogue, to invent a new language and logic to overthrow all the ways that women have been cultivated to hate themselves.

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SKU: 61353685124

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Tara
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Love it
Size: Queen, Color: White
This is such a nice pillow protector. It is super soft, the zipper works great, it has a decent weight to it, and definitely keeps the pillow cooler. I’m very impressed.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2026
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Julie Lopp
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Great product! I love the feel of these.
Size: Queen, Color: White
“I recently purchased the Serta Power Chill Cooling Pillow Protectors, and they have been a game-changer for my sleep comfort. These pillow protectors have exceeded my expectations in several ways. First and foremost, the cooling technology is fantastic. I tend to sleep hot, especially during the summer months, and these pillow protectors have made a noticeable difference. They keep my pillows cool and comfortable throughout the night, which has led to more restful and uninterrupted sleep. The fit is also excellent. They easily slip over my standard-sized pillows and stay securely in place without any annoying bunching, wrinkles or slipping during the night. And the zipper is amazing. Having no wrinkles in my cover is easier on my hair. What’s great about these protectors is that they not only keep my pillows cool but also protect them from spills, stains, and allergens. It gives me peace of mind knowing that my pillows are safeguarded while I enjoy a cool and refreshing sleep environment. There is no noise when sleeping on this cover, it’s soft. Cleaning is a breeze. They are machine-washable and maintain their cooling properties even after multiple washes. The quality of the materials used is evident. These protectors feel durable and well-made, promising long-lasting use. While they are slightly more expensive than basic pillow protectors, the added cooling benefits and protection they offer are well worth the investment. They’ve made a significant difference in my sleep quality, and I highly recommend the Serta Power Chill Cooling Pillow Protectors to anyone seeking a cooler and more comfortable night’s sleep.”
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Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2023
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Birdie
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 4
Loose on standard pillow.
Size: Queen, Color: White
Too large for standard pillow. It would fit a queen size pillow much better. It does stay cool.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2025
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AmazonSmile
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Soft and cool. Very cool. 🧊
Size: Queen, Color: White
I bought these for my memory foam pillow and they’re excellent for cooling it. I use 2 of these on the pillow for maximum chill factor and it works. They’re very soft, the zippers are high quality. Easy to put on with a bit of stretch- generously sized. They’re stain resistant. I’m glad they’re NOT waterproof because they’d be too hot then. They’re very durable. Wash on delicate setting in a mesh bag and air dry and they last long. They’re very quiet- smooth and silky. Definitely recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2026
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Jamie Cowan
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
Cool enough
Size: Queen, Color: White, Size: Queen, Color: White
I thought I had purchased pillows so when I received these I was a little disappointed. However that was 100% on me for not reading the listing and just trusting my search. I decided to give them a try and so far they seem ok. They don’t stay cool even though I have them on cooling pillows. They are super thin but very soft. They fit on my pillows perfectly. I don’t think it has improved my sleep quality but it hasn’t made it any worse either. I don’t think they are waterproof but I don’t really want to test that. I like that the zipper is small and seems to be decent quality. Smelled heavily of chemicals when I first took it out of the package but that disappeared after a few minutes.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2026

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