Chapter summaries Broken (in the best possible way) Jenny Lawson

Chapter 22: So I’m Paying to Beat the Shit Out of Myself? — Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary (Complete and Chronological)

Jenny Lawson’s friend Maile introduces her to a product called the FasciaBlaster—a spiky plastic stick meant to break up connective tissue to reduce cellulite. Maile describes the painful bruising it causes, calling it a necessary sign of success. Lawson imagines wild complications: blood clots, fat pooling in her feet, even domestic abuse accusations. The two friends bond over their shared history of sketchy beauty experiments, including a mud‑wrap session that bloated Jenny.

Maile reveals she is going through an amicable divorce but hasn’t publicly announced it. They joke about holding a “divorce reveal” party, complete with a bed full of macaroni and cheese. Lawson decides not to buy the FasciaBlaster because she is too lazy and fears accidental exercise.

The chapter closes with Lawson at a doctor’s appointment where she learns about “vagina lasers” — a treatment for vaginal rejuvenation. Her doctor explains they do not install lasers in vaginas but can use the same device to remove age spots. Jenny agrees to have spots on her face lasered off. The spots turn black, flake, reveal fresh skin, and then return after eight weeks. Lawson reflects that her imperfections tell a story, even as she admits she’ll probably try the next ridiculous beauty ritual she hears about.

Key Events

  1. Maile confides about buying a FasciaBlaster to eliminate cellulite.
  2. Maile shows Jenny the bruises from “ass to ankle” and explains the brutal method.
  3. Jenny imagines catastrophic health consequences (blood clots, fat migrating to feet).
  4. Maile reveals her amicable divorce and the couple’s continued family dinners.
  5. Jenny and Maile invent the concept of a “divorce reveal” party.
  6. Jenny declines to purchase the FasciaBlaster due to laziness and suspicion of “accidental exercise.”
  7. At a doctor’s visit, Jenny asks about “vagina lasers” and is told they are for medical treatments, not self‑defense.
  8. The doctor uses the same laser to remove age spots from Jenny’s face.
  9. The spots temporarily improve but return after two months.
  10. Jenny muses on self‑acceptance, acknowledging she’ll probably fall for the next fad.

Character Development

  • Jenny Lawson — Continues to portray herself as both anxious and absurdly curious. Her willingness to consider extreme beauty fixes contrasts with her growing awareness that such fixes are temporary. The chapter shows her using humor to cope with body‑image pressure and to bond with Maile.
  • Maile — Represents a loyal friend who is equally susceptible to beauty fads. Her amicable divorce humanizes her and deepens the friendship. She is not a foil but a co‑conspirator in absurdity.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced Here

  • The Absurdity of Beauty Standards — The FasciaBlaster and vagina lasers are presented as ridiculous but commercially available solutions, mocking the lengths people go to for physical “improvement.”
  • Self‑Acceptance vs. the Urge to Fix — Jenny explicitly states that imperfections tell a story, yet she admits she will likely try the next fad. The tension drives the chapter’s humor and honesty.
  • Anxiety and Catastrophizing — Jenny’s imagination spirals from bruising to strokes, divorce allegations, and fat‑filled feet. This mental habit is a recurring motif in her writing.
  • Friendship — Maile and Jenny’s shared laughter and willingness to beat the fat out of each other underscores a supportive relationship built on mutual craziness.
  • Ephemeral Results — The age spots return after the laser treatment, symbolizing the failure of quick cosmetic fixes and the persistence of natural imperfection.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the book’s exploration of self‑image. It uses slapstick humor to dissect the beauty industry’s promises and the reader’s own complicity in believing them. It also deepens the character of Maile, making the memoir’s social world feel real. The final admission that the spots returned—and that Jenny will still try the next crazy thing—captures the never‑ending cycle of seeking and rejecting perfection, a core theme in Broken.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Jenny decide not to buy the FasciaBlaster, and what does that say about her approach to self‑improvement?
    She decides she is “too lazy” and suspects it is “accidental exercise.” This reveals that even as she is drawn to quick fixes, she recognizes when a fix requires more effort than it’s worth. Her laziness ironically becomes a form of self‑protection.

  2. How does the “divorce reveal” joke contrast with the earlier talk of the FasciaBlaster?
    The FasciaBlaster is a private, painful ritual for cosmetic enhancement, while the divorce reveal is a public, celebratory announcement for a life transition. Both involve performance—one hidden, one overt—and both show how women often mask or dramatize personal struggles.

  3. What does the return of the age spots after laser treatment symbolize?
    It symbolizes the inevitability of natural aging and the failure of technology to permanently “fix” the body. It also mirrors the chapter’s larger point: no matter how much we pay to change ourselves, our imperfections tend to reappear, making self‑acceptance a more durable solution.

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