Thank you for opening up this important discussion! I’m a DPhil student research women’s history, and part of the reason for that is because academics in my focus country “don’t do gender history” according to my supervisors. Um, what??! It has implications for us now all these centuries later, for understanding the development of our own societies. So I love that you’re bringing it to the fore-m - thank you!
I’m a former academic. I know what you are talking about. When I was still a professor (way back when) there was definitely the idea that women’s history was a thing of the ‘80s and ‘90s and so passé. We certainly are learning our lesson now…..Academia is always ahead of the curve, but sometimes it drops ideas before they take off in the rest of the world. So keep at it!
Oh wow! I had no idea of your background - thank you for sharing. Within my research circles, at least, women’s history (gender history in general) is very much at the centre of discussions. I presume because these discussions are at the forefront of our culture’s mind! I’m essentially researching what it meant to be a woman in 7th-century France/England - a question we’re still grappling with today.
Yes yes yes to all of this. I’m so curious to hear more of your thoughts about why you write about royals; it’s something I’m trying to clarify for myself too.
What a great list! I completely agree that it's important to read female authors, especially ones who consciously challenge patriarchal assumptions in their telling of women's stories. I'd like to nominate one more outstanding read: Daisy Dunn's The Missing Thread. It's a retelling of ancient history specifically from the viewpoint of the women written out of it (or treated dismissively, or denigrated) in conventional narratives.
This reminds me of Janina Ramirez's Femina, which does something similar for the medieval period, and which got a good deal of press. This is also maybe the spot to point out that there are various different ways of approaching women's histories, from the kind of compendiums we are seeing now ideas, to biographies, to character-driven narratives. All good!
Thank you for this. Throughout history, women have often served as the hidden ‘wise figure’ behind their male counterparts, the proverbial ‘neck that turns the head.’ Instead of viewing power solely as an acquired role or position, we are now at a point where we can—and should—recognize that real power lies in building systems that fundamentally incorporate a woman’s perspective, much like Western society once did with the philosophies of male thinkers
Thank you for opening up this important discussion! I’m a DPhil student research women’s history, and part of the reason for that is because academics in my focus country “don’t do gender history” according to my supervisors. Um, what??! It has implications for us now all these centuries later, for understanding the development of our own societies. So I love that you’re bringing it to the fore-m - thank you!
I’m a former academic. I know what you are talking about. When I was still a professor (way back when) there was definitely the idea that women’s history was a thing of the ‘80s and ‘90s and so passé. We certainly are learning our lesson now…..Academia is always ahead of the curve, but sometimes it drops ideas before they take off in the rest of the world. So keep at it!
Oh wow! I had no idea of your background - thank you for sharing. Within my research circles, at least, women’s history (gender history in general) is very much at the centre of discussions. I presume because these discussions are at the forefront of our culture’s mind! I’m essentially researching what it meant to be a woman in 7th-century France/England - a question we’re still grappling with today.
Yes yes yes to all of this. I’m so curious to hear more of your thoughts about why you write about royals; it’s something I’m trying to clarify for myself too.
Absolutely. Coming soon!
More books added to the TBR list.
What a great list! I completely agree that it's important to read female authors, especially ones who consciously challenge patriarchal assumptions in their telling of women's stories. I'd like to nominate one more outstanding read: Daisy Dunn's The Missing Thread. It's a retelling of ancient history specifically from the viewpoint of the women written out of it (or treated dismissively, or denigrated) in conventional narratives.
Thank you for adding this! I agree, and am pasting the link here for anyone who is interested in the Dunn. https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-missing-thread-a-women-s-history-of-the-ancient-world-daisy-dunn/20759367?ean=9780593299661
This reminds me of Janina Ramirez's Femina, which does something similar for the medieval period, and which got a good deal of press. This is also maybe the spot to point out that there are various different ways of approaching women's histories, from the kind of compendiums we are seeing now ideas, to biographies, to character-driven narratives. All good!
Love your article and especially the last phrase. We ought to support women!
Yes - we have to put our money (and not very much money) where our mouth is!
Thank you for this. Throughout history, women have often served as the hidden ‘wise figure’ behind their male counterparts, the proverbial ‘neck that turns the head.’ Instead of viewing power solely as an acquired role or position, we are now at a point where we can—and should—recognize that real power lies in building systems that fundamentally incorporate a woman’s perspective, much like Western society once did with the philosophies of male thinkers