Hmm 'Mean Girls' anyone? Women can be absolute bitches. How many of us were bullied at school by a group of girls? Women can be abusers too let's not forget. Womens' history is fascinating and rightfully deserves unpicking, and that also means acknowledging that women can be really fucking horrible in and of themselves too. A short crass answer but, also unfortunately, an accurate one.
Reminds me of those women in the US who are very antifeminist, Christian and see their husbands as head of their households. Some of them have social media accounts promoting quite extreme views.
Also makes me think of class, privilege and how that power corrupts too. I live in the UK and even now in this day and age in suburbia it's the married women who seem to have greater status. Woe betide single women trying to talk to their husbands (about the most mundane of topics even). The women speak on their husbands' behalf to organise things because somehow a married man should not talk to a single woman ... weird.
Good to see you back and thank you for sharing what has been happening with you and the lessons and insights you are gaining. stepping away from toxic situations, unmasking, beliefs, ideas ... perceptions. Wiping the mirror clean ... things seem different
Right - and how can we really build an accurate view of women's past if we don't include the darker side?! Short answer is that we can't. Thank you for reading, Amanda :)
I had a feeling of awe and a strange elation as it became clear to me. After a major trauma that upended my life, my instinct was to go to ground. So I retreated back to esoteric topics and feminist interests of mine 30 years ago.
I reexmined my life and the luck or lack there of that shaped it. Choices made and options weighed, the road to me has been wretching and wonderful, adventurous and audacious, and worth every step to find me unabashed and clean after so many years. I now have a bright clear lens towards the future as I build on my past..
Welcome back Kaye! Fascinating article as ever. Should we see the searchers as collaborators in an essentially male enterprise? What did the searchers have to gain? Were they in any position to refuse to engage without themselves risking accusation? Was there a class element?
Thanks, David! Great to be back :) Great questions. Yes, definitely as collaborators, though we can't fully know their personal motivations. Money is likely to have played a big role - the economy in the 1600s was in flux, no doubts. I'd say class was definitely a huge contributor and I also wonder how much agency they had, in terms of refusal. I'd say not a lot because they were often called by the justices. However, I find it very interesting how enthusiastically they searched. Is it worth doing a part two on this topic, I wonder? let me know what you think.
Right, that's the biggest hurdle for all historians, regardless of the topic area. But being honest, I think that's what has kept me in this subject for so long - I love the challenge!
Love this post. And your rewording is so accurate. Lucy Worsley did an interesting documentary on the witch panic in England and in Salem but left out the fact that there were women who became accomplices. I have just started reading "Women Who Run With the Wolves " and am finding it useful for historical perspective and for my own inner journey getting to know "el río abajo río". So glad to be reading you again. May you continue in strength!
Thank you as always, Pia :) Lucy Worsley's doc was fabulous, as was her doc on the Black Death. Anyway, what a great book to be reading! And thank you - here's to moving forward and building an herstorical community :)
Hmm 'Mean Girls' anyone? Women can be absolute bitches. How many of us were bullied at school by a group of girls? Women can be abusers too let's not forget. Womens' history is fascinating and rightfully deserves unpicking, and that also means acknowledging that women can be really fucking horrible in and of themselves too. A short crass answer but, also unfortunately, an accurate one.
Reminds me of those women in the US who are very antifeminist, Christian and see their husbands as head of their households. Some of them have social media accounts promoting quite extreme views.
Also makes me think of class, privilege and how that power corrupts too. I live in the UK and even now in this day and age in suburbia it's the married women who seem to have greater status. Woe betide single women trying to talk to their husbands (about the most mundane of topics even). The women speak on their husbands' behalf to organise things because somehow a married man should not talk to a single woman ... weird.
Good to see you back and thank you for sharing what has been happening with you and the lessons and insights you are gaining. stepping away from toxic situations, unmasking, beliefs, ideas ... perceptions. Wiping the mirror clean ... things seem different
Right - and how can we really build an accurate view of women's past if we don't include the darker side?! Short answer is that we can't. Thank you for reading, Amanda :)
I had a feeling of awe and a strange elation as it became clear to me. After a major trauma that upended my life, my instinct was to go to ground. So I retreated back to esoteric topics and feminist interests of mine 30 years ago.
I reexmined my life and the luck or lack there of that shaped it. Choices made and options weighed, the road to me has been wretching and wonderful, adventurous and audacious, and worth every step to find me unabashed and clean after so many years. I now have a bright clear lens towards the future as I build on my past..
Beautiful! I love how so many of us look back in order to move forward :)
Welcome back Kaye! Fascinating article as ever. Should we see the searchers as collaborators in an essentially male enterprise? What did the searchers have to gain? Were they in any position to refuse to engage without themselves risking accusation? Was there a class element?
Thanks, David! Great to be back :) Great questions. Yes, definitely as collaborators, though we can't fully know their personal motivations. Money is likely to have played a big role - the economy in the 1600s was in flux, no doubts. I'd say class was definitely a huge contributor and I also wonder how much agency they had, in terms of refusal. I'd say not a lot because they were often called by the justices. However, I find it very interesting how enthusiastically they searched. Is it worth doing a part two on this topic, I wonder? let me know what you think.
Part 2 is needed. More deep diving into dusty tomes for you I'm afraid!!
Story of my life, David 😂😂😂😂😂
You love it really! Must be hard to find evidence...especially given the changes in written English and the fact that very few were literate at all
Right, that's the biggest hurdle for all historians, regardless of the topic area. But being honest, I think that's what has kept me in this subject for so long - I love the challenge!
And then the interpretation. Why did they write it? What did they mean? What was the intended audience? Fascinating!
Love this post. And your rewording is so accurate. Lucy Worsley did an interesting documentary on the witch panic in England and in Salem but left out the fact that there were women who became accomplices. I have just started reading "Women Who Run With the Wolves " and am finding it useful for historical perspective and for my own inner journey getting to know "el río abajo río". So glad to be reading you again. May you continue in strength!
Thank you as always, Pia :) Lucy Worsley's doc was fabulous, as was her doc on the Black Death. Anyway, what a great book to be reading! And thank you - here's to moving forward and building an herstorical community :)
Great to hear from you again Kaye.An interesting 'take'.
Thank you, Sue :) Given that this topic does feature at GCSE *and* A-Level, even more reason to do some good work on it!