What your dinner companion most probably missed is that feminism is for everyone (not my phrase). That uplifting women isn’t only about equality with men, it’s about freeing women and men from those stereotypes that suffocate them. Which is why I love both the heroines and heroes in your books.
Thank you! Yes, it's that classic idea of the pie, isn't it, where equal rights for others doesn't mean fewer for anyone else. I sometimes worry that the world is becoming too combative to see this, that we try to protect what we have so fiercely that we can't see what we lose in doing so.
I am so glad you wrote about this. It maddens every time someone ( again easy to guess the gender) struts about saying the world exists because of them.
What we don’t know we don’t know. We don’t know how many brilliant minds have gone unnoticed, how many talents buried in kneading dough and baking in a hot kitchen. That in itself is not bad but these women could have shone.
My aunt was a brilliant musician and topped her class in academics the 1940’s. She was told she would be better off running a household, so she gave up her dreams.
A few did break the mould and we have to be thankful to them for showing us the way.
On my book tour for The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre, I had so many women come up to me afterwards to tell me about their mothers or even themselves, so many stories of women asked to leave the workplace or who wanted to go to university but didn't have the means, or who, saddest of all, told me they never bothered to dream because they knew it was impossible. You're right - we'll never know what could have been. I think we could have been mighty, based on those few women who were able, as you say, to break out and achieve both small and great things.
I’m writing of the women in my mum and grandma’s generations who lived in villages, and when I share what I’m writing next, I have the same reaction. I was shocked to find that in terms of women’s freedoms, education and voice, there was more available for my great-grandma’s generation than there was for my grandma who was raised during the rise of fascism
Yes, fascism in Italy was terrible for women. Your grandmother must have some very sad stories to share. I remember being constantly shocked by women's reminiscences of life in Italy under Mussolini when I was researching Alix St Pierre – and equally shocked at the way the Italian women who helped the partisans were treated immediately after the war, insulted and reviled for risking their lives. I'm very interested to hear more about your project, Maria – we're overdue for some stories of all those things that were so well hidden from the pages of the history books.
Mine were in Greece, little islands, but all sorts of similar. The women’s stories get subsumed into the men’s, time and time again, across countries, and the poorest of people barely get to tell their stories at all. I don’t truly know my grandmother’s story because she was very quiet, but my next work is definitely trying to piece together something of her generation. I’d love to catch up soon. I’ve had many years of not feeling settled in my writing and I’m looking forward to shifting this year for sure.
I want to be optimistic about this because I have two daughters. But then I see things like the Missouri House of Representatives voting for a new rule that means women have to cover their arms in the State House and I think we're also going backwards.
Yes, it's so sad to think of what the world has missed out on, after women were relegated to the domestic domain. It's still the case today, with women having to take the lion's share of family responsibilities and being left too depleted for anything else.
Your comments remind me of the film "Rosie the Riveter," and how the women all got trades during the war but had to give them up when the men returned. They proved that they were more than capable, but sadly, there are still proportionately few women in trades today.
I have noticed that women pursuing their dreams often get slapped with the "selfish" label, because, after all, we're just here to take care of everyone else. That guy at the dinner party obviously wants to hold on to his privilege but I'd say that the women at the table were left with something to think about, even if they didn't speak up at the time.
Yes, and the "ambitious" label as a slur directed at women is something I'm interested in, much like the "selfish" label. I find that being an ambitious female writer is doubly affronting to people. Writers are supposed to simply do it for the love of creating and I hate that to be an ambitious creative is seen to be wrong. And then throw in the fact that you're a woman, where the word ambition is equated with aggressiveness, bitchiness, unlikeability and a greater likelihood of being penalised than rewarded. I'm reading Carrie Soto is Back right now and Taylor Jenkins Reid deals with this topic beautifully.
It’s really unfair for women to be penalised for being ambitious because all the old supports are gone (not that we want them anyway) and we can only rely on ourselves now. A double whammy for women wanting to make a living from their creative work, but expected to do it for free. Carrie Soto is Back sounds interesting. I’m glad someone is shedding light this subject. We really can’t afford to sit back and wait to be asked anymore. We need to know our worth and claim it.
I am so grateful that talented historical fiction authors such as yourself, are finally able to give a stage, a voice and some background into their lives. There is still so much to learn from the past. However …. sadly … some people never will. ‘Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it’.
Yes, and that's exactly why we need to know about the untold histories - because we can't learn from them if we don't know about them. And I think historical fiction plays such a great role in that process - someone who perhaps wouldn't have picked up a non fiction book about a person they've never heard of might read a novel about WWII and then discover that person through a story. The best compliment I receive is when readers go and do extra research and reading about the real life women in my books. I love that!
Thank you Peter! I don't know if I'm really a warrior, but I like trying to bring some of these things out into the open because the more we talk about them, the more we can try to make sure it doesn't happen again. Although I still think we have a way to go in making sure the world is structured so that everyone has the same opportunity to invent, create and contribute in whatever way they dream of.
Hi Linda, while I agree with the point you're making about women's accomplishments having sometimes been claimed by men throughout history, I think you're drawing a subjective definition of inclusivity into a post that is about an entirely different topic. And as someone whose brother is trans, inclusivity is something I feel very strongly about. So I'm hoping you'll leave it here with these comments as I cannot agree with some of what you've said.
What your dinner companion most probably missed is that feminism is for everyone (not my phrase). That uplifting women isn’t only about equality with men, it’s about freeing women and men from those stereotypes that suffocate them. Which is why I love both the heroines and heroes in your books.
Thank you! Yes, it's that classic idea of the pie, isn't it, where equal rights for others doesn't mean fewer for anyone else. I sometimes worry that the world is becoming too combative to see this, that we try to protect what we have so fiercely that we can't see what we lose in doing so.
I am so glad you wrote about this. It maddens every time someone ( again easy to guess the gender) struts about saying the world exists because of them.
What we don’t know we don’t know. We don’t know how many brilliant minds have gone unnoticed, how many talents buried in kneading dough and baking in a hot kitchen. That in itself is not bad but these women could have shone.
My aunt was a brilliant musician and topped her class in academics the 1940’s. She was told she would be better off running a household, so she gave up her dreams.
A few did break the mould and we have to be thankful to them for showing us the way.
Can’t wait to get my hands on your new book.
Thank you for sharing this.
On my book tour for The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre, I had so many women come up to me afterwards to tell me about their mothers or even themselves, so many stories of women asked to leave the workplace or who wanted to go to university but didn't have the means, or who, saddest of all, told me they never bothered to dream because they knew it was impossible. You're right - we'll never know what could have been. I think we could have been mighty, based on those few women who were able, as you say, to break out and achieve both small and great things.
I’m writing of the women in my mum and grandma’s generations who lived in villages, and when I share what I’m writing next, I have the same reaction. I was shocked to find that in terms of women’s freedoms, education and voice, there was more available for my great-grandma’s generation than there was for my grandma who was raised during the rise of fascism
Yes, fascism in Italy was terrible for women. Your grandmother must have some very sad stories to share. I remember being constantly shocked by women's reminiscences of life in Italy under Mussolini when I was researching Alix St Pierre – and equally shocked at the way the Italian women who helped the partisans were treated immediately after the war, insulted and reviled for risking their lives. I'm very interested to hear more about your project, Maria – we're overdue for some stories of all those things that were so well hidden from the pages of the history books.
Mine were in Greece, little islands, but all sorts of similar. The women’s stories get subsumed into the men’s, time and time again, across countries, and the poorest of people barely get to tell their stories at all. I don’t truly know my grandmother’s story because she was very quiet, but my next work is definitely trying to piece together something of her generation. I’d love to catch up soon. I’ve had many years of not feeling settled in my writing and I’m looking forward to shifting this year for sure.
Natasha, I hope we are turning the corner and are beginning to give women the encouragement and opportunity they deserve. D
I want to be optimistic about this because I have two daughters. But then I see things like the Missouri House of Representatives voting for a new rule that means women have to cover their arms in the State House and I think we're also going backwards.
Natasha, Let's work for a better world than that - for your daughters. D
Yes, it's so sad to think of what the world has missed out on, after women were relegated to the domestic domain. It's still the case today, with women having to take the lion's share of family responsibilities and being left too depleted for anything else.
Your comments remind me of the film "Rosie the Riveter," and how the women all got trades during the war but had to give them up when the men returned. They proved that they were more than capable, but sadly, there are still proportionately few women in trades today.
I have noticed that women pursuing their dreams often get slapped with the "selfish" label, because, after all, we're just here to take care of everyone else. That guy at the dinner party obviously wants to hold on to his privilege but I'd say that the women at the table were left with something to think about, even if they didn't speak up at the time.
Yes, and the "ambitious" label as a slur directed at women is something I'm interested in, much like the "selfish" label. I find that being an ambitious female writer is doubly affronting to people. Writers are supposed to simply do it for the love of creating and I hate that to be an ambitious creative is seen to be wrong. And then throw in the fact that you're a woman, where the word ambition is equated with aggressiveness, bitchiness, unlikeability and a greater likelihood of being penalised than rewarded. I'm reading Carrie Soto is Back right now and Taylor Jenkins Reid deals with this topic beautifully.
It’s really unfair for women to be penalised for being ambitious because all the old supports are gone (not that we want them anyway) and we can only rely on ourselves now. A double whammy for women wanting to make a living from their creative work, but expected to do it for free. Carrie Soto is Back sounds interesting. I’m glad someone is shedding light this subject. We really can’t afford to sit back and wait to be asked anymore. We need to know our worth and claim it.
I am so grateful that talented historical fiction authors such as yourself, are finally able to give a stage, a voice and some background into their lives. There is still so much to learn from the past. However …. sadly … some people never will. ‘Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it’.
Yes, and that's exactly why we need to know about the untold histories - because we can't learn from them if we don't know about them. And I think historical fiction plays such a great role in that process - someone who perhaps wouldn't have picked up a non fiction book about a person they've never heard of might read a novel about WWII and then discover that person through a story. The best compliment I receive is when readers go and do extra research and reading about the real life women in my books. I love that!
Well I do that all the time and agree that is a sign of a superbly written book.
Well said Natasha!
Thanks Dani!
You are a wonderful warrior for humankind, Natasha. Keep writing, you inspire me.
Thank you Peter! I don't know if I'm really a warrior, but I like trying to bring some of these things out into the open because the more we talk about them, the more we can try to make sure it doesn't happen again. Although I still think we have a way to go in making sure the world is structured so that everyone has the same opportunity to invent, create and contribute in whatever way they dream of.
Hi Linda, while I agree with the point you're making about women's accomplishments having sometimes been claimed by men throughout history, I think you're drawing a subjective definition of inclusivity into a post that is about an entirely different topic. And as someone whose brother is trans, inclusivity is something I feel very strongly about. So I'm hoping you'll leave it here with these comments as I cannot agree with some of what you've said.