Exploring the History and Impact of Men Watching Women Read

This chapter delves into the history and implications of men observing women while they read, examining how this voyeuristic behavior has been portrayed in art and literature. The discussion also covers the evolution of reading from a private activity to a public statement, exploring shifts in female literacy rates from the 1740s to the 1920s. Additionally, it touches on contemporary challenges in education accessibility, the rise of free-range schooling, gatekeeping in reading communities, and the influence of social media platforms like BookTok on popularizing reading trends.