The One Where I Talk To Author of Unwed & Unbothered, Emma Duval
Thrive Solo
Historical Mistreatment and Legal Pressures on Single Women
Emma reviews historical stigma, punitive policies like extra taxes, and terms such as spinster and equivalent cultural slurs.
My guest on the podcast today is the gorgeous Emma Duval.
Emma is an author and illustrator whose first book, Unwed & Unbothered: The Defiant Lives of Single Women Throughout History, shines a light on the overlooked history of single women without kids, celebrating their lives, achievements, and legacies. Emma is also the founder of the first virtual museum dedicated to women without children, which can be viewed online at www.childfreehistory.com
Emma herself is married, but she is childfree by choice, and during our conversation we talk, among other things, about what motivated her as a married woman to write a book all about single women. We also talk about how she has come up against serious pressure from her family about her choice not to have kids, and how she they don’t even know about her book.
Emma’s book is full of such interesting stories of amazing women throughout history including Jane Austen, Florence Nightingale, the Beguines, and many, many more, and I know that you guys will find this episode so interesting.
02:14 Guest Introduction: Emma Duval
03:42 Emma's Journey and Inspirations
04:52 Challenges and Pressures of Being ChildFree
06:56 Writing 'Unwed and Unbothered'
20:05 Online Communities and Support
23:32 Historical Context of Single Women
31:10 The Beguines Movement in Medieval Europe
32:47 Chosen Families and Intentional Communities
34:34 Margaretta Forten: An Unsung Heroine
39:14 Prioritising Pursuits Other Than Marriage
46:02 Women with Gumption: Stories of Defiance
51:47 Illustrating History: Bringing Women to Life
55:07 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Buy Emma's book: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Unwed-Unbothered/Emma-Duval/9798881600037
Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/unwed-unbothered-the-defiant-lives-of-single-women-throughout-history-emma-duval/7892978
Check out the first virtual museum dedicated to women without children, which Emma founded: http://www.childfreehistory.com/
Follow Emma on Instagram: @MillennialEmma
- Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book
- Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions
- Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo
- Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson
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And thank you so much for listening!
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