History Extra podcast
Women’s history: from 1066 to Margaret Thatcher
Nov 6, 2023
Novelist Philippa Gregory explores 900 years of women's history, from the Norman invasion to securing the right to vote. She discusses the impact of global conflicts, job market, deadly diseases, and societal perceptions on women's lives. Topics include inheritance rights, women's roles in the 1500s, changing views of women, early marriage manuals, and women's relationships throughout history.
38:03
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Quick takeaways
- Women's lives have constantly been defined and restricted by societal norms that have changed over time, emphasizing the need to embrace the diversity of women's experiences.
- Uncovering women's history requires analyzing various historical sources, despite the limitations of available documentation, and historians have now started actively searching for women within these records.
Deep dives
The concept of 'normal women' and the challenges women face throughout history
In her new nonfiction book, 'Normal Women,' Philippa Gregory explores the challenges and triumphs women have experienced over the past 900 years. She emphasizes that there is no such thing as a 'normal' woman and that societal definitions and restrictions have constantly changed. Gregory discusses how women have been excluded from various activities, such as going on crusades or having the right to vote, despite their widespread involvement in such endeavors. She also highlights the difficulty of uncovering women's history due to limited historical records. Gregory encourages embracing the diversity of women's experiences and recognizing that every woman's journey contributes to the normality of womanhood.
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