Sheila Jeffreys examines the activities of feminist campaigners around issues like child abuse and prostitution, highlighting how these campaigns shaped social purity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book critiques the sexual revolution of the 1920s, arguing it undermined women's independence by promoting a hostile sexual ideology.
In 'Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women', Victoria Smith delves into the societal disdain for middle-aged women, tracing it back to historical anxieties similar to those that fueled Early Modern witch hunts. The book explores various themes such as care work, beauty, violence, and sex, arguing that the demonization of older women is a manifestation of patriarchal control. Smith concludes by advocating for solutions that benefit all women, reclaiming 'hag' as a badge of pride.
Good Girls is a memoir by Hadley Freeman that delves into her personal struggle with anorexia nervosa, detailing her experiences in psychiatric wards as a teenager and her subsequent journey towards recovery. The book explores the complexities of anorexia, including its connections to autism and OCD, and offers insights into how treatment for the illness has evolved over time. Freeman also shares stories of fellow patients and their paths to recovery, providing a hopeful narrative for those affected by eating disorders.
In 'Of Woman Born,' Adrienne Rich delves into the complexities of motherhood, distinguishing between the personal experience of mothering and the institutionalized expectations imposed by patriarchal society. The book, originally published in 1976, is a powerful blend of research, theory, and self-reflection, exploring how motherhood is shaped by historical, social, and political factors. Rich critiques the ways in which motherhood has been subjugated and commodified, advocating for women's autonomy and liberation. The work remains significant today, offering profound insights into the intersections of motherhood, feminism, and personal identity.
This is Part One of a three-part discussion. Why are middle-aged women these days subject to so much rage and hatred – frequently from people who see themselves as kind and ‘on the right side of history’? What explains the popularity of the Karen meme, which references a stereotypically privileged white woman whom everyone feels entitled to loathe? Why does this age-old misogyny feel so very now? As writer Victoria Smith approached middle age she made her peace with her sagging neckline and having to cope with ageing parents. But the disdain and vitriol she experienced as a woman in mid-life came as a shock. In her acclaimed book Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women she traces the prejudice that has been directed towards older women down the ages and explores the prevalence of witch hunts in recent years. Smith joined us on stage at The Tabernacle in London in March 2024, where she was joined by fellow writers Hadley Freeman and Sonia Sodha. Together they explored why women who have the temerity to exist beyond the age at which they are conventionally deemed desirable to men are seen as superfluous to society; and they looked for solutions which can benefit all women – whether they are hags or hags-in-waiting.
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