Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages by Janina Ramírez

3 reviews

skyelerbear's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.75

Femina is a testament to the diversity and beauty of women of the Middle Ages. We often think back on history and think that life for all women was servitude and violence. But there have always been extraordinary women with extraordinary lives. This book made me so emotional- women have always had such rich and beautiful inner lives, complex emotions, dreams, hopes and aspirations. It’s amazing to read about these women, like Hildegard von Bingen, who fulfilled their dreams and worked at something greater than themselves. Read this book to learn about how fantastic women always have been and will be.

I’ll end my review with a quote from the book: 

Read texts, look at artworks, examine archaeological finds, draw up statistics, or peer through a microscope… scrutinize how you have been taught, ask questions about what stories you’re not hearing and push outside of comfort zones in search of less well trodden paths.

Women! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence

nell71's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

3.0

Great book, pity about the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexism, Murder, and Forced institutionalization

After an interesting read about medieval women's achievements, the book suddenly brings in gender politics and suggests perhaps the women didn't identify as women... Thus undoing the point of the book which presumably was to celebrate women's history.

morgancleaver's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Religious bigotry

Minor: Racism, Violence, Sexual violence, and Antisemitism