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daylajane's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Genocide, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Infertility
thedailykaily's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
“For women's history is not composed of the history of external events in linear progression. Wars, dynasties and empires have come and gone within a shorter span of time, and with less impact on women's lives, than the practice of menstrual taboos, for instance, or female infant*c*de. Such themes shape women's lived experience far more than dates and deeds; and the patterns they create are continuous, circular, unchanging over many generations. The attack on women's bodies that was one of the most marked consequences of the imposition of patriarchal monotheism has no convenient onset or conclusion-but it was a principal determining factor of every woman's history over an extended period of time. It signaled, precipitated even, the decline of women into their long night of feudal oppression and grotesque persecution. Only the accelerating descent to the lowest pitch of physical misery could produce the momentum required for the slow climb back to full humanity.”
I believe the quote above summarizes a majority of this book. As a woman, this book is infuriating most of the time and I'm reminded that although things aren't perfect, I'm so proud of the women who came before me to allow me to have my freedom to pursue the career I wanted, have access to birth control, have the ability to marry for love and choose my spouse and to have my own money and assets. This book is very difficult to read at times and there are graphic depictions of ancient practices (and some which are still occurring) that can be difficult to read. There's also crude language at times. Content warnings include r*pe, mutilation, t*rture, female c*rcumc*s*on, infant*c*de, and more.
I did find some parts of the book repetitive and found myself bored, but as a book on women's studies and world history, I would expect that. I'm happy to have read it but it may to be for everyone.
emmy9937's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This book was really interesting and informative, and I’ll definitely have to read it again to fully process everything, but I wish Miles hadn’t focused so heavily on white women. It seemed like she only mentioned women of color as a side note or an afterthought, especially when discussing the American civil rights movement.
thereadingsparrow's review
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I still don't know who cooked the last supper...
Jokes aside: Some very interesting facts, but not really up-to-date with the current research or language (understandably, but just to point out that there are better works to be consulted instead), immerses itself too much in the "mystical/divine womanhood" trope in my opinion and is not as nuanced as I would have liked, plus a bit hypocritical (e.g.: men do this thing and it's bad, women do the same thing and it's okay).
Jokes aside: Some very interesting facts, but not really up-to-date with the current research or language (understandably, but just to point out that there are better works to be consulted instead), immerses itself too much in the "mystical/divine womanhood" trope in my opinion and is not as nuanced as I would have liked, plus a bit hypocritical (e.g.: men do this thing and it's bad, women do the same thing and it's okay).