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A review by grace_rogue
What Would Boudicca Do?: Everyday Problems Solved by History's Most Remarkable Women by Elizabeth Foley
2.0
The stories of fifty strong women over the centuries was fascinating. Each woman was strong in her own ways, both a heroine and villain in her own story, and a product of the time they lived in and the aspects of that time that they disagreed with.
HOWEVER,
This book itself is not good, imo. The authors give their own little takes and perspectives of the women and their stories. EVERY SINGLE AUTHOR POV MADE ME WANT TO THROW THIS BOOK AT A WALL. The authors dissed historical radical women's movements as OTT and excessive rather than recognizing their value in kickstarting a public movement. They laughed at the very insecurities which the patriarchy has utilized against women for time indefinite- body shape, care giving, and in some cases dramatism.
When a feminist based book calls for women to scrap care giving roles to instead pursue something "useful" like an engineering degree- they are not liberating women. They are only forcing them into a formatted role which the authors believe is more effective or useful- not one the women who choose to be care givers wish to pursue.
My biggest issue with this book was that the authors seemed to be more invested in convincing women to see their antiquated view of feminism as the correct one, rather than opening the possibility for increased personal autonomy and self-searching for women in this day and age.
I'd rec this book to people who want to be introduced to some barrier smashing women from a wide variety of backgrounds and times. But I would encourage that this not be the basis upon which you base or critique your view of feminism. Read more into these amazing women and their stories, and maybe (as I have done) take the authors notes in this book with a pinch of salt and a healthy dose of respect for people expressing their views.... regardless of how you feel about the views.
HOWEVER,
This book itself is not good, imo. The authors give their own little takes and perspectives of the women and their stories. EVERY SINGLE AUTHOR POV MADE ME WANT TO THROW THIS BOOK AT A WALL. The authors dissed historical radical women's movements as OTT and excessive rather than recognizing their value in kickstarting a public movement. They laughed at the very insecurities which the patriarchy has utilized against women for time indefinite- body shape, care giving, and in some cases dramatism.
When a feminist based book calls for women to scrap care giving roles to instead pursue something "useful" like an engineering degree- they are not liberating women. They are only forcing them into a formatted role which the authors believe is more effective or useful- not one the women who choose to be care givers wish to pursue.
My biggest issue with this book was that the authors seemed to be more invested in convincing women to see their antiquated view of feminism as the correct one, rather than opening the possibility for increased personal autonomy and self-searching for women in this day and age.
I'd rec this book to people who want to be introduced to some barrier smashing women from a wide variety of backgrounds and times. But I would encourage that this not be the basis upon which you base or critique your view of feminism. Read more into these amazing women and their stories, and maybe (as I have done) take the authors notes in this book with a pinch of salt and a healthy dose of respect for people expressing their views.... regardless of how you feel about the views.