I grew up in a patriarchal society, even the books I read as a child, although some were written by female authors, obscured the existence of another P.O.V., the world of adult women.
At fifteen I was extremely fortunate to have an English Literature teacher who I now realise was subversive. She gave us a reading list to complete over the summer holidays before our A level course started. That list included “Evelina” by Frances Burney, “Northanger Abbey” by Janet Austen, “One Pair of Feet” by Monica Dickens and “The Egg and I” by Betty MacDonald”. I devoured that list, I think to her surprise as I wasn’t even near the median of performance in her class. I like to think that reading encouraged me to tune my vision and see how women in professions often work much harder for their recognition.
I’m glad there are women who’ve climbed on the parapet to expose the double standards, Olivia Colman: “… if a woman swears people act shocked! Fuck off! Women are human – funny, filthy, loving, caring – just like men."
I grew up in a patriarchal society, even the books I read as a child, although some were written by female authors, obscured the existence of another P.O.V., the world of adult women.
At fifteen I was extremely fortunate to have an English Literature teacher who I now realise was subversive. She gave us a reading list to complete over the summer holidays before our A level course started. That list included “Evelina” by Frances Burney, “Northanger Abbey” by Janet Austen, “One Pair of Feet” by Monica Dickens and “The Egg and I” by Betty MacDonald”. I devoured that list, I think to her surprise as I wasn’t even near the median of performance in her class. I like to think that reading encouraged me to tune my vision and see how women in professions often work much harder for their recognition.
I’m glad there are women who’ve climbed on the parapet to expose the double standards, Olivia Colman: “… if a woman swears people act shocked! Fuck off! Women are human – funny, filthy, loving, caring – just like men."
Hear, Hear!
Great to see Monsieur de Poop get a mention! I love that isolated ‘Housman’…
Very glad to discover a fellow fan of Monsieur de Poop!