In a culture that celebrates youth while marginalizing those that age, let us intentionally make space for the indispensability of the knowledge possessed by those lucky enough to grow old—after all, isn’t that what we as humans are meant to do?
This is awesome work and very interesting. Sobering as well. I just read another post about how there are no women leading federal gov’t committees, first time in two decades: a coincidence?
Wow, first I’m stunned by the quality of your work on every level. Research, writing, a stunning zine to accompany, and a beautiful voiceover that makes your pieces more accessible to my brain. So thank you for all of it.
And I just kept thinking of so many parallels to the ways women’s body-expertise is undermined today: from medical gaslighting of women whose symptoms don’t fit male-centric categories, to the dismissal of pregnancy and menopause symptoms as a decade’s worth of untreatable misery that shouldn’t hinder women from meeting caregiving and capitalistic expectations (I have *often* wondered how much wisdom was lost during the era of witch hunts, that could have been passed down for generations, on how to navigate pregnancy and menopause. Like if the passing down of wisdom from mother to daughter wasn’t violently cut off then denigrated for centuries, maybe menopause wouldn’t be experienced as an awful, chaotic, incoherent season of having a body? And this piece cracks open to door to the reality that the suppression of female expertise began long before the witch hunts!)
Also! The ways when a mother says, “this expert-recommended intervention isn’t working for my child” she strays from the good motherhood ideal and loses credibility—because she’s asserting her own body-expertise. Also—the parallels between witch hunts and the Christian mapping of demonic onto nonwhite indigenous practices worldwide—fear of these practices deemed “demonic” is very much a live wire in the Christian psyche today, which I think explains a lot about a lot, but I’ll stop here.
This piece gave me a lot to think about, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with your zine over the next few days:)
So. Many. Parallels! I’m so glad you’ve added this onto the conversation because you’re absolutely correct. The authority voice has long been harming women and all marginalized groups.
“Good motherhood ideal” is such an interesting topic to explore and I so think you’re on to something there, oh my goodness. It is always wild reading the bulls from the Middle Ages that uses such language towards humans in general—and you’re telling me they weren’t racist because the word didn’t exist? Please.
I so appreciate you adding your voice here Shaina, thank you. Thank you for spending time with my words, and having such thoughtful interactions with them. I’m truly honored. 💜
This was an excellent article! Thank you! Damn, seems like "we" never learn. I definitely feel more powerful, wiser and my BS-meter is even better attuned as I grow into my cronage.
I love all of the for you, Sheila! Thank you so much for spending time with my words!! I am so grateful. Though this is of course speculation, but I think Jacqueline would have felt much the same with the BS-meter!!
What a beautiful piece of work! I loved the article, and am going to savour the magazine over the Christmas period 🥰 thank you for doing this important research and sharing it with the world!
It’s beautiful! And the magazine is such a lovely way to slow down consumption on Substack and make it feel a little different. I actually have one myself coming out on New Year’s Day! A roundup of guest articles in journal format 🥰
This is awesome work and very interesting. Sobering as well. I just read another post about how there are no women leading federal gov’t committees, first time in two decades: a coincidence?
Not even a little. Thank you for adding that to the conversation! And thank you for spending time with my words, I’m grateful Elle! ❤️❤️
Same shit, different century. Sigh.
Women have always been so amazing. :)
Absolutely!!!
Wow, first I’m stunned by the quality of your work on every level. Research, writing, a stunning zine to accompany, and a beautiful voiceover that makes your pieces more accessible to my brain. So thank you for all of it.
And I just kept thinking of so many parallels to the ways women’s body-expertise is undermined today: from medical gaslighting of women whose symptoms don’t fit male-centric categories, to the dismissal of pregnancy and menopause symptoms as a decade’s worth of untreatable misery that shouldn’t hinder women from meeting caregiving and capitalistic expectations (I have *often* wondered how much wisdom was lost during the era of witch hunts, that could have been passed down for generations, on how to navigate pregnancy and menopause. Like if the passing down of wisdom from mother to daughter wasn’t violently cut off then denigrated for centuries, maybe menopause wouldn’t be experienced as an awful, chaotic, incoherent season of having a body? And this piece cracks open to door to the reality that the suppression of female expertise began long before the witch hunts!)
Also! The ways when a mother says, “this expert-recommended intervention isn’t working for my child” she strays from the good motherhood ideal and loses credibility—because she’s asserting her own body-expertise. Also—the parallels between witch hunts and the Christian mapping of demonic onto nonwhite indigenous practices worldwide—fear of these practices deemed “demonic” is very much a live wire in the Christian psyche today, which I think explains a lot about a lot, but I’ll stop here.
This piece gave me a lot to think about, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with your zine over the next few days:)
So. Many. Parallels! I’m so glad you’ve added this onto the conversation because you’re absolutely correct. The authority voice has long been harming women and all marginalized groups.
“Good motherhood ideal” is such an interesting topic to explore and I so think you’re on to something there, oh my goodness. It is always wild reading the bulls from the Middle Ages that uses such language towards humans in general—and you’re telling me they weren’t racist because the word didn’t exist? Please.
I so appreciate you adding your voice here Shaina, thank you. Thank you for spending time with my words, and having such thoughtful interactions with them. I’m truly honored. 💜
This was an excellent article! Thank you! Damn, seems like "we" never learn. I definitely feel more powerful, wiser and my BS-meter is even better attuned as I grow into my cronage.
I love all of the for you, Sheila! Thank you so much for spending time with my words!! I am so grateful. Though this is of course speculation, but I think Jacqueline would have felt much the same with the BS-meter!!
You are so right!😆💕
What a beautiful piece of work! I loved the article, and am going to savour the magazine over the Christmas period 🥰 thank you for doing this important research and sharing it with the world!
Thank you so much for spending your precious time with it, Holly! I’m so grateful 💜
It’s beautiful! And the magazine is such a lovely way to slow down consumption on Substack and make it feel a little different. I actually have one myself coming out on New Year’s Day! A roundup of guest articles in journal format 🥰
Ohhh I can’t wait to see that! Sounds incredibly exciting and informing.
Thank you, Holly!! ❤️❤️❤️
Great article thanks for the wealth of knowledge on women over 40 in the medieval times.
Thank you so much for spending your time with my words and these incredible women! 💜