As a female veteran, I am thankful for this piece. As a female writer, I am awed by the deep dive into historical research! Incredible piece, and thanks for keeping eyes on the removal of our female warriors. The story broke early this morning that yesterday, the just-fired Coast Guard Commandant was given mere hours to vacate her residence, being forced to leave most of her furnishings and personal belongings. She said she had to “stay with friends” last night… an admiral! Couch surfing! Because of the insecure men in DC. I predict we’ll see more of not only firing/“relieving of duty” of female women in leadership but the additional humiliation tactics, unfortunately.
Thank you for your service, for your kind words, and for uplifting these women! I am so grateful for you keeping an eye on the current climate and the treatment of these women who deserve so much better from us! Thank you for doing that work. I can't believe how horrendously she has been treated - I know I should expect it from this administration, but again, they just deserve better. All of these women deserve better. Thank you for spending time with my words, Melissa! ❤️
Disgraceful. Repugnant. I hadn't heard she had to vacate so quickly and leave so much of her belongings. No matter what her rank or station in life, that is unacceptable.
Thank you, Kate - history lessons like these are more important than ever. Can I also recommend to your readers Pamela Toler’s Women Warriors? A stellar look at how women have *always* been warriors, across the globe.
Thank you, Leah! I am so grateful for you and the conversations we have had. I'll happily take that recommendation, I haven't read that one! Thank you! Thank you for the time spent with my words and these incredible, audacious, brave women! ❤️❤️
Well done, Kate. As a fellow historian of the European Middle Ages, working on women and political power, I am struck by the ignorance of people about their shared past. Military historians all too often focus on what men did with spears and muskets and trebuchets. And, as a pacifiist, I very much appreciate your comments at the end. This is not about promoting war, it's about promoting equality.
Thank you so very much, Theresa! This one had me nervous, but felt so very needed at this moment. I don't want anyone, woman or man, to live in a world of conflict, but to ignore the role women have had in protecting their own is just negligent and serves to only uphold male superiority, or at least the idea of it. Thank you so much for spending your time here - thank you for sharing those frustrations too, as I too am feeling it as I look around at watch the spectacles unfold.
I am spreading this Substack far and wide. So many people are desperate for something to hold on to, and they often rely on “tradition,” which is, as you say, just one more way to shove women aside. I call BS on that.
Thank you for this. I'm afraid though that it is full of big words that Pete won't be able to understand. Alas, we have to put up with an administration of criminals and greedy billionaires. We need more heroines to run this country. It sucks feeling so aware and so powerless. We will overcome this. Together we stand.
Together we stand, indeed! This note made me laugh, as I’m sure you’re right. But I had to say it anyways! Thank you for spending your time here, Sharon, I am very grateful 💜
Hi, I just came across a book I think you'd be interested, in case you don't already know about it:
It's called, The secret history of the Mongol queens : how the daughters of Genghis Khan rescued his empire, by Weatherford, J. McIver (I tried to make that title italic, but for some reason it didn't work.) I haven't read it--or even seen it in person--yet, but it looks like fun, and right down your alley!
Hegseth should also learn from theologians. Jennifer Edwards used records from the convent at Poitiers to piece together the life and work of the Frankish queen, Radegund (d. 587), and argue that there was theological support for the rule of women in a convent that could also apply to secular queens. See ‘“Man Can be Subject to Woman”: Female Monastic Authority in Fifteenth-Century Poitiers’, Gender & History 25:1 (2013): 86–106.
Oh my gosh I had actually just read this fairly recently! Wild that you've mentioned it here. I was really intrigued by Amy Livingstone's argument in Out of Love for my Kin. I didn't agree with the entire position of her argument, but the practical power she outlined of those in both the secular and religious worlds of the Loire between 1000-1200 in unmistakable. We've been deprived of so many stories in the 'traditional' teachings of history, as Hegseth so demonstrates. Thanks again for this, Theresa! I'm grateful.
As a female veteran, I am thankful for this piece. As a female writer, I am awed by the deep dive into historical research! Incredible piece, and thanks for keeping eyes on the removal of our female warriors. The story broke early this morning that yesterday, the just-fired Coast Guard Commandant was given mere hours to vacate her residence, being forced to leave most of her furnishings and personal belongings. She said she had to “stay with friends” last night… an admiral! Couch surfing! Because of the insecure men in DC. I predict we’ll see more of not only firing/“relieving of duty” of female women in leadership but the additional humiliation tactics, unfortunately.
Thank you for your service, for your kind words, and for uplifting these women! I am so grateful for you keeping an eye on the current climate and the treatment of these women who deserve so much better from us! Thank you for doing that work. I can't believe how horrendously she has been treated - I know I should expect it from this administration, but again, they just deserve better. All of these women deserve better. Thank you for spending time with my words, Melissa! ❤️
Disgraceful. Repugnant. I hadn't heard she had to vacate so quickly and leave so much of her belongings. No matter what her rank or station in life, that is unacceptable.
Thank you, Kate - history lessons like these are more important than ever. Can I also recommend to your readers Pamela Toler’s Women Warriors? A stellar look at how women have *always* been warriors, across the globe.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/women-warriors-an-unexpected-history-pamela-d-toler/9000139?ean=9780807028339
Thank you, Leah! I am so grateful for you and the conversations we have had. I'll happily take that recommendation, I haven't read that one! Thank you! Thank you for the time spent with my words and these incredible, audacious, brave women! ❤️❤️
Well done, Kate. As a fellow historian of the European Middle Ages, working on women and political power, I am struck by the ignorance of people about their shared past. Military historians all too often focus on what men did with spears and muskets and trebuchets. And, as a pacifiist, I very much appreciate your comments at the end. This is not about promoting war, it's about promoting equality.
Thank you so very much, Theresa! This one had me nervous, but felt so very needed at this moment. I don't want anyone, woman or man, to live in a world of conflict, but to ignore the role women have had in protecting their own is just negligent and serves to only uphold male superiority, or at least the idea of it. Thank you so much for spending your time here - thank you for sharing those frustrations too, as I too am feeling it as I look around at watch the spectacles unfold.
I am spreading this Substack far and wide. So many people are desperate for something to hold on to, and they often rely on “tradition,” which is, as you say, just one more way to shove women aside. I call BS on that.
Wow, that is very kind of you! I am so grateful! 💜💜
Thank you for this. I'm afraid though that it is full of big words that Pete won't be able to understand. Alas, we have to put up with an administration of criminals and greedy billionaires. We need more heroines to run this country. It sucks feeling so aware and so powerless. We will overcome this. Together we stand.
Together we stand, indeed! This note made me laugh, as I’m sure you’re right. But I had to say it anyways! Thank you for spending your time here, Sharon, I am very grateful 💜
Hi, I just came across a book I think you'd be interested, in case you don't already know about it:
It's called, The secret history of the Mongol queens : how the daughters of Genghis Khan rescued his empire, by Weatherford, J. McIver (I tried to make that title italic, but for some reason it didn't work.) I haven't read it--or even seen it in person--yet, but it looks like fun, and right down your alley!
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-secret-history-of-the-mongol-queens-how-the-daughters-of-genghis-khan-rescued-his-empire-jack-weatherford/8752257?ean=9780307407160&next=t&next=t
Your work is so important. Keep it up!
Ohhh Erika, that does sound right up my alley!! I’m so, so grateful to be thought of in such a way. Thank you for the recommendation 💜💜
Give them hell! Awesome read!
Thank you for spending your time with it!!! 💜
Hegseth should also learn from theologians. Jennifer Edwards used records from the convent at Poitiers to piece together the life and work of the Frankish queen, Radegund (d. 587), and argue that there was theological support for the rule of women in a convent that could also apply to secular queens. See ‘“Man Can be Subject to Woman”: Female Monastic Authority in Fifteenth-Century Poitiers’, Gender & History 25:1 (2013): 86–106.
Oh my gosh I had actually just read this fairly recently! Wild that you've mentioned it here. I was really intrigued by Amy Livingstone's argument in Out of Love for my Kin. I didn't agree with the entire position of her argument, but the practical power she outlined of those in both the secular and religious worlds of the Loire between 1000-1200 in unmistakable. We've been deprived of so many stories in the 'traditional' teachings of history, as Hegseth so demonstrates. Thanks again for this, Theresa! I'm grateful.
I’m working on a section on queens and warfare for an updated edition of a book. I’d like to credit you . . . are you OK with that?
Oh, amazing! That is very kind and thank you for asking. And of course, thank you! I have to click through and get more info!! 💜
Thank you!
Thank YOU! I so appreciate you spending time with my words! ❤️