This was really interesting. Thank you. I knew only a bit about the struggle between Stephen and Matilda. This really helped flesh it out. And I was nodding vigorously when I read "A woman leader in a deeply entrenched patriarchy is simply a woman whom rules in a patriarchy, nothing more." YES!!! That's the point exactly! It's why female and feminist politicians and leaders always seem to fall short of the hopes we pin to them. The game is rigged but they have no choice but to play it, and in doing so, they become servants of the system.
Thank you so much for spending time with my words! Matilda is fascinating, and I’m so intrigued by her role as mother too, but that’s for a different time. “They become servants of the system” is such a good line and too true.
I have not, but I just looked it up and added it to my TBR. Thank you so much for the recommendation. Sharing books is a love language, truly! And thank you. I was deep into Charles Wood’s Joan of Arc & Richard III where he posits that Joan was a dim witted young woman fed her lines because a coronation wasn’t as pivotal in medieval France as it was in England, and then he casually referenced Edward utilizing his regal name and the double standard hit me in the hysterics. Thank you for spending time with my words! 💜
I studied history at university and became beyond disillusioned with the whole thing. This newsletter is one of my new favourite ideas on Substack. Loved this piece to bits.
An elderly street performer from Amsterdam (bit of a legend, turns out, the one and only Jos Zandvliet) once walked into a cafe and spoke with me. He was wearing seven different colours and had a banjo on his back. He told me, in finer words that mine, that these social norms, these deeply rooted behaviours... well, creating art, creating in any form, exists as a vehicle for challenging these things. I always think back to his words. Even the most diehard of misogynists would struggle to not tap their feet to good music!
Your piece made me think of his words. A wonderful essay that has complimented a lot of my other reading beautifully.
Tom! Full transparency, this is one of those comments that I am going to screenshot and come back to when the inner critic gets a little too opinionated. Thank you for this.
I LOVE that story, and sentiment so dang much. Wow. Too true and a very important reminder to all creatives. Thank for you sharing something that impacted your paradigms with me, I’m honored.
Also, please always feel free to share what you’re reading/ have read.
This was really interesting. Thank you. I knew only a bit about the struggle between Stephen and Matilda. This really helped flesh it out. And I was nodding vigorously when I read "A woman leader in a deeply entrenched patriarchy is simply a woman whom rules in a patriarchy, nothing more." YES!!! That's the point exactly! It's why female and feminist politicians and leaders always seem to fall short of the hopes we pin to them. The game is rigged but they have no choice but to play it, and in doing so, they become servants of the system.
Thank you so much for spending time with my words! Matilda is fascinating, and I’m so intrigued by her role as mother too, but that’s for a different time. “They become servants of the system” is such a good line and too true.
You make such a great point about Edward V. Have you read Elizabeth Lesser’s Cassandra Speaks?
I have not, but I just looked it up and added it to my TBR. Thank you so much for the recommendation. Sharing books is a love language, truly! And thank you. I was deep into Charles Wood’s Joan of Arc & Richard III where he posits that Joan was a dim witted young woman fed her lines because a coronation wasn’t as pivotal in medieval France as it was in England, and then he casually referenced Edward utilizing his regal name and the double standard hit me in the hysterics. Thank you for spending time with my words! 💜
I studied history at university and became beyond disillusioned with the whole thing. This newsletter is one of my new favourite ideas on Substack. Loved this piece to bits.
An elderly street performer from Amsterdam (bit of a legend, turns out, the one and only Jos Zandvliet) once walked into a cafe and spoke with me. He was wearing seven different colours and had a banjo on his back. He told me, in finer words that mine, that these social norms, these deeply rooted behaviours... well, creating art, creating in any form, exists as a vehicle for challenging these things. I always think back to his words. Even the most diehard of misogynists would struggle to not tap their feet to good music!
Your piece made me think of his words. A wonderful essay that has complimented a lot of my other reading beautifully.
I am beyond subscribed.
Thank you!!
Tom! Full transparency, this is one of those comments that I am going to screenshot and come back to when the inner critic gets a little too opinionated. Thank you for this.
I LOVE that story, and sentiment so dang much. Wow. Too true and a very important reminder to all creatives. Thank for you sharing something that impacted your paradigms with me, I’m honored.
Also, please always feel free to share what you’re reading/ have read.
Thank you!!
De nada! This comment really brightened my day up as well :))
He was a crazy cool character. One of the pioneers of modern street theatre in the 60s/70s, just a grooooovy soullll
I'm actually currently edging my way through the second sex, and this post was almost like a mini-recap! Really helpful for me :)
love the work, love the whole idea, excited for the next posts😎