by Mary Beard
First published 2017
Mary Beard tackles the relentless attacks women face from misogynists and online trolls around the globe. She suffered many of these attacks herself. Beard traces this hostility back to ancient sources, showing how gender bias has targeted powerful women throughout history. She starts with Homer's Odyssey, where public speaking was considered exclusively male territory. The pattern continues through mythological figures like Medusa and Philomela, whose tongue was severed, to modern politicians like Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren, who was ordered to sit down. Beard connects these examples to reveal our deep cultural beliefs about women and authority. She shares her personal encounters with online sexism and poses crucial questions. If society refuses to see women as legitimate power holders, perhaps we must reimagine power itself. How much longer should women wait for change?
Genres: history, gender-studies, feminism, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-issues
Period: Ancient, Modern
115 pages · Hardcover · Liveright
Content warnings: sexism