The Wisdom Of The Ancients

“The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all – it is very tiresome…”

A more profound indictment of the learning of history has never been written. We, dear reader, live in a time when movements like Herstory and Women’s History month are both needed and constantly attacked.

So which activist wrote these words? What pillar of the feminist wisdom penned these words?

Jane Austen.

Yes, dear reader, Jane Austen, two hundred years ago was subtly pointing out that women are grossly under represented in history teaching. And, like any good subversive, she does it through the words of one of her most diffident characters, Ms Catherine Morland.

Jane Austen drops this little nugget of truth into Catherine’s sheepish admittance that she is very little interested in reading works of non-fiction. That their disregard of her sex makes them uninteresting to her, despite knowing that the information they contain may be beneficial.

And why, dear reader, has no one listened to this wisdom? Why do we continue to subject young girls to stories of the men who shaped history and consign the women to the footnotes?

This writer knows that she is not saying anything new. That you, dear reader, are certainly aware of this issue nearly to the point of deafness. But even so, learn the stories of the women who have shaped history. Of the women who are to thank for the rights enjoyed today.

(and as a shameless plug many women are featured on the Society Page, right next door)