Was Laura Ingalls Wilder a feminist?

[WeAreJackieWeaver]

Having read absolutely everything on my reading list this year, I’m re-reading the Little House on the Prairie books.
I loved these books as a child, now reading them as an adult I’m struck how fiercely Laura fought to be allowed outside her gender box. She’s fiesty, loves being physical, running and riding horses and hates the expectations placed on her by society just because she’s a girl. Girls should sit quietly and do womanly tasks like sewing.
Her sister Mary is the complete opposite and loves being feminine and embraces the expectations of her.
Both girls were highly intelligent and their education was encouraged by very progressive (for the time) parents.

During this never-ending winter lockdown the books have helped give me some perspective on the hardship of lives past but I’m loving reading about Laura’s gender non-conforming escapades.

Has anyone else read the books?

I loved the books and also loved Prairie Fires. Rereading them as an adult though, I realised how racist the early settlers were.

The books are here, to download, free of charge.

www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php?author=Wilder,%20Laura%20Ingalls

Mansour or Al Mansour is a common Arab name

Sheikh Mansour owns Manchester City

Haifaa al-Mansour is a Saudi Arabian film director

Almanzo's story that it went back to the crusades is fanciful

Royal may derive from the Biblical name Reuel.

And it was very common in 19th England, and also in America, to give the mother's maiden name as the first born son's Christian name.

I absolutely loved the TV programme years ago. I’ve never read the books but now I will! Laura reminds me of Jo in Little Women.

Laura like Judy in Seven Little Australians

Thanks for the link, Teaandscone - there are lots of books I’d love to read on there. Not only Little House but some of the vintage school stories I love!

Lots of my Victorian and Edwardian ancestors had previous family surnames as middle names.

Because of this thread, I feel the need to read all the books again. And then re-read Prairie Fires.

@Bainne

And I do also wonder about bear -- Laura loves bear meat (is it in Little House in the Big Woods?), but I wouldn't have said that the meat of a carnivorous animal would taste good...?

Bears (apart from Polar bears) are omnivores.

I agree you wouldn't think it'd taste good, but then I wouldn't think that about dogs either, which are commonly eaten in some parts of Asia.

First catch your bear.

I've read somewhere (but no idea where, I don't think it was the Little House books but it might be) that bears who'd be eating nuts and honey would taste good, but those eating meat wouldn't.

Polkadots what do the bears that eat picnic baskets taste like ?

@Ilovemaisie woody?

@Ilovemaisie

Polkadots what do the bears that eat picnic baskets taste like ?

Yogit.

Encouraged by this thread, I've got various of the Ingalls Wilder books from the library. What a pleasure to read them again ! I'd forgotten how practical and self sufficient the family are, and how much they take pride in not having to ask for help.

Now for Prairie Fires....

Yes they really were pioneers, and it was a tough way of life.

I also recommend Clearing in the West by Nellie McClung, for a Canadian version of a similar story - moving west to virgin territory to start a farm and forge a better way of life. Nellie McClung definitely was a feminist - she was a suffragist, and her memoir is written from a feminist perspective.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

I've read somewhere (but no idea where, I don't think it was the Little House books but it might be) that bears who'd be eating nuts and honey would taste good, but those eating meat wouldn't.

That's in one of the Narnia books, Prince Caspian maybe? Although no idea if it's actually true. I suspect CS Lewis is significantly less likely to have sampled many different types of bear meat than Laura

Thank you Sally, you're right and that was niggling at me! I've found it (Prince Caspian, ch.10).

Bear that has lived too much on other animals is not very nice, but bear that has had plenty of honey and fruit is excellent, and this turned out to be that sort of bear.

Although as you say, I don't know how much experience he was speaking from.

So Winnie the Pooh must taste yummy them.
Paddington too as he eats marmalade sandwiches.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

I've read somewhere (but no idea where, I don't think it was the Little House books but it might be) that bears who'd be eating nuts and honey would taste good, but those eating meat wouldn't.

Pigs are omnivores and happily eat meat.

I've now spent a fortune on Amazon 😂
The long winter and farmer boy are two of my favourite books and DD adores them. She and I planned a road trip to visit the locations which has been delayed due to Covid so @Delphinium20 I'll need some recommendations when we do her going . We're starting in Prince Edward Island for our Ann of Green Gables fix and then will fly to the mid west .no one in real life can understand why we want to do this I have found my people

No worries polkadots. Glad my encyclopaedic knowledge of obscure facts from children's books is of some use!

If only I could remember my passwords or where I left my keys 😂

I understand it, Carriemac - it's a trip I'd like to do, both PEI and Laura locations. When I went to Australia, my "must-do" list included the Snowy Mountains because of Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books. I think there are worse things you can do than travel places because of books you read.