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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

A book about women and taking up space and how manly men do nature writing

60 replies

Iwrotesomething · 12/06/2024 18:26

I would not, honestly, usually do this kind of self promotion but I am a long time, name changing denizen of this place and in my defence a) I mentioned this on another thread and people were interested and b) @Boiledbeetle is reading it and told me to do it and so I had to. Also, you might like it.

It's called The Hard Way, and the narrative is me walking some of the oldest roads in England, but while doing that thinking about why it is hard for women to walk alone, why they are meant to stay at home while men stride out and write about nature, and all the artists are men too. And then I discovered that there were all sorts of great women but either they had to shell peas for the Male Great Artists or we forgot that they wrote anything.

Also gerbils. But this username will self-destruct after this thread.

OP posts:
Meadowwild · 12/06/2024 18:38

Hah. What a coincidence. I know you irl and loved a previous book of yours. Also love the subject. I live in the countryside with beautiful walks. But a couple of years ago a neighbour's son hammered a woman he'd never met before almost to death on a pretty footpath near us and since then I have had to force myself to walk alone and do it rarely even though I long to. So...I will read you book and try to remember he's been put away and I have the right to enjoy the countryside as much as my 6ft DH who walks alone happily every day.

Waitwhat23 · 12/06/2024 18:43

Found it on Amazon and have added it to my books to buy list. It looks very interesting!

ElleneAsanto · 12/06/2024 18:46

I can’t say I recognise your scenario about why it is hard for women to walk alone, why they are meant to stay at home while men stride out and write about nature, and all the artists are men too. Maybe the experience was what they wanted, not writing and selling a book? Plenty of superb writing about nature. Rachel Carson eg was an inspiration to the modern green movement.

My best friend’s mother was personal secretary to Freya Stark in the 1940s. (Yes, we are old)

Best wishes for the book though, writing a book is an achievement I wouldn’t have the dedication for! I hope it goes well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freya_Stark

Freya Stark - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freya_Stark

Slothtoes · 12/06/2024 19:01

Good for you, it’s a very important topic- its a huge public health issue not just regarding women’s equal rights to have a connection with nature but also women’s rights to exercise- even if women can in theory get out of the house, they may have nowhere they feel safe to go alone.

Villagetoraiseachild · 12/06/2024 19:03

You must always obey Boiled Beetle!
Well done on your book!

exexpat · 12/06/2024 19:12

Is Susannah Walker a pen-name, or just a great example of nominative determinism?

SydneyCarton · 12/06/2024 19:15

It looks great and I’m sure I remember you talking about it on the previous thread. You’ve also reminded me of a poem I used to like and had completely forgotten about until now

Lynn Peters - Poems

This is the personal home page of Lynn Peters from Purley, .

https://www.lynnpeters.co.uk/home/poems/

Ariana12 · 12/06/2024 19:17

There was a really good article in the New Statesman about the Mumsnet manifesto. It's by Hannah Barnes. Straightforward reporting, pointing out the importance of the issues. Not snarky at all as the media often is. I saw it on Twitter and liked it so others would see ot

FleetingSeas · 12/06/2024 19:19

Oops, another book downloaded courtesy of MN. Thank you @Iwrotesomething it looks just my cup of tea.

Boiledbeetle · 12/06/2024 19:21

I approve this thread!

The book is fabulous!

I'm not a walker! Unless from the living to the kitchen counts! Sometimes I even take the scenic route and walk round the dining room table,

But back to the book Susannah's description of her walk along the Ridgeway and then the Harrow way was superb. I'd have enjoyed the book just for that but there is the added bonus of discovering women who went before, including those stuck at home whilst their husband's went out for walks in order to write a books whilst treating their wives like shit that makes it quite fascinating! So many intelligent artistic strong women to discover along the walk!

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 12/06/2024 19:26

Sounds great. Straight onto my Kindle - thanks @Iwrotesomething

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 12/06/2024 19:28

I used to live near the Ridgeway and go walking or running on my local bit of it. I miss it!

AstonScrapingsNameChange · 12/06/2024 21:51

Sounds right up my street 😍

Boiledbeetle · 12/06/2024 21:54

AstonScrapingsNameChange · 12/06/2024 21:51

Sounds right up my street 😍

Right up your street, then turn left at the end, cross the road into the fields on the other side, walk round the field of cows...

Boomboomboomboom · 12/06/2024 22:02

Just bought the hardback for my walking sister who'll love it! Thanks

weebarra · 12/06/2024 22:12

That looks great!

anunlikelyseahorse · 12/06/2024 22:53

That's Christmas sorted for my nearest and dearest female kin.

Iwrotesomething · 12/06/2024 22:55

Thank you everyone, do let me know what you think!

OP posts:
WayOutOfLine · 12/06/2024 22:57

Great idea for a book, one of my dd's is very militant about going walking on her own and travelling alone and it does give me kittens, even though having brought her up in a feminist household, I completely understand why she think's it's important to take up your very small space in the world- she loves the night-time and so walking at night would be her favourite.

3DayStockpiler · 13/06/2024 09:00

I've put it on kindle. I'm going away for a week and was wondering what to take to read.

Beowulfa · 13/06/2024 09:17

Both my bloke and I would enjoy this, will order.

JulesJules · 13/06/2024 18:32

Now on my wishlist, thank you!

I'm currently reading Rachel Hewitt's In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors amzn.eu/d/5zjGPqa
which I really recommend

Iwrotesomething · 13/06/2024 21:01

JulesJules · 13/06/2024 18:32

Now on my wishlist, thank you!

I'm currently reading Rachel Hewitt's In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors amzn.eu/d/5zjGPqa
which I really recommend

Yes it’s great isn’t it. I got to meet her through a work thing last year and she’s amazing.

OP posts:
Valeriekat · 21/06/2024 14:54

@ElleneAsanto
If only Rachel Carson had been a and more honest Scientist.