"Phase 3" of the large translation project on which I've been working is DONE! I'll finally have time and brain space to read (more)!
The only book I finished this week was the excellent Bluestockings: A History of the First Women's Movement by Susannah Gibson, which charts the movement that led women to their present position in Western society by demonstrating, through the lives of some of its most well-known members, just how much dedication, determination and courage was required to even begin to resist the multitude of factors that prevented women from engaging in any kind of intellectual work in 18th century England. Not only have they proved that female brains and bodies can indeed withstand serious thought, but they made invaluable — though still largely ill recognized — contributions to the fields of literature, poetry, history, science and philosophy by means of their own writing or their translations.
Women's relationships with men — be it a father or a husband — demanded a woman's time, a woman's duty, a woman's obedience. Friendships with other women did not make demands; rather they gave inspiration, comfort, support and joy.
It may be tempting to imagine a universal sisterhood amongst smart ladies that provided unconditional, nonjudgemental mutual support, but the author doesn't shy away from demonstrating the contrary; even the most enlightened female thinkers of the time could not entirely free themselves from the taint of religious, moral and class expectations and prejudices that had prevailed over thousands of years. Although we have come far in casting off these shackles, we, as the great-granddaughters of these remarkable women, must continue to do better.
This book is very much in line with the job I've just completed, so it was interesting to come across Sarah Robinson Scott and to learn more about her Utopian projects. I've also made a long list of all the ladies whose publications I want to explore in the near future.
To my very great surprise, I've fallen under the spell of "Stranger Things" on Netflix; sci-fi/horror isn't my cup of tea, but there's something so… wholesome (is that the right word?) about it that it's crept its way into my heart. The setting, the characters, the relationships, the dialogues, the music, the acting — holy crap those kids are talented! I think what hooked me was the strong bonds between the people who are thrust into thoroughly inexplicable situations, their drive to protect each other no matter what... I'm halfway through the series now, and am carefully rationing myself: no more than 2 episodes in a row!