A History of Women in 100 Objects

by Maggie Andrews, Janis Lomas

The history of the world has been told in objects. But what about the objects that tell the history of women? What are the items that symbolise the journey of women from second-class citizens with no legal rights, no vote and no official status to the powerful people they are today? And what are the objects that still oppress women, even now? From the corset to the contraceptive pill, the bones of the first woman to Rosa Parks's mugshot and the iconic Mary Quant cape, A History of Women in 100 Objects documents the developing role of women in society through the lens of the inanimate objects that touched women's lives, were created by women or that at some time – perhaps even still – oppressed them. Woven by two leading historians, this complex, fascinating and vital tale of women and womanhood is told with a lightness of touch and depth of experience that will appeal to all those interested in women's history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, History, Womens, Historical, Adult, Essays

350 pages, Paperback

Published February 23, 2018

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may well be one of my favourite non-fiction reads ever. I absolutely adored this book. I came across it, completely accidentally in the bookstore. I had a browse of it, and of course, being me, I just HAD to buy it.
Even though this book is all about women and their history, I would recommend this to males as well. I almost think that males should read it, to understand the struggles that women have experienced over the years, and how amazing we really are!

This book consists of 100 chapters, each one consisting of a certain object, that is closely associated to women. Some of these objects, such as the scolds bridle, that was a contraption that was used to silence women's voices, completely shocked me. I had heard of it, but I never realised that it was used for over two hundred years! I'm a strong believer that all women's voices should be heard, so to read that men were silencing them, was unbelievably shocking. Unfortunately, the attempt to silence women still goes on in various countries today, but in other ways.
I found some objects most interesting, such as the early twentieth first medical vibrator, the Shoreditch sisters vulva quilt, Bill of sale for a slave girl and Anne Franks Diary.
Some truly inspirational women are discussed in here, such as Marie curie, Anne Frank, Rosa Parks and Irenaeus Sendlerowa. These individuals make me proud to be a woman, and it shows just how courageous, powerful and incredibly amazing females are, and the major impact we have on the world.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Massively fascinating and really captivating! Definitely a must read.

[Dylan Marton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book is well-researched and organized, my reservation is that it is misleading. A much better title for the book would have been "A History of British Women in 100 Objects". Even though there are some breaks for the British perspective, this book is overwhelmingly British and Western. The back cover of the edition I have touts that women are 50% of the world's population, represent people of color, LGBTQ+, poor, rich, etc. Most of this book focused on a small minority of the world's population, British women (many of whom were royalty). Like I said, the book was well done for what it was, but if you are looking for a history of women of the world, look elsewhere.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

An innovative and fascinating approach to history

Both authors are academic historians with impressive credentials who are well placed to write about women in history.

Previously, apart from a few well-known individuals - Joan of Arc, Emily Pankhurst, Dame Mary Bankes, Queen Elizabeth 1 etc - women have played a supporting role to men’s exploits. They are portrayed as the homemakers, courtesans and wives and mothers, the background to men’s glorious deeds.

This book is entirely about women and how their lives have been defined by a wide range of objects, from the Scold’s Bridle to Contraception, the Barclaycard and Barbara Castle’s diaries. Some have been controlling, whilst others have liberated and enabled women to the ‘equality’ we enjoy today (ironic!).

Probably a book to dip into rather than to devour at a single sitting, but altogether engaging, enthralling and an easy read.

A must for those interested in women and their issues and evolution.

Pashtpaws

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

[JWA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the concept of this book and how the history of women is told through 100 objects. Each chapter details a different object and the book is divided into sections, each with a theme and objects grouped within that topic.
It's well laid out, the chapters are clear and concise and easy to read and follow. It gives a lot of information per topic and item while also leaving you with more to research if you're interested.
I learned a great deal that I didn't already know and I found the information provided to be well researched. It would definitely be a book I'd reread in future.
I read this one for fun rather than research but I enjoyed the thought provoking questions posed in each chapter. I felt like every item tied back to its impact on the lives of women, their progression and struggles to receive full autonomy.
It's a really enjoyable read and gives a glorious general look at the key items that have had some significance in women's history and their mark on the world thus far.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book, which should be read by everyone. I wish I could give it more stars but it just lacked something compared to the other history through 100 objects, despite it being really interesting. I'm not sure the structure worked as well as it should and I really wanted annotations relating to the photos of the objects.

Also it's so depressing to realise again how far the world has to go for women to be valued as humans, feel safe, be allowed to make their own choices and not be discriminated against.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and comprehensive history of women around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and its discussion not only of the objects themselves, but their impact on and place in a much longer history of the female sex.

1 star off for occasional spelling mistakes and also an abrupt ending. This volume would've benefited from some kind of concluding statement about the objects and/or the history of women that they present.

Highly recommended to female readers (though male readers may also enjoy) 16 years and up.

[Holly (honestly.holly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

Such an interesting book. It looks at 100 significant objects in women's history and explains the brief history, how it affected women, similar objects/moments of history and also how it links to modern-day feminism. I learnt so many new things! There was even some local history (mining pits in North staffs) which I enjoyed doing more research on. The only reason this isn't 5 star is that Margaret Thatcher was entry #100, directly after the entry about mining. They called her controversial but said she was still feminist. Absolutely not!

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF on pg 47/388.

I can read a 30 tweet thread on history but I cannot read a history book. Or I just don't like non-fiction? Or maybe it's how a lot of non-fiction is just, you know, badly written. This book was so boring. Deathly boring.

100 objects? The authors chose an object, and then proceeded to NOT talk about that object.

Also, the objects they chose?! Huge hints of white feminism.

I really tried though. I put ALL of my effort into reading this but I couldn't do it anymore.

[Valerio Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vast, vast panorama of women, through objects, culture, politics, explained clearly and far from obvious. Even people most sensitive to issues related to the other half of heaven will discover here new or unsuspected things behind what patriarchy teaches us to take for granted since time immemorial.
The weakest section is that of famous women in history, since each of them deserves a separate book, or at any rate much more space in this book.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to take red pen and mark it like homework. So many opinions written as if they were facts. Poor referencing that lead to nowhere, anecdotes that didn’t take the points forward. Using awful quotes from men rather than the narratives of the women in question. Good use of similarities of challenges women faced around the world, however not explored to a degree that lead to greater understanding. Good effort, poor execution.

[Sinéad Curley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why would the author call out the limitations of her knowledge, and rather than work to expand the scope of the book, still name it a History of a Women when so much is left out? I found the topics superficial and lacking intersectionality. Mentions a female Israeli prime minister, but nothing about Palestinian women. Mentions a Gucci Feminist T-shirt but doesn't discuss clothing factory working conditions. Talks about Coco Chanel without mentioning her connections to the Nazis.

[TheSalmaZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a solid introduction into many issues surrounding women and their history. However, it is very much just that - an introduction. I wish we went into more detail and I wish we learnt more about the stories of these women, but it does tell you in the introduction that this will introduce topics for your own further research, and it definitely fulfilled that promise.

[Jodie Cotgreave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and with a broad scope of objects, from the oppressive to the empowering. Very insightful and a great book to dip into a chapter at a time.

[Lace]

This book does its job in conveying important objects of the history of women, but at times it felt drawn out, and at other times they cut the descriptions short.

[andreea. · Rating 3 out of 5]

.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF