Gender: A World History

by Susan Kingsley Kent

Gender exists in almost every society as a way of organizing its people. Gender is used to assign certain responsibilities, obligations, and privileges to some, and to deny them to others. In A World History , Susan Kingsley Kent tells the story of this seemingly simple but in fact quite complex concept. With historical perspective she critically examines our everyday understandings of women and men, masculinity and femininity, and sexual difference in general. Central to this account is the conviction that gender is neither natural nor innocent. What passes for masculinity and femininity in one society might not do so in another. Even the passing of time can change what gender looks like in a particular culture. Thinking about the history of gender can also shed light on other types of relations, such as those between a government and its people, between different social classes, and between a colony and its colonizer.

Ranging from prehistory to the present, this book presents a chronological picture of gender across the globe. From Hatshepsut and the rise of patriarchy in the ancient world, to the Bushido code of the samurai in wartime, to Susan B. Anthony and the women's rights movement in the United States, to the gay and trans rights movements of today, the force of gender in world history cannot be denied.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Gender, Social Science, Gender and Sexuality, Queer

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2020

Reviews

[Amelia Halgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook 3.5 stars

There’s plenty of good information here; I’d recommend this as an introductory overview of gender roles across the world. …But I was really hoping for a world history of gender *identity.*

The author does touch on a few cultures that don’t have binary ideas of gender identity. For example, Native American traditions of “two spirit peoples” and a few times and places where it was acceptable to have a fluid sexual identity (though that’s not strictly an issue of “gender identity” by today’s definitions). But I was curious to learn more about other cultures with a more fluid and flexible understanding of gender.

Subjects I know about slightly that I was hoping to learn more about but are NOT discussed:
— Cultures who have or had gods that are androgynous, multi-gendered or gender fluid.
— Indigenous cultures (including possibly the Maori) who didn’t have gendered pronouns prior to being invaded by Christian colonizers.
— Historical precedent in English for using a singular “they”
— Thai lady boys
— The Bacha Bazi tradition of sexually enslaving boys and forcing them to dress as girls
— The reasons behind Iran’s surprising government subsidized gender reassignment surgeries

Unfortunately this book only touches briefly on the subject of gender identity. The epilogue in particular discusses the current state of trans rights. But gender *identity* is in no way the primary focus.

Overall I enjoyed this book but was disappointed that it wasn’t I expected.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short history. The account of pre-history was not great, taking for granted a previous generation of historians’ starting point of egalitarian societies’ fall from grace into patriarchy rather than giving a more nuanced view of variously gendered and structured societies that trended towards patriarchy fitfully and with many exceptions supported by recent archaeological findings.

Still, the rest was good stuff.

[juulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Gender: A Very Brief World History" might be a more accurate title. Obviously gender history is an enormous topic to tackle, but this volume barely scratches the surface. The focus is very heavily on societies with a binary understanding of gender, and where Kent does discuss non-binary genders, it seems her intentions are good but the language is very outdated, especially considering the recent date of publication. Speaking of trans women in other cultures as men "dressing up as" or "choosing to be" women, being "not quite men and not quite women", and so on. I was hoping for so much more and really expected some discussion on trans and non-binary genders in different cultures.

[Syd (deertales) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Woof. I am glad this was only a 7 hour audiobook listen. It was informative and interesting, oscillating between being captivating and maybe a bit too lecture-y. But there was just.. .a lot of rape in it. And of course right, that makes sense. But still. A lot. Too much to actually be enjoyable as a learning experience.

[Ania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting with a good scope of societies and cultures included.

[Dani Hayman]

Read for Women and Gender in World History course

[Joshua]

Very educational but also brutal, what is up with men?

[daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Finally a book that provided me with concise, easy to read history and information regarding the concept of gender, all in chronological order. Insanely interesting, a wonderful introduction to the topic of gender in the context of history. As a person who was looking for a kind of work that would focus on how the idea changed throughout history, where certain concepts sprouted from etc., this was everything I wanted and more.

[Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I have learned one thing from this book, then it’s that people thought that women formed a sexual and corruptive threat to society solely due to their existence (this is a motif/theme that appears multiple times in this book). It’s quite an ambitious book covering the entirety of gender history in a worldwide context. Which is, in my opinion, also the main issue of this book. It seems like the societies and cultures selected in this book are mainly used for argumentative reasons without further reflection in other time periods. For example, the Islamic world is a main focus in one chapter, afterwards we don’t see any of those countries be treated in as much depth (except for Egypt in the feminism chapter). It’s a logical choice due to the fact that it is a small book (140 pages of reading), but there are definitely more opportunities for future gender world histories to treat more countries on a longue durée. Furthermore, I think that the author could’ve looked more critically at non-binary gender. Her utilisation of feminine and masculine (paradigm?) can become quite problematic when talking about people in the past, and especially when she writes about transpeople in the past. How did these people thought of themselves? Did biological men who dressed as women (for their religion) see themselves as women, men, trans, something in between or something transcending all these concepts?

Besides that, it’s a solid book that read very comfortably and also uses a lot of examples. Definitely a recommendation for all people interested in gender history and world history!

[Carey McCormack · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a great text for a course on gender throughout time, but it's less useful for a shorter time frame. Relying heavily on big history methods with some interesting case studies.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gender is not merely a dual entity but a multifaceted one. . . no less deserving of rights and dignity. ~ Susan Kingsley Kent

[WiktorCzytacz5372 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to 3/4 of the book so I think Im inclined to give my opinion on it, because I don't think there's a way for me to finish the thing while enjoying it.

The book tells the very vast history of gender and it's roles over course of diffrent centuries and places in the world, going through pretty much every continent, at least a little. Which I liked, I was hoping that the whole story wasn't going to be all eurocentric.

Where I take an issue with the book is that despite mentioning all these places in the world, with all of it's vast gender and culture, it was very binary. It just told the story of men and women, without much nuance. Which is dissapointing, because every nation, from the americas, through africa, to especially asia, had some interesting beliefs about gender. The only thing the author mentioned is the two-spirit people from northern america, but it was very brief.

Instead, the book focuses on telling how shitty women had it all throughout history, and some male ideals, and how they changed. Over and over again. And I don't want to diminish how badly women had it in history, it's actually very important to remember those things, but it gets very repetitive and it doesn't make for a very enjoyable or educational read. The author just tells the stories as they are, with little to no point to them, just to lay them out.

It's not a bad book by any means, but it was a big dissapointment. If one wants to learn about the roles of exclusivley men and women, most of the time just being taken aback by how terrible it was for women, this is the book for you.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part this book did fit my needs and meets the criteria of being as advertised: this was in fact a history that was serious about being global in scope and a historical survey of the topic of gender and how it has been understood through the ages. What we have here is a good introduction to gender studies and the social and cultural constructions of masculinity and femininity. I had personally hoped for a bit more in-depth information, but in trading breadth of locations and times covered Kent gave away room for deep dives.

full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...

[Amanda Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish anyone who undermines the history of misogyny could read this. I wish anybody who believes that gender roles are “natural” could read this. I wish that there had been some trigger warnings because the descriptions of sexual assault in the book are brutal. It contained a fairly good international variety, but at times felt a bit too cursory. I think it is a good text for someone who is wanting a quick overview of world history, but it could have been 50% longer, and still kept me very engaged.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, though it definitely focuses more on things such as masculinity and femininity and their use throughout history as well as the roles of men and women. There are some mentions of third genders as well as those that don't conform to the prescribed gender roles. I don't think that's anything negative on this book, however-- the idea of gender and the identities through history are far too extensive to cover within one book. Overall, this is a good look at the basics of the idea.

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zgadzam się z większością opinii o tej książce, że temat gender był tu tematem raczej pomocniczym niźli głównym. Rozumiem zamysł autorki, żeby opowiedzieć o historii z perspektywy gender, ale uważam że raczej była to książka o historii świata niż o normach społeczno-kulturowych. Zabrakło mi tu pogłębienia tematu, dla którego de facto sięgnęłam po tą książkę. Mimo wszystko uważam, że jest to wartościowa pozycja, tylko trzeba podejść do niej z innym nastawieniem.

[El Miron · Rating 3 out of 5]

ważna książka pokazująca na konkretnych przykładach w historii role kobiet i osoby tych ról niewykonujące, jednak nie było to bardzo pogłębione, nie było tłumaczenia szerszego jak to wiąże się z omawianym zjawiskiem

wielki plus dla tłumaczki, ponieważ książkę czytało się sprawnie, a jedyne co mnie raziło to używanie słowa "transwestyta" zamiast " kobieta transpłciowa"

[Magda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not easy read, rather depressing because of the content. It is not anything new, but if you have it as plain as day, in front of you that for thousands of years women got status only because they were mothers or sex objects - it sucks. Anyway, worth reading, helps to understand women's fears and appreciate that the situation has been changing.

[Olivia Dilas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to gender studies. I hoped for more in-depth information. Somewhat disappointed.

[Honour Harlowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have enjoyed more discussion on gender identity vs. Gender roles

[Dustless Walnut · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a great review of gender history, more a brief summary of how the ruling class has occasionally allotted power to women within their hereditary dynastic patriarchies through history.

[Dominic · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too much focus on individuals of power rather than large groups in societies for me.

[Alli Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic. An overview of each era’s two gender roles and expected behaviors, then a few people who went against the “norm.” Not much on any other historical aspects of gender.

[saadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

women around the world is a deeply special interest of mine and i think this book would make a fabulous introduction to anyone who cared

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I listened to this audio book for free with the Queer Liberation Library.)

Enjoyable and enlightening. I appreciated how the book talked about gender not just among Europeans/Americans but in other cultures as well. I would have appreciated more info about trans people.

[Leighana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warning: misogyny for basically all of human history

Really good. I learned a lot that I didn't know and loved how academic it was. It is definitely tough subject matter so I was truly gasping pretty frequently. The audiobook was great.