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Read an article today about a research that was recently done. It's in Swedish, so I guess there's no idea posting the link. Just summarize it. The research showed that in history books and in literature history books, if you make a list of all people mentioned in them, only between 7-15% of them are women.
Now, you may ask; isn't that because women weren't working or fighting in wars etc?
To some degree yes, but the truth is darker than that --- when history books were first printed, the authors actively chose not to include many women.
Why? Were these women of less importance?
No.
According to Dick Harrison, famous historian, there are many significant women in history that aren't mentioned. And when new history books are being written, the authors today keep on ignoring the women - even though research and facts provides many historical women. His conclusion is that the authors still today continue to actively choose to ignore them.
He says that there are many female faraos in Egypt that are never mentioned, and many queens. Especially those during the 6th century and up to 12th century. Many of these women ruled countries after their men (the kings) had died. So called "widow queens". But there were also many women working with natural science.
You might be surprised to hear that....
I was surprised. These are women that I should have heard of!!! Afterall, I've read enough courses in literature & literature history. And pedagogy. But I hadn't heard of any of them!
Now, you may ask; isn't that because women weren't working or fighting in wars etc?
To some degree yes, but the truth is darker than that --- when history books were first printed, the authors actively chose not to include many women.
Why? Were these women of less importance?
No.
According to Dick Harrison, famous historian, there are many significant women in history that aren't mentioned. And when new history books are being written, the authors today keep on ignoring the women - even though research and facts provides many historical women. His conclusion is that the authors still today continue to actively choose to ignore them.
He says that there are many female faraos in Egypt that are never mentioned, and many queens. Especially those during the 6th century and up to 12th century. Many of these women ruled countries after their men (the kings) had died. So called "widow queens". But there were also many women working with natural science.
You might be surprised to hear that....
- The world's first author & poet was a woman. Her name was Enheduanna. She was also head priestess in Ur. She lived between 2285-2250 BC.
- The world's first novel author was also a woman. Murasaki Shikibu from Kyoto. She lived 1000 years ago.
- Fatima al Fihri – Founded the world's first university (or madrasa) that still is running. She lived in Fes, Morocco 1200 years ago.
I was surprised. These are women that I should have heard of!!! Afterall, I've read enough courses in literature & literature history. And pedagogy. But I hadn't heard of any of them!