Re: political correctness according to Hugo de Garis

Kathryn Aegis (aegis@igc.apc.org)
Sun, 5 Jan 1997 19:11:29 +0000


In re Guru George's request for historical references: I think that the
best books about female humans who influenced history are yet to come,
because of the increased number of female historians completing their
degrees and moving into positions that will enable them to research and
publish books.

That having been said, I found a reference to a book that sounds
really interesting: _Hypatia's Heritage: A History of Women in
Science from Antiquity to the Late 19th Century_ by Margaret Alic,
The Women's Press, London 1986.

There is a new book out (heard a radio interview with the author
but her name escapes me) about the women in Caius Caesar's life.
Apparantly he was attracted to highly intelligent females and
thought Cleopatra had a sexy brain.

Riane Eisler compiled a lot of scattered historical references into _The
Chalice and the Blade_, but her focus is more sociological.

I find myself often referring to _Womanwords_ by Jane Mills, in which
she traces the historical entymology of all words relating to women.
(Words listed relating to intelligent women: bluestocking, governess,
midwife, spinster, witch)

Sin,

Kathryn Aegis