Tbf, this what I expected, regardless of gender. I think people don't understand exactly what it is we do and often think historian = reads lots of books. However, my sense is that women get a bit more of this than men.
Hallie Rubenhold
@hallierubenhold.bsky.social
11543 Followers
449 Following
Author of The Five, historian and a bit of TV. Story of A Murder: The Wives, The Mistress and Dr Crippen’s Crime of the Century on bookshelves March 2025. https://linktr.ee/hallierubenhold
-
-
No, I do more than read books about history, I actually analyse and write about the past. Honestly, I do wonder if male historians get this. Asking truthfully, if you’re a man and a historian has anyone ever dismissed your expertise out of hand to your actual face?
-
There’s a whole lot to unpack here. I sometimes find that being a professional historian does not register as an actual job in some people’s minds. The response is often something like “yeah, I’ve read a lot of books too” or “I’m interested in history too”.
-
Occasionally, I’m reminded that as a woman and a historian I’m not to be taken seriously. Recently, someone mansplained to me that women were called a variety of rude things in the past. Me: yes, I know, I’ve literally written books about this. Man: anyway, did you know women were called harlots?
-
I’ve not watched any of Yellowstone, just these few episodes of 1883, and I think I’ve got the measure of the whole enterprise.
-
And when I say “gypsy clothing” I mean full Halloween costume style - necklaces, rings, jewellery, scarves and bare shoulders, just crossing the frontier as you do. Zero nuance in this. But who needs nuance when the “immigrants” are there to make the American characters look strong and courageous.
-
I’m 5 episodes in and miraculously they’re all now speaking fluent English. I really want to stop watching this series but I can’t. It’s that bad.
-
So, I’ve finally started watching 1883, the Yellowstone prequel. Wow, do the makers of that hate Central European immigrants. Apparently they’re all from rural “Germany” but no one can shoot, ride a horse or swim. They have no survival skills and wear gypsy clothing. 🤦♀️
-
I’m so glad! Thank you.
-
🔥 Huge thanks to @hallierubenhold.bsky.social for today’s second rage – the spark that started this podcast! 🎙️ “Jack the Ripper – Who the F*** Cares?” 🕵️♂️🚫🔪 Victorian ‘prostitution’, middle-class victims & why the killer’s ID doesn’t matter. 🎧 Patreon Oct 🍂 #HistoryRage #TrueCrimeMyths
