Off with Her Head

What a well written book this was. I don't wanna call it wonderful or great though because even the fact that the author had to write this book, and it all felt so familiar is awful in itself. The author does a brilliant job detailing all of the misogynistic tropes that have been leveled across centuries on powerful women, those who've had ambition, those who've tried to do something other than what they had been relegated to by the patriarchy - and right from ancient Egyptian queens to current American political leaders, it's astonishing that the tropes and insults haven't changed much, but the mostly misogynistic men who are leveling these allegations would never agree that they are being sexist and just can't tolerate a woman in a position of power, whose words they might have to listen to. Each chapter here is an in-depth view of one of the historical tropes that has been a part of a misogynist's playbook, which continue on to today, and have gained more traction due to the power of social media - and it's both heartbreaking to read the various ways in which many powerful women across continents and centuries have been vilified, and rage inducing to see it continue today and even become a very effective tool in scaring away any prospective young leaders in making. The author does end the book with the hope that we might be able to fight back against this incessant misogyny as more women enter politics and other positions of power across the board, but I just feel bleak and sad and angry and helpless. Nevertheless, this is definitely worth a read, and may help some understand the difference between legitimate criticism of a woman leader, and a misogynistic backlash.