Read, reblog, and resonate!
The thing about Equal Rites is, it's not just a book about how girls can do anything boys can do, and the only thing trying to stop her is meanie old men. It's about how girls can do anything boys can do, I suppose, if she really must, though I* can't see why she wants to.
It's about shaking off gender essentialism, not deciding who someone can and can't be as soon as you see their newborn baby genitals, and adults not telling kids to be who they "should" be instead of who they really are... while also being really super clear that the traditionally male-dominated path isn't inherently better, it's just better paid.
It explores Granny's position of trying to hold Esk back from becoming a wizard, stemming not from thinking that girls aren't smart enough or that they should only be wives and mothers, but from a contempt for the flashy and self-important ways of wizards and belief that the more domestic and practical sphere of witchcraft is more important and better. It's a pretty accurate depiction of the way some older women enforcing gender roles think.
I suppose the book is more of a critique of the whole women's intuition/men's intelligence nonsense dichotomy, as well as a reminder not to cling too eagerly to the patriarchy's priorities in the search for equality.
Men aren't better at "jommetry" than women. But "jommetry" isn't more difficult or important than Granny Weatherwax's practical, rural skills - herbcraft, midwifery, caring for and understanding goats and bees, managing people, and so on.
Sir Terry never got on with the assembly lines of formal education, which is probably an important thing to bear in mind when reading this book.
*Granny Weatherwax
Rereading Equal Rites and I love how the old wizard is just like
*hands newborn baby ominous magical staff with carvings that hide untold secrets
*doesn't elaborate
*fucking dies
There is a reason it takes two .
Abuse is powerful
And is on the rise
But what really
Tears up my eyes
Is ignorant parents
Who can’t see the damage
That Themselves are inflicting
To the person thier promise
Their cherish.
Out of spite ,
Not for love,
Just to cause a stupid fight
All for some petty right .
A child needs both parents
For respect and order .
I was raised by a single mother
And I adore her.
But to many parents
Put up the fight
To know it will all
end in just heart ache
It’s not fair
Nor right.
The damage you think
Is a game and a laugh
When it’s
Caused to your child’s
Other half
But your soon point the finger
When the painted picture
Comes crashing down
And all will be told
Of the child
of a
Spiteful other.
Please just
Think of how your child’s life could of been told
By the other
Story teller .
@trueemotions91