Oh, Ann. I am so honored. Every word I wrote can be magnified countless times. You were one of my first two paid subscribers. What that means is incalculable: in a lifetime of writing, I had never been paid as a writer. I deeply appreciate your kind and generous comments not only on my work, but on that of the many writers who are lifted by your words. And, most importantly, thank you for your posts!
That is lovely to hear, Mary. I know exactly what you mean about being paid as a writer - when my first article was published in the TLS in 2017 I was walking on air. Substack offers a whole new set of opportunities for creative work, and I'm very glad of it - and honestly, I love your and others' writing, so it's a great pleasure to share my enthusiasm with others!
Hi Ann, I'm enjoying reading your articles very much. You are just my cup of tea. I write about books (what I'm reading, etc), I'm working on a few essays and am researching several 19th-century English women who were forgotten. I fall into a lot of rabbit holes. Have a good weekend.
Good to hear from you, Despina, and thank you. Very glad that we are exploring similar rabbit holes! I have enjoyed your writing too, especially about Isabella Bird, a fascinating travel writer.
I find a particular distinction you’ve made rather interesting- the concept that women of Cambridge created their own space in a male-dominated environment that they were otherwise excluded from. That thought alone exists in massive contrast to how I was introduced to female leadership.
My mother was a pioneer in her own right, she’d made her way through college and entered the career force in Philadelphia in the 1960s all on her own. An accomplishment, no doubt. It’s my own opinion, but I see that my mother, like many women in the U.S., learned how to become “the man” rather than creating a female space or have even enough female colleagues to build business skills that aren’t only aligned with male executive processes. But you know what, it worked for my mother, and it led her to a lucrative career.
My mother became a manager, and eventually I did also. Her field was communications in a corporate setting, mine was in healthcare, which is also terribly corporate here. My point: I, too, learned to become the man. And it surely led to a lucrative career. But you know what, it didn’t work for me. And I believe I knew that would happen from childhood. I didn’t like that my mother used specific bras and underwear to minimize her figure, become flat, as she’d explain. I didn’t understand why she wanted to look like Twiggy. Or why we didn’t talk about emotional stuff or cry together, although that I attributed to being raised Irish Catholic. I see it all now, and I understand the how and why, but it all remains upsetting to me nonetheless.
I wish I had had more women for women in my circle, teaching me how not to just put on your corporate cap and get the day done. Shut those emotions down, having too many ideas seems rude or idealistic, firm handshake with the guy who makes your job a hell-of-a-lot harder. All this rather than productive discussion or scheming for change with like-minded women. It was infuriating that I found myself in a situation where I was part of female leadership, which was was abundant within my company, and we all sounded like “the man.” At least in meetings. At least when our jobs relied on it. We’re replaceable, don’t forget. Much easier than finding another person with all super-specific qualifications to make the company the most money. Ah! What a world. It’s not for nothing though, as I left that job and decided to hack my own path for a while. It’s taken me to new depths of myself I didn’t previously know how to access, understand or appreciate. I know I’m glad to have this online resource to read and connect with words and stories of those who chose to hack their own path with tools of their own design.
Well, Ann, I can certainly say your work struck a chord with me! I appreciate you taking the time to share your research and insights, and look forward to reading more from you!
Thank you Maura, for your thoughtful and thought-provoking comments. I hope you will turn it into a post of your own, as I think it would resonate with many readers. Your mum sounds like an amazing woman, forging a great career for herself in the 1960s - and it sounds as if you were very influenced by her pioneering spirit, but are also in the process of deciding what is right for you, which is the most important thing. Very glad that the women I'm writing about have struck a chord with you, and thanks again for your kind words.
Gosh, I feel at home. I just found you from a recommendation from @winterdumas. I've just joined Substack and think I'll have a lot of reading here from your posts. So glad to be here.
Thanks Jo! I love that Corpus and other colleges are now celebrating forty year anniversaries of going mixed (after resisting it for years). It sounds like a fun & very interesting weekend, well done on being one of the Corpus women highlighted. Will be interested to hear more!
I've been connected to Cambridge for most of my adult life, but finally ran away west ten years ago. It's lovely to read about the literary and feminist aspect of the town - I read aloud (on Whatsapp) to a friend who has problems sleeping, and we have recently finished two linked books about the same sort of era, set in The Other Place. They are 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' and 'The Bookbinder of Jericho ' by Pip Williams...well worth a read.
And I agree about 'The Gate of Angels,' which I've always loved. And Kettles Yard, sorely missed...
though the west coast of Wales has other fab things to recommend it...
Love your work. I think you should know that when I was studying in the U.K. in the '80s, I bought a secondhand dress in Cambridge that belonged to Mrs. John Maynard Keynes. I don't know her first name or anything else about her, but she had a tiny waist and very good taste.
Oh, Ann. I am so honored. Every word I wrote can be magnified countless times. You were one of my first two paid subscribers. What that means is incalculable: in a lifetime of writing, I had never been paid as a writer. I deeply appreciate your kind and generous comments not only on my work, but on that of the many writers who are lifted by your words. And, most importantly, thank you for your posts!
That is lovely to hear, Mary. I know exactly what you mean about being paid as a writer - when my first article was published in the TLS in 2017 I was walking on air. Substack offers a whole new set of opportunities for creative work, and I'm very glad of it - and honestly, I love your and others' writing, so it's a great pleasure to share my enthusiasm with others!
Hi Ann, I'm enjoying reading your articles very much. You are just my cup of tea. I write about books (what I'm reading, etc), I'm working on a few essays and am researching several 19th-century English women who were forgotten. I fall into a lot of rabbit holes. Have a good weekend.
Good to hear from you, Despina, and thank you. Very glad that we are exploring similar rabbit holes! I have enjoyed your writing too, especially about Isabella Bird, a fascinating travel writer.
Hi Ann, thanks for the lovely read!
I find a particular distinction you’ve made rather interesting- the concept that women of Cambridge created their own space in a male-dominated environment that they were otherwise excluded from. That thought alone exists in massive contrast to how I was introduced to female leadership.
My mother was a pioneer in her own right, she’d made her way through college and entered the career force in Philadelphia in the 1960s all on her own. An accomplishment, no doubt. It’s my own opinion, but I see that my mother, like many women in the U.S., learned how to become “the man” rather than creating a female space or have even enough female colleagues to build business skills that aren’t only aligned with male executive processes. But you know what, it worked for my mother, and it led her to a lucrative career.
My mother became a manager, and eventually I did also. Her field was communications in a corporate setting, mine was in healthcare, which is also terribly corporate here. My point: I, too, learned to become the man. And it surely led to a lucrative career. But you know what, it didn’t work for me. And I believe I knew that would happen from childhood. I didn’t like that my mother used specific bras and underwear to minimize her figure, become flat, as she’d explain. I didn’t understand why she wanted to look like Twiggy. Or why we didn’t talk about emotional stuff or cry together, although that I attributed to being raised Irish Catholic. I see it all now, and I understand the how and why, but it all remains upsetting to me nonetheless.
I wish I had had more women for women in my circle, teaching me how not to just put on your corporate cap and get the day done. Shut those emotions down, having too many ideas seems rude or idealistic, firm handshake with the guy who makes your job a hell-of-a-lot harder. All this rather than productive discussion or scheming for change with like-minded women. It was infuriating that I found myself in a situation where I was part of female leadership, which was was abundant within my company, and we all sounded like “the man.” At least in meetings. At least when our jobs relied on it. We’re replaceable, don’t forget. Much easier than finding another person with all super-specific qualifications to make the company the most money. Ah! What a world. It’s not for nothing though, as I left that job and decided to hack my own path for a while. It’s taken me to new depths of myself I didn’t previously know how to access, understand or appreciate. I know I’m glad to have this online resource to read and connect with words and stories of those who chose to hack their own path with tools of their own design.
Well, Ann, I can certainly say your work struck a chord with me! I appreciate you taking the time to share your research and insights, and look forward to reading more from you!
Thank you Maura, for your thoughtful and thought-provoking comments. I hope you will turn it into a post of your own, as I think it would resonate with many readers. Your mum sounds like an amazing woman, forging a great career for herself in the 1960s - and it sounds as if you were very influenced by her pioneering spirit, but are also in the process of deciding what is right for you, which is the most important thing. Very glad that the women I'm writing about have struck a chord with you, and thanks again for your kind words.
Gosh, I feel at home. I just found you from a recommendation from @winterdumas. I've just joined Substack and think I'll have a lot of reading here from your posts. So glad to be here.
Thank you, what a lovely compliment - 'I feel at home'. Welcome to Substack and hope you enjoy all the interesting stuff here!
So interesting to read your story - and did you know Corpus is celebrating 40 years of women this year? The college was largely funded at the beginning by an endowment from Margaret Andrew. I’m attending a celebration weekend of this in March - https://corpus-christi-college.shorthandstories.com/forty-years-on-women-of-corpus/index.html
Thanks Jo! I love that Corpus and other colleges are now celebrating forty year anniversaries of going mixed (after resisting it for years). It sounds like a fun & very interesting weekend, well done on being one of the Corpus women highlighted. Will be interested to hear more!
I've been connected to Cambridge for most of my adult life, but finally ran away west ten years ago. It's lovely to read about the literary and feminist aspect of the town - I read aloud (on Whatsapp) to a friend who has problems sleeping, and we have recently finished two linked books about the same sort of era, set in The Other Place. They are 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' and 'The Bookbinder of Jericho ' by Pip Williams...well worth a read.
And I agree about 'The Gate of Angels,' which I've always loved. And Kettles Yard, sorely missed...
though the west coast of Wales has other fab things to recommend it...
Love your work. I think you should know that when I was studying in the U.K. in the '80s, I bought a secondhand dress in Cambridge that belonged to Mrs. John Maynard Keynes. I don't know her first name or anything else about her, but she had a tiny waist and very good taste.
The new name is wonderful, Ann!! I love it so much.