Lineages of the Feminine

‘Todd brings his immense learning to bear on current understandings of the position of women in different parts of the world, with a particular focus on contemporary feminist positions in the West. What is original in his analysis is the way he brings his longue durée anthropological approach to bear on cultural representations of gender. He integrates the analysis of family and kinship with the status of women over ten thousand years. He shows that the post-industrial revolution coincided with the emancipation of women and an elevation of their status, but with freedom and emancipation, women confront a world in disarray and develop new anxieties. It is hard to think of another scholar with Todd’s range, command of detail and breadth of reading. This is an important book, one which will be studied and debated for years to come.’ David Sabean, Distinguished Professor of European History and the Henry J. Bruman Chair in German History, Emeritus, at UCLA ‘Lineages of the Feminine is a tour de force of thinking outside the box, adroitly grounded in historical anthropology and demography. The author’s deep knowledge of the history of family forms and relationships empowers him to open new debates about current social predicaments.’ Kenneth Wachter, Emeritus Professor of Demography and Statistics, University of California, Berkeley