Women's Roles

[gen_g]

We are all made differently, whether male or female. There are women who are very brave and curious about their ambitions. So these women will try to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

I don't think that there is a correlation between a difference in sex and one's own sense of worth/value.

[Bukari]

Oh! That is right, but we all know the public's notion about gender.

[FictionLover]

One of the things I liked about Linnea Tanner's novel is the portrayal of strong women. What is more, there are both positive and negative female characters such as Catrin, Queen Rhiannon, Vala, Mor or Rhan.

What do you think of their roles in the novel?
Is there any difference between the way Celts and Romans saw women and their roles?
Was the Celtic system genuinely promoting gender equality or not?

I think in the book the Celtic woman had more rights and were looked at as having talents and usefulness by the society. More so than the Romans.

However, I agree with others that this could have been exaggerated and not based on history

[Poppy Drear]

I can't say I have an educated opinion on the historical roles of women in both cultures, but while we're on the topic, I'd like to point out that women tend to write men and women as having approximately equal importance to the story, while men write male characters as having more importance. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have a fantasy or other traditionally male-dominated genre (e.g. sci-fi) book where the female characters are most important? Every time a book with one or more strong female leads becomes otherwise dominated by the male characters, I'm disappointed...

[FilmStar]

I hated reading about the inferiority of the women in the book. I'm glad that Catrin was beyond that and made her own path.

[TessaC]

I love books with strong woman. Island woman are always strong. Look at my Irish Grannie! I appreciate all the strong women in this book

[gen_g]

I can't say I have an educated opinion on the historical roles of women in both cultures, but while we're on the topic, I'd like to point out that women tend to write men and women as having approximately equal importance to the story, while men write male characters as having more importance. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have a fantasy or other traditionally male-dominated genre (e.g. sci-fi) book where the female characters are most important? Every time a book with one or more strong female leads becomes otherwise dominated by the male characters, I'm disappointed...

Oh I totally agree! It actually reminds me of the various horrors that have surfaced when people quoted male writers describing the female body/communication according to male sexual fantasy...

[ObsessedBookNerd]

I think one of the only good things about this book was that it sometimes showed strong female characters, but then the character would be the complete opposite like it was a whole different character which made the story confusing.

[Sahani Nimandra]

It's really admirable that the author gives a main priority to women (not to put the men in the edge). It really brings out the power and abilities that women are capable off.

[Sahani Nimandra]

It's really admirable that the author gives a main priority to women (not to put the men in the edge). It really brings out the power and abilities that women are capable off.

[Kibet Hillary]

This book, given the setting, almost sounds hard to believe that some societies had advanced so much to a point of treating women equally as men. However, some flaws such as the marriages to foster political relations cannot be underlooked, on the Celtic side. I think if this is the inequality they had, then this was quite remarkable.

[Kibet Hillary]

I can't say I have an educated opinion on the historical roles of women in both cultures, but while we're on the topic, I'd like to point out that women tend to write men and women as having approximately equal importance to the story, while men write male characters as having more importance. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have a fantasy or other traditionally male-dominated genre (e.g. sci-fi) book where the female characters are most important? Every time a book with one or more strong female leads becomes otherwise dominated by the male characters, I'm disappointed...

This is true. It is a nice observation that is normally ignored and yet it happens in almost every work that men write, where it seems men dominate a lot. Women are given are a secondary role. However, this is changing though at a slow pace.

[Kibet Hillary]

One of the things I liked about Linnea Tanner's novel is the portrayal of strong women. What is more, there are both positive and negative female characters such as Catrin, Queen Rhiannon, Vala, Mor or Rhan.

What do you think of their roles in the novel?
Is there any difference between the way Celts and Romans saw women and their roles?
Was the Celtic system genuinely promoting gender equality or not?

I think in the book the Celtic woman had more rights and were looked at as having talents and usefulness by the society. More so than the Romans.

However, I agree with others that this could have been exaggerated and not based on history

Very, the Celtic system was a bit fair compared to the Roman system of treating women. I also doubt if this historical fact is true. Will have to look up on this.

[Valerius]

There has been a good demonstration about the impact of shared equality among both genders.
From the sample the Celt King really acknowledges his queen as being second in command. Also accords more respect and time in introducing his daughters as he does with his sons.
But the Roman's obviously stating their culture, were more interested in the well being of sons, since they were considered as rightful heirs.
It doesn't also fictionally portray women as saints, but highlights their frailty in the contrast of women characters in the book.

[FictionLover]

I can't say I have an educated opinion on the historical roles of women in both cultures, but while we're on the topic, I'd like to point out that women tend to write men and women as having approximately equal importance to the story, while men write male characters as having more importance. Wouldn't it be refreshing to have a fantasy or other traditionally male-dominated genre (e.g. sci-fi) book where the female characters are most important? Every time a book with one or more strong female leads becomes otherwise dominated by the male characters, I'm disappointed...

This is true. It is a nice observation that is normally ignored and yet it happens in almost every work that men write, where it seems men dominate a lot. Women are given are a secondary role. However, this is changing though at a slow pace.

Every year I attend a Comicon-like convention called DragonCon. A few years in a row I have sat in a panel about "Strong Female Characters". I was stunned to hear women state that their first TV 'role model' was Wonder Woman. -- A character written by a man, whose costume is basically a strapless bathing suit. Most were so thrilled to see a woman with power and strength they didn't care that she was portrayed as a leggy, buxom hottie with perfect hair and no flab.

Maybe women see themselves in the character, but all I see is someone who fights evil without any hosiery. Come on, even Superman gets to wear tights.

Things can't change fast enough for me.