This book was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, there was a lot of information and so I definitely learned a lot. I also appreciated some of the commentary, like how the author pointed out that some of the stories were likely very similar because they were well known enough that people would’ve read them and reused them for sympathy in the case of getting caught. The way the book was organized is where it got a bit shaky because on the one hand, a lot of information and circumstances were covered, but on the other it started to feel like a long list of cases with very little information. There is often very little known, but I guess I think it would’ve been better if there was more work put into the summarizing and commentary aspects to make things feel more put together.

The book was interesting: both informative and intriguing, but on the other hand, it only showed the Western point of view.

A History of Women in Men's Clothes is a monograph on the socioeconomic and historical implications of gender based clothing and the implications for women crossing the "gender barrier". Due out 30th Aug 2021 from Pen & Sword, it's 216 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a meticulously researched and well written work which apparently came about from the author's research for a related project and covers a wide ranging and fascinating cross section of women who, through choice or necessity, used clothing and presentations traditionally reserved for men of the period. The introductory notes were fascinating and I recommend them highly. The author explains some of her methodology (with applicability to other queries and of undeniable usefulness to readers and researchers in other fields). Terminology/gender/pronouns are explained in the introduction as well and the author's choice of where and when to employ specific terms are explained clearly and logically.

The chapters are organised thematically and cover the reasons that women have chosen to dress and/or represent as men and include working conditions, protest, disinclination to conform to societal norms (and what the repercussions might've been). Although it's a layman accessible volume and the language throughout is understandable and engaging, it is rigorously annotated and the chapter notes and bibliography provide fertile material for readers to investigate further.

The book includes a number of photographs and facsimiles of drawings and news articles from the past with occasional background info or glimpses into a long vanished time. It would make a good selection for public or university library acquisition as well as support text for allied subjects such as gender studies. Fascinating stories from the past, well told.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A great intro to this aspect of history from a very Western standpoint. If a person was new to this topic, A History of Women in Men's Clothes would be a fantastic introduction to the perceptions and dominant beliefs and motivations behind this element of feminist, lesbian and transgender history. However, I did think that this book lacked some academic vigour which is why it got a lower star rating. As an undergrad historian, I was slightly disappointed but overall very good if you're new to the topic or are into popular history as a genre.

Such a fabulous book. It was informative and intriguing in equal measure.
A thoroughly researched topic that was very eye opening.

I have a weird obsession? fascination? with the history of women's clothes and why we never have pockets. It started with some podcasts and has now apparently spread to reading nonfiction books on the subject. While there wasn't much in here that I didn't already know about how fashion spread and changed, it would make a good starting point for anyone who might be questioning how and why clothes are the way they are.

Thanks to #NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of #AHistoryofWomeninMensClothes in exchange for the review.

I was unsure what to expect from this negalley book. It is to be published by Pen and Sword and I have reviewed a few titles by them with related themes, including "We Also Served" by Vivien Newman. A very small amount of material is shared between both books.

This book reflects an extensive research into newspaper accounts of the 19th century in the UK, and to a lesser extent other Anglophone countries and some European ones. However, as a social history it does not seem complete. This is because so often the newspaper articles are the only evidence of the existence for a long or short period of time for the ladies who cross dressed. There is no evidence of the before or after life. What caused the woman to cross dress was it economic necessity? Was it social? Was it sexual? Was it just a lark? The author tries to address these issues but is dealing with such limited material it is difficult.

The book concentrates on women being dressed as men. There is no balancing comment about how many men dressed as women. This is in itself is a useful social comment, how many men would wish to become a member of the fairer sex and second class citizen?

I am not sure who the book will appeal to. I feel it is not analytical enough for a university library and I am not sure if the format lends itself to being a book to pick up and read. I feel it would have benefited from a chapter on the different types of trousers eg: bloomers, pantaloons, knickerbockers, skirts or aprons over tights with pictures of these. There was an attempt to group together different reasons for adopting male attire but in reality I feel an economic reason could develop into love/arrangement of necessity as time went by, and so the use of these examples sometimes felt either like a list of examples or a judgement, which did not agree with my reading of the few facts which we could relate to.

In the e-book there are pictures at the end of the book. These would be useful in many cases if they were placed as part of the chapter headings.

I saw this pop up on Netgalley and was intrigued by its premise, as I've never seen a book about this subject, and now I am even more curious about the people who appear in this book as Norena Shopland brings them to life and our attention for the first time.

Informative and interesting, I also appreciated how Shopland reintroduced different case studies, but not in a way that is repetitive but reminiscent to take us back to previous moments in the book - something I find often happens in non fiction, however Shopland crafts this book incredibly well and keeps you fascinated from beginning to end.

A really intriguing and interesting book that explores the stories of women from across the world, Shopland really has delved deep to share the stories of the people who appear in this book. I feel so fortunate that now, it doesn't matter who gets to wear the trousers.

4*

(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).

This book is a good look into the lives of the thousands of women across history in Europe and North America who adopted male clothes and/ or mannerisms for some period of time. It details many of the reasons why these things were often necessary, as well as touching on a few of the individuals who simply wanted to dress that way for personal affirmation. As a collection of historical anecdotes, it's very well researched and informative, though there seemed to be very little connective theory, or points made in regards to a larger theme. While I enjoyed reading about all of these people individually, I found myself wondering how much of their stories' content is relevant to today, and would have enjoyed having more context for some of the topics that were discussed.

This book is hilarious and horrifying. Did you know that women were banned in France from wearing trousers? If they wanted to wear “male” clothing they had to apply to the police and pay for a permit. The ban was overturned in… 2013!

The whole book is full of maddening little anecdotes about the way society treated (and still treats) women who deviate from societal expectations. At times, all you can do is to laugh to stop yourself crying. The book sometimes feels like a catalogue of Fragile Masculinity – as men of the age rage against women encroaching into “their” territory”. The fear that a woman might to as good a job as a man – as an employee or as a lover – is seen as an existential threat which must be crushed.

It is difficult to place modern attitudes on historic figures. Our notions of people’s gender and sexuality don’t always fit with how they thought of themselves. Are these “gal-pals” or lesbians? Is this person wearing men’s clothes out of economic necessity or because they are Trans? We can’t ever know their lived experience, but the author uses great care and sensitivity to describe all those involved.

Because the book is drawn from contemporary news reports, it can get a little repetitive. Tiny glimpses of a life told through a paragraph in a provincial newspaper. But it only serves to reinforce the message that women have always worn men’s clothes. And almost always been subject to ridicule or punishment for it.

The book mostly draws from English-language reports, so is firmly tied to the Anglosphere – with occasional forays into France, Germany, and China. It is meticulously referenced, and contains some images of news cuttings to peruse.

Much like Miranda Kaufmann “Black Tudors”, it is a fascinating book which uncovers a facet of history which is often conveniently ignored.

You've all heard the phrase, "Who wears the trousers?".

The answer to that is Women, whether they were allowed to or not.

A History of Women in Mens Clothes delves into the thousands of Women who history swept under the rug for carrying out their own forms of protest by forcing their way into a Mans world and refusing to be defined by their biology.

Some Women had to do this, to escape abuse and danger, others because they were finding who they are, others just because they could.

Easy to read, informative and a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about womens history.