Women: Down Through the Ages by Jerry Schaefer

Women: Down Through the Ages by Jerry Schaefer is a sweeping, millennia-spanning study of how women have been categorically, intentionally, and cruelly excluded as equals in society. Whereas women were once revered as life bringers, worshipped as goddesses, and deferred to in matters of leadership, which drastically changed over the course of the past 2,500 years, this book outlines how and why that evolutionary regression took place.

In a raw and brutally honest historical review, Schaefer addresses a laundry list of areas where women have been forbidden from progress – from religious customs that have metastasized to define social and familial roles, to the violence, political manipulation, and fear tactics that have been employed to maintain patriarchal control. Schaefer holds nothing back, relying on historical records, scientific research, and keen observations to showcase the huge shift that occurred as “civilization” took hold.

The ideas in this book are fascinating and the arguments are well-structured, but the execution and the writing itself have some flaws. An excess of subsections makes the prose feel somewhat tangential and disjointed, and while the author writes with great authority, some of the claims would benefit from further references, footnotes, or citations. The writing is also overly informal at times – sweeping generalizations, a lack of nuance, and unsubstantiated claims can undercut the author’s credibility, though the majority of the book appears accurate and well-sourced.

A last editing sweep to sharpen some of the rushed moments would make this powerfully penned and empowering book even more impactful, but as it stands this is an illuminating examination of a vitally important topic.