French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Gargam & B. Lançon, History of Misogyny from Antiquity to the Present Day
History, Politics and Society

Adeline Gargam & Bertrand Lançon, History of Misogyny from Antiquity to the Present Day

Paris : Arkhê, "Women's History" series, 2013.

EAN 9782918682226.

Publisher's description:

This history of misogyny aims to be an archaeology of contempt—specifically, the contempt for women and femininity as expressed in Europe since early antiquity. Its subject is not women and femininity as such, but rather the grim reality of the derogatory views directed at them. These views are those of men; they are deeply embedded in mindsets through language, theories, beliefs, and the law. Thus, the vectors of misogyny are primarily mythographers, poets, physicians, philosophers, and writers, but also clergymen, politicians, and jurists. Like any archaeology, this book defines an excavation site—Europe—and undertakes a stratigraphic survey of texts from antiquity to the 20th century. Misogyny is expressed through deeply rooted, inherited, and endlessly repeated themes. But does it stem solely from this European culture? Is it an inherent part of masculinity? Shaped by the age-old patriarchal model? If so, could the decline of the latter lead to the eradication of a misogyny once thought invulnerable? These are the questions this book attempts to answer.

Published by Arkhê in their Women's History series, this volume traces the long-standing tradition of hostility directed against women across European civilization. The authors examine how derogatory attitudes were formulated and perpetuated by influential figures such as poets, philosophers, jurists, and scientists. By treating misogyny as a persistent cultural artifact embedded within language, law, and shared beliefs, the work moves beyond isolated instances of prejudice to reveal a structured system of thought. This stratigraphic approach allows readers to observe how ancient and medieval topoi regarding female inferiority were systematically adapted and transmitted through successive centuries.

Rooted in historical inquiry and cultural analysis, the study addresses fundamental questions concerning the origins of patriarchal structures and the potential for their dissolution. It serves as a valuable resource for students and scholars of gender studies, intellectual history, and European culture who wish to understand the theoretical and institutional mechanisms of sexism. By interrogating whether contempt is an intrinsic component of masculinity or a historically contingent construct, the authors invite a critical reassessment of the foundations upon which modern societal norms and power dynamics continue to rest.