Lois 's Reviews > Anna of Denmark and Henrietta Maria: Virgins, Witches and Catholic Queens

This book pretends that virginity is a 'gender' rather than a social construct which seems to belittle actual transgender people who existed in this time as in every time.
Gender is also a social construct but not in the same way; virginity was used in this instance, like costuming. Elizabeth I wasn't a virgin, she cloaked herself in 'virginity' biblical style to rule over a misogynistic and patriarchal Court.
Much like Henry VIII wasn't actually a man of deep faith with a troubled conscience much less a protestant.
No, he cloaked himself in faith to manipulate the Court for his many divorces and remarriages. Certainly Elizabeth I's manipulation of 'virginity' is ingenious where Henry was just a murdering pig.
None the less I don't understand why not a thorough exploration of virginity and how this is mythologized in the form of the virgin Mary. A 'virgin' who gets pregnant and gives birth. Which is impossible as is the entire bullshit idea that a penis being inserted in a vagina changes anything. For either party.
The lowest point for me is the author's disregard of blatant racism which occurs more than 100 yrs after the chattel slave trade has started. Ignore that the pope and europe have deemed black skin to equal enslaved person. No this wasn't ingrained in law, that won't be for a further 70 years but the concept existed. The author admits both that the concept exists and that she has been warned this can't be removed from it's colonial context. Yet the author proceeds to do just that.
Here's the thing racism against black skin is still a thing. The idea that black skin is 'dirty' and can be 'cleaned' is still alive and active today. Not long ago a Chinese commercial with just this plot was broadcast and may still be broadcast.
England and it's colonialism is responsible for the concept that 'white' people exist and legislated them into existence. To ignore this to pretend that being black is like being a foreigner is wildly inaccurate and disrespectful.
This book is supposed to be a feminist look at these issues. Feminism has to address racism, even when it's uncomfortable and inconvenient.
To fail to do so is to engage in racism which is what this author ultimately does.
White feminism devalues to feminist movement as a whole.