Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Hags
- The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women
- Narrated by: Victoria Smith
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
'Devastating and clever' BEL MOONEY, DAILY MAIL
'Could not be more necessary' RACHEL COOKE, OBSERVER
What is about women in their forties and beyond that seems to enrage - almost everyone?
In the last few years, as identity politics have taken hold, middle-aged women have found themselves talked and written about as morally inferior beings: the face of bigotry, entitlement and selfishness, to be ignored, pitied or abused.
In Hags, Victoria Smith asks why these women are treated with such active disdain. Each chapter takes a different theme - care work, beauty, violence, political organization, sex - and explores it in relation to middle-aged women's beliefs, bodies, histories and choices. Smith traces the attitudes she describes through history, and explores the very specific reasons why this type of misogyny is so very now. The result is a book that is absorbing, insightful, witty and bang on time.
What listeners say about Hags
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- katie williams
- 11-07-24
Why the voices of older women are often ignored. Interesting and accessible.
Enjoyed the way the author narrated this relatable book. Full of really intetesting ideas for women of all ages to contemplate.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JA Rosser
- 07-07-23
Wonderful piece of work
Such a powerful argument. I’m a man who has always tried to be a good feminist, but I’ve definitely fallen into some of the traps Smith discusses here and I’m glad she has been able to put me right. I think anyone who is prepared to dive into this book will come out a better feminist than they were before.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lizzy h
- 30-03-23
The demonisation of midle aged women
This book explores how society marginalises and demonises older women. Links to current events.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mrs Tanya Card
- 30-07-23
The moment I recognised myself
This is such an important book. Do I only think it's important because I am now an invisible middle-aged hag? Maybe, but I like to think that if it had been recommended to me in one of my younger incarnations of feminism, I would have read it and not dismissed it.
I plan to pass it on to some of the younger women I know...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ellie
- 11-05-23
Important book
Brilliant and important book I will be recommending and gifting to the other hags in my life.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ms. Kathleen A. Ritchie
- 05-10-23
Food for thought.
I found bits of the book interesting but also found the narrators voice quite wearing unfortunately.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- dm
- 21-10-23
Well researched and written
Very well written and now that I have listened feel like I need to read it also. All women should read this.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- elizabeth tomlinson
- 14-03-24
Brilliant. Sadly this book makes so much sense.
This extremely perceptive book explains much about the lot of women, not least the divide and rule tactics of the patriarchy that so many of us, including myself, fell prey to when younger.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MommaBear
- 03-03-23
Saying Out Loud....
Listened to this once so far but will be listening to it a few more times to take in everything but just wanted to say it was wonderful to read 'out loud' what am sure most of us 'Hags' have thought as we hit 'haghood'. Young women should read/listen to this and at least take note of what is said even if they feel like the author when she was younger that what is being said is not applicable to them. An honest and open book - don't want to say too much and spoil it for others. I think all men should be made to read this as well - some will of course still look at older women with disgust and waste of space but hopefully some will realise their mums and other older females in their lives still have plenty to offer them and everyone.
Listening to another book to cleanse the palate and then will give it a second listen and will update this review if I feel I can add to it.
This old 'Hag' definitely recommends it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Irene
- 01-06-23
A timely study of the real life of women
Hugely important. Victoria Smith succinctly and painfully reminds women of a certain age of how they too once thought they could escape the fate of their elders, as well as being hugely empathetic and supportive to the next generation of young women when history inevitably repeats itself.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful