This should be rights, I suppose, go in Spur Gen if it wasn't such a hell hole. And as it does have something to do with roles/family dynamics and relationships it can go here.

My mother writes history books and brochures.

I have just spent an evening proof reading her latest work, armed with spell-check and a super size packet of ibruprofen (don't get me wrong, she's good, real good...i'm just stupid and it makes my head huuuurtz).

I now know more than I ever wanted about little english village schools in 1840 and the affects of diphtheria upon attendance records.

All written in a mix of high scholarship and 1950's twee!

Anyways

Something she said there made me realise that in my family women have always been the history keepers.

Even now, if I want to know anything to do with family history i ask my mom or my sister .

I'd never ask my brothers, although both are very into history (one holds a degree in Anglo-Saxon, Celtic and Norse).

Yet up to this generation, like most families ours was extremely patriarchal. Men and women's roles clearly defined. Broad lines of demarcation.

And history and family lore was for the women.

How is it in your family?

huh, that's weird, you're right.

Pretty much the same way here jack. My mom knows a lot about my family, but so does my dad. My mom knows both sides, hers and my fathers, so I guess she knows more than him, plus it's all learned and acquired during the 17 years they've been married. Maybe it's an unwritted rule for the woman(en) of the house to know the history of family.

quote:Originally posted by Rizzo in a box:

huh, that's weird, you're right.

Has hell frozen over and no one thought to inform me?;P

Other way around in my family. The women tend not to care, asides from the odd anecdote filled with inaccuracies. Although one of my grannies knows the history of the IRA extremely well...

In my family, the women are the only ones who care.

*cough* leave things buried or you might find something not nice *cough, splutter, Cough, Choke*.

I always go to my grandmother to find out about family. She is the only one that cares to stay up to date on my large family and see that we get together. I'm not sure what will happen once she passes away, nobody else in the family has a strong enough interest to talk to everyone and set things up.

quote:Originally posted by Euda:

I always go to my grandmother to find out about family. She is the only one that cares to stay up to date on my large family and see that we get together. I'm not sure what will happen once she passes away, nobody else in the family has a strong enough interest to talk to everyone and set things up.

Back when I was a kid my mom got my great grandad to write down his experiences as cannon fodder in the first World War.

He's of course now long dead but she has the letters still.

I'm considering now asking her to write a e-book of all the family stories she knows before senility or insanity destroys her mind forever (every other generation all the women in my family end up committed, its tradition).

Because although my kids probably aren't that bothered maybe their kids will be.

And its kinda cool to know your great great great great grandad was transported to Australia for rustling a lamb or that one of my other forebears was known as 'Danger' Smith ...mainly cos he was a danger to himself and those around him.

I tend to find my dad knows a lot about history. Be it family or other.

Anything I need to know about his side of the family, I'll go to him.

On my mum's side of the family, it's one of my great uncles who has spent so many years of his life on our family tree.

Dunno.

quote:Originally posted by jackketch:

Back when I was a kid my mom got my great grandad to write down his experiences as cannon fodder in the first World War.

He's of course now long dead but she has the letters still.

I'm considering now asking her to write a e-book of all the family stories she knows before senility or insanity destroys her mind forever (every other generation all the women in my family end up committed, its tradition).

Because although my kids probably aren't that bothered maybe their kids will be.

And its kinda cool to know your great great great great grandad was transported to Australia for rustling a lamb or that one of my other forebears was known as 'Danger' Smith ...mainly cos he was a danger to himself and those around him.

I already have a book of stories and old photos from my grandparents. It's quite the interesting thing; regretably, I don't actually have it in my possession.

That's because the men went out to hunt and the women stayed back at the cave teaching the children. That's where language started so they made up the stories.

Pretty sweet.

Cheers,

Lost

My dad's gay cousin kept track of our family history, and he was very feminine.

Unfortunately he died from AIDS and I don't think anyone else bothered to pick up the hobby.

nope, in my family it's the men

granddad just recently wrote a book bout our family with EVERYONE in it back till 1600 or so

quote:Originally posted by jackketch:

Back when I was a kid my mom got my great grandad to write down his experiences as cannon fodder in the first World War.

He's of course now long dead but she has the letters still.

I'm considering now asking her to write a e-book of all the family stories she knows before senility or insanity destroys her mind forever (every other generation all the women in my family end up committed, its tradition).

Because although my kids probably aren't that bothered maybe their kids will be.

And its kinda cool to know your great great great great grandad was transported to Australia for rustling a lamb or that one of my other forebears was known as 'Danger' Smith ...mainly cos he was a danger to himself and those around him.

Old people rock.. when I was a kid I interviewed my great uncle for school, I asked him about the war obviously. He had this crazy tale that they were marching back to go home during operation dynamo, the retreat to/from dunkirk. They were marching down some long open road, and my great uncle picks up some guy who is lying at the side of the road, left for dead, puts him on his and his mate's shoulders, and then realises it was his brother! Pretty fucked up.

quote:Originally posted by LostCause:

That's because the men went out to hunt and the women stayed back at the cave teaching the children. That's where language started so they made up the stories.

Pretty sweet.

Cheers,

Lost

That's the biggest pile of bullshit I've heard today.

^ Agreed.

quote:Originally posted by LostCause:

That's because the men went out to hunt and the women stayed back at the cave gossiping and discussing fashion trends. That's where language started so they made up the stories.

Pretty sweet.

Cheers,

Lost

We all know its true.

In Japan, the women of the court at the time (before the 1000's)developed the writing system. Originally they used only kanji(chinese symbols), but the women were supposed to write in the phonetic kana, because this was considered ladylike. Although they didn't invent it, they shaped the writing system dramatically, and brought kana into wider use.

Women of the court in the Heian era used to write poems, stories, and documented things in their own personal diaries. The books of these that remain today are of vital historical importance, building up a greater image of life in those days.

Interesting, in my opinion.

quote:Originally posted by jackketch:

mom

I thought you despised everything American?

quote:Originally posted by baloo:

I thought you despised everything American?

nope, If i wrote 'mum' then the next post but one would have been "*you misspelt 'mom'!" I don't despise all things american,they have many things I admire...oc6..muscle cars..their Constitution..Anthony Bourdain..Thomas Keller..

PS. I don't admire their facist spell check on Firefox that tries to convince me that 'misspelt' is misspelt.

quote:Originally posted by jackketch:

nope, If i wrote 'mum' then the next post but one would have been "*you misspelt 'mom'!" I don't despise all things american,they have many things I admire...oc6..muscle cars..their Constitution..Anthony Bourdain..Thomas Keller..

PS. I don't admire their facist spell check on Firefox that tries to convince me that 'misspelt' is misspelt.

You can get the British dictionary for it...

Stupid.

Cheers,

Lost

[This message has been edited by LostCause (edited 03-29-2007).]