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Seawomen of Iceland: Survival on the Edge (Naomi B. Pascal Editor's Endowment) Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

Finalist for the 2017 Washington State Book Award in General Nonfiction / History

The plaque said this was the winter fishing hut of Thurídur Einarsdóttir, one of Iceland's greatest fishing captains, and that she lived from 1777 to 1863.

"Wait," anthropologist and former seawoman Margaret Willson said. "She??"

So began a quest. Were there more Icelandic seawomen? Most Icelanders said no, and, after all, in most parts of the world fishing is considered a male profession. What could she expect in Iceland?

She found a surprise. This book is a glimpse into the lives of vibrant women who have braved the sea for centuries. Their accounts include the excitement, accidents, trials, and tribulations of fishing in Iceland from the historic times of small open rowboats to today's high-tech fisheries. Based on extensive historical and field research,
Seawomen of Iceland allows the seawomen's voices to speak directly with strength, intelligence, and - above all - a knowledge of how to survive.

This engaging ethnographic narrative will intrigue both general and academic readers interested in maritime culture, the anthropology of work, Nordic life, and gender studies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Sailing on the eloquent prose of Willson's research on Icelandic seawomen is the definition of experiencing the pleasure of reading a good ethnography. The book shows how deep curiosity and small questions lead us to large-scale insights. . . . This is a book that everyone with an interest in ethnography should read regardless of the kind of anthropology or social science they are engaged with."―Younes Saramifar, LSE Review of Books

"The seawomen's tales are full of their love of the sea and pride in their strength and achievements, and Willson's sense of humor and enthusiasm for the sea and the seawomen shine through her very accessible writing."―Claire Eamer,
Hakai Magazine

"A wonderfully detailed and lovingly crafted study of Icelandic women at sea through the ages. Willson . . . explore[s] not only why so many women fished and participated in maritime labour, especially in the past, but also to ask why this knowledge remains hidden and marginalized.NORA: Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research"―Elisabeth Lund Engebretsen,
NORA: Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research

"What if a certain working demographic had disappeared from memory? . . . Willson is repeatedly told that women do not work at sea―except that archives and real lives attest that women actually do. . . .
Seawomen of Iceland is about tough work and tougher weather, about fishing through changing socioeconomic currents, and about the subtle―and not-so-subtle―roles gender plays in working lives."―Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins, Anthropology of Work

"This beautifully crafted saga about women at sea is framed as a mystery: not only why so many Icelandic women fished in the past and today, with clues found in harsh rural choices and wage equality at sea, but also why this story is not well know. Willson's findings are hugely important to both maritime and gender studies."―
Bonnie McCay, author of Oyster Wars and the Public Trust

"Contributes a new and fresh understanding of Icelandic fishing culture. This is a captivating read due to the breadth of knowledge the author conveys through her personal style."―
Niels Einarsson, author of Culture, Conflict, and Crises in the Icelandic Fisheries: Anthropological Studies of People, Policy, and Marine Resources in the North Atlantic Arctic

"Willson insightfully uses Iceland to reflect larger global social and economic transformations, showing with passion and respect how the story of Iceland's seawomen is interwoven with the fabric of the nation's history. Beautifully written and empirically rich, this ethnography sheds light on how processes of modernization and neoliberalization resulted in women's systematic exclusion from production and power. Ultimately, however,
Seawomen of Iceland reveals not only struggles of poverty and inequality, but also a newly told story of empowerment."―Kristin Loftsdóttir, University of Iceland

"Willson shows that contrary to dominant conceptions in Iceland, women have gone to sea, and she explains how the ideas regarding their participation have changed. This book is a very important contribution to the knowledge of maritime life in Iceland. With her vivid stories Willson brings Icelandic seawomen to life."―
Unnur Dis Skaptadottir, University of Iceland

"
Seawomen of Iceland is a fabulous book, part memoir, part ethnography. Too often the presence of women at sea has been treated as an exception to be explained, but in this book the history and reality of seawomen is treated as fact and the stories follow from that. It's about time!"―Charles Menzies, University of British Columbia

"This book is an interesting read and difficult to put down. Willson's writing and storytelling is engaging and stirring."―
The Northern Mariner

"[A]n engaging, many-sided and well-written exploration of the seawomen of Iceland throughout the centuries. Willson truly has succeeded in her aim to rescue these women from national oblivion and the book is, therefore, an important contribution to the history of women in the maritime sector and maritime gender history in general."―
Journal of Maritime Research

"this book is particularly valuable because it explains the specifically icelandic aspects of these seawomen's histories... it will be an exemplary text in the study of women's maritime pasts for decades to come... the book offers a voyage that many people, like me, will want to repeat just for the pleasure of traveling with Margaret Willson."―
Scandinavian Studies

"Margaret Willson's ethnographic research reveals that despite its claims of being a society that promotes gender equality, and despite centuries-old laws dictating equal pay for both genders, Iceland does, in fact, have a significant amount of gender inequality at its core. As an island nation with few agricultural resources inland, Iceland relies heavily on the fishing industry not only for its own economic stability, but also for the very survival of its people. Willson, a former fisherwoman herself, begins research for this book in an attempt to discover why, in a country surrounded by the ocean, females are almost completely unrepresented in the lore of the nation's substantial seafaring tradition. What she uncovers is a rich but submerged oral history, laden with tales of successful, strong, brave, determined seawomen who have ultimately been "erased" from existence by their own society. Her objective is to write them back in."―
International Journal on Women's Studies

"[S]tudies concerning maritime women are still few and far between, which makes Seawomen of Iceland: Survival on the Edge by Margaret Willson a valuable contribution to the small but growing number of books in this category."―
The International Journal of Maritime History

About the Author

Margaret Willson is affiliate associate professor of anthropology and Canadian studies at the University of Washington. She is the author of Dance Lest We All Fall Down: Breaking Cycles of Poverty in Brazil and Beyond.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FABJMH0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Washington Press (April 1, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3619 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 389 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

About the author

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Margaret Willson
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Margaret Willson is a writer and cultural anthropologist. She has traveled extensively, working, doing research, or ethnographic film in Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland...and a number of other places. She currently lives in Seattle with her partner and their cat Mister.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
22 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the history of Iceland's seawomen and farmers. The author captures the spirit of the women well.

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5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read.

"There were no dislikes and I love the book and this one as a gift" Read more

"Some amazing women thru the ages detailed here . A great read !!" Read more

"...written - I learned a lot about the Seawomen of Iceland, while enjoying the read. The author captures the spirit of the women beautifully...." Read more

"Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Would highly recommend to anyone who has worked on the water or is interested in maritime history." Read more

4 customers mention "History"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the history of Iceland's seawomen and farmers. They say the book gives them a greater appreciation for their Nordic heritage and the strength of women. The author captures the spirit of the women beautifully.

"These women of Iceland are amazing. Ms. Willson presents so much information in an easy to access format and with personal stories...." Read more

"Some amazing women thru the ages detailed here . A great read !!" Read more

"...The author captures the spirit of the women beautifully. I also appreciated getting a better 'sense of place' than the usual guide book." Read more

"Excellent history of Iceland's Seawomen, as well as some history of the country and it's farmers." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Top reviews from other countries

  • Hilary West
    3.0 out of 5 stars I love the subject - Iceland
    Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2017
    I love the subject - Iceland. The book showcases fascinating details about Icelandic history and a national personality shaped by life in the middle of the North Atlantic.

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