This week Rowan and Tracey discuss the links between cats and femininity; and the disastrous effects it’s had on women and pets. They explore the many stories surrounding the Sphinx, and take listeners through the history of cats and sexism. From historical suffragette memes, to modern expressionist theatre, as Robert Heinlein says, “Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

Sources

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_Kingdom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx

The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/06/23/the-disturbing-history-of-cat-abuse-public-hangings-pipe-beatings-and-the-great-cat-massacre/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/06/19/long-before-they-conquered-the-internet-cats-took-over-the-world/

TEDTalk

https://www.ted.com/talks/lera_boroditsky_how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think/transcript?language=en

Steven Berkoff: Plays

https://dariodoesdrama.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/steven-berkoff-plays-1.pdf

History Cooperative

https://historycooperative.org/cat-gods-feline-deities/

KQED

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13891913/how-the-crazy-cat-lady-became-one-of-pop-cultures-most-enduring-sexist-tropes

Welcome Collection

https://wellcomecollection.org/works/bfsayfwt

Smithsonian Magazine

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-secrets-of-the-sphinx-5053442/

Greek Reporter

https://greekreporter.com/2021/04/11/greek-goddess-the-sphinx-embodied-concept-of-knowledge-as-power/

Poetry Foundation

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/muriel-rukeyser

Introducing Egypt

https://www.introducingegypt.com/greco-roman-era

The History Channel

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-egypt/the-sphinx#section_5

Theoi

https://www.theoi.com/Ther/Sphinx.html

An Injustice Mag

https://aninjusticemag.com/the-sexist-reason-so-many-people-hate-cats-835a85ecfacb

Rutgers Observer

https://rutgers-observer.com/why-not-liking-cats-is-misogynistic/