11.5 From Knucklebones to Bicycles (a history of girls at play)

Her Half of History

Games and pastimes mostly don’t get a mention in the records that are more concerned with the death of kings and the collection of taxes. If we manage to know about an ancient or medieval game at all, we usually have no idea who played it, and certainly there is no logical reason to think that only one age or gender might enjoy a game. And yet at least in some times and places, gender associations spring up anyway. Today's episode is the history of girls playing with knucklebones, hopscotch, jump rope, footracing, twirling, dress up, play kitchens, needle crafts, and bicycles.

UPDATE: In this episode I mention that some websites attribute the invention of jumprope to Australian aborigines (which is exactly what I read on said websites), but I have since been informed that it would be better to refer to those people as Australian Aboriginal people or First Nations people. I have corrected it in the transcript, and my apologies for my previous ignorance!

Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.

Support the show on my Patreon page for bonus episodes, polls, and a

general feeling of self-satisfaction. Or make a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee.

Join Into History (intohistory.com/herhalfofhistory/)

for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content.

Visit Evergreen Podcasts to listen to more great shows.

Follow me on Twitter (X) as @her_half. Or on Facebook or Instagram as Her Half of History.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices