What do you think?
Rate this book
Seafaring Women Through History: 250 Years of Women at Sea
This lively yet scholarly book reveals an unsuspected history of women at sea, from women pirates and daring cabin 'boys' under sail to today's rear-admirals and weapons experts on nuclear submarines. Historically, women wanting to sail in their own right faced many challenges. They were rejected as nuisances and outsiders, trespassing into the male maritime tribe. Today they command cruise ships and are becoming commodores. This comprehensive work looks at both the merchant and royal navies, explaining women's progressions from outsider to 'master' - with male shipmates as obstacles and helping hands. Using interviews and sources never before published, Jo Stanley vividly reveals the incredible journey across time taken by women at sea.
- GenresNonfiction
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 28, 2026
An accessible history of women working at sea with 20th century roles in the British military and civilian navies discussed in detail. There's a single reference to fishing at p75 and footnote 52.
Living and working at sea has always been as liberating for women as well as men because it's about travel and adventure. But women's oppression has deep roots, so the more class ridden and unequal a society, the more restrictions on women. Some of those restrictions loosened during wars and when workers were in short supply so some women could dress as men and get work at sea.
But historically women have been sailors, whalers, fishermen and workers almost everywhere at sea.
Oddly the author says “male crew from unenlightened cultures demean women” (p35) and then shows misogyny, sexism and sexual predators are virtually everywhere.
The most interesting material is Stanley's original research and many interviews with women working or retired from the sea.
Travel by cruise liners has become big business and opened yet more opportunities. These are everything from deck and technical work to endless cleaning and looking after children. From swimming instructors, laundressers, telephonists, hairdressers and beauticians to entertainers.
The book's subtitle could have been, Why you should go to sea! Even though women’s work at sea has often been badly paid with poor conditions, yet being at sea and the intense camaraderie women described made it worthwhile for those who fought to get their place there.
Living and working at sea has always been as liberating for women as well as men because it's about travel and adventure. But women's oppression has deep roots, so the more class ridden and unequal a society, the more restrictions on women. Some of those restrictions loosened during wars and when workers were in short supply so some women could dress as men and get work at sea.
But historically women have been sailors, whalers, fishermen and workers almost everywhere at sea.
Oddly the author says “male crew from unenlightened cultures demean women” (p35) and then shows misogyny, sexism and sexual predators are virtually everywhere.
The most interesting material is Stanley's original research and many interviews with women working or retired from the sea.
Travel by cruise liners has become big business and opened yet more opportunities. These are everything from deck and technical work to endless cleaning and looking after children. From swimming instructors, laundressers, telephonists, hairdressers and beauticians to entertainers.
The book's subtitle could have been, Why you should go to sea! Even though women’s work at sea has often been badly paid with poor conditions, yet being at sea and the intense camaraderie women described made it worthwhile for those who fought to get their place there.
Displaying 1 of 1 review