Podcast Summary

New Books Network: Victoria Bateman, "Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power" (Seal Press, 2025)

Date: September 20, 2025
Host: Dr. Miranda Melcher
Guest: Dr. Victoria Bateman

Episode Overview

This episode of the New Books Network features Dr. Victoria Bateman discussing her ambitious new book, Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power. Dr. Bateman, an economic historian and author, traces women’s crucial roles—not just as bystanders but as innovators, producers, and agents of economic change—from the Stone Age through the modern day. The conversation challenges conventional patriarchal narratives and surfaces stories that have long been present in the sources, but remain under-told in mainstream economic history.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Motivation for the Book & Reframing Economic History

[02:24–04:46]

• Dr. Bateman set out to write a truly global economic history that integrates “the threads of history from the Stone Age onwards,” emphasizing the repeated rise and fall of civilizations.
• The field, historically dominated by men and stories about men, leaves out half the population, leading to an incomplete understanding of economic development.
  • Quote:
    “Once you add women and stir, your understanding of the past really does change, change forever.” — Dr. Bateman (04:46)

Women and the Origins of Agriculture

[05:35–12:31]

• The “settling down” of humans is often credited to food production, but Dr. Bateman brings manufacturing—especially cloth—into the narrative.
• Women, involved in tasks like cleaning and milling grain, likely were at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
  • Skeletal evidence shows women were the primary grain millers in some of the earliest settlements.
• The production of cloth becomes as important as food, as climate change demanded new garments—a realm historically managed by women.
  • Quote:
    “Clothing has always been women’s business.” — Dr. Bateman (12:27)

The Rise of Patriarchy: The ‘Three Ps’

[12:49–22:11]

• Dr. Bateman attributes the origins of patriarchy to:
  1. The Plough: Required upper body strength, increasingly seen as men's work; pushed women into the home.
  2. Pastoralism: Nomadic herding enabled men to claim economic and social independence, resulting in restrictive practices for women.
  3. Property Rights: The privatization of land and livestock (often in men’s names) led to entrenched gender inequality.
  • Quote:
    “In the way that Marx saw private property as at the root of wealth inequality, Friedrich Engels saw private property as at the root of gender inequality.” — Dr. Bateman (19:39)
• A dramatic collapse of male genetic diversity 5,000–7,000 years ago is evidence of emerging patrilineal and patriarchal societies, where women were exchanged between groups.

Women in Early Cities

[23:37–27:28]

• Early cities like Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 9,000 years ago) were notably gender-equal, as seen in burial goods and nutritional evidence.
• Over time, with the growth of state structures and empires (Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Peru, Indus Valley), some societies became more patriarchal, but gender equality remained in others.

Women and the Silk Road: The Invisible Hands

[28:28–31:03]

• The Silk Road’s key commodity, silk, was produced by women—breeding silkworms and weaving—while male merchants traveled and traded it. Clothing made by women was often literally the currency of trade.
• In parallel, Roman women at the western end of the trade owned ships and shops, actively engaging in commerce.

China’s Golden Age and the Backlash

[31:31–36:42]

• In the Song dynasty (11th–13th c.), economic liberalization saw women actively participating in trade, agriculture, and professions.
• Economic growth and women’s rising empowerment sparked anxieties and eventual crackdowns—inheritance rights restricted, foot binding widespread—mirroring a cyclical pattern of prosperity followed by backlash.
  • Quote:
    “Wherever you see these golden ages, these economic booms that are working to women’s benefit, you then get a backlash.” — Dr. Bateman (35:41)

The Black Death: Opportunities and Autonomy for Women

[37:36–41:42]

• Labor shortages meant landowners and workshops increasingly relied on women workers.
• Surviving women saw higher wages, entered traditionally male fields (e.g., brewing), delayed marriage, and thus gained more independence.
• These changes contributed to smaller, more gender-equal families and laid groundwork for later economic growth and even democracy.

The Industrial Revolution and Women’s Roles

[43:35–46:47]

• Despite helping set its foundations, women’s opportunities narrowed during the Industrial Revolution. Their work became concentrated in textiles and domestic service; lucrative professions (medicine, law) were blocked to them.
  • Every doctor (over 18,000) and lawyer (over 16,000) in Industrial Britain was male; women were simply excluded.
• In New England (1885), women appeared in only a third of 17k documented occupations.

Barriers: Guilds, Trade Unions, and Male Gatekeeping

[47:50–52:09]

• Barriers to women’s entry into lucrative or respected fields were often enforced by guilds, professional associations, and trade unions.
• “Marriage bars” forced women out of jobs upon marriage—a practice persisting in the UK civil service until 1946, in the Foreign Office until 1973.
• Public rhetoric masked these exclusionary practices as altruism, implying women should stay at home “for their own good.”
  • Quote:
    “We’re sold snake oil time and time again... the only way you can be truly independent is to have cash in your own pocket.” — Dr. Bateman (51:54, 52:32)

Notable Women from Economic History

[53:02–53:49]

• Priscilla Wakefield (UK, 1798): Founded the first English bank for women/children.
• Maggie Lena Walker (US): Opened St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, serving Black Americans; first woman to charter a bank in the US.
  • Quote:
    “For every Henry Ford or JP Morgan, there are female equivalents out there that we could equally be talking about.” — Dr. Bateman (53:45)

Contemporary Context: The Urgency of History

[54:01–56:38]

• Dr. Bateman expresses concern about a modern resurgence in rhetoric that women “naturally” belong at home—fueled by trends like “tradwives.”
• She insists history shows women have always been central to the economy.
  • Quote:
    “If we really want to stand up to this... growing idea that a woman’s natural place is in the home, we really need to show that, no, a woman’s natural place has always been at the heart of the economy.” — Dr. Bateman (56:01)

Memorable Quotes

• “Once you add women and stir, your understanding of the past really does change, change forever.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [04:46]
• “Clothing has always been women’s business.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [12:27]
• “In the way that Marx saw private property as at the root of wealth inequality, Friedrich Engels saw private property as at the root of gender inequality.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [19:39]
• “Wherever you see these golden ages, these economic booms that are working to women’s benefit, you then get a backlash.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [35:41]
• “We’re sold snake oil time and time again... the only way you can be truly independent is to have cash in your own pocket.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [51:54, 52:32]
• “For every Henry Ford or JP Morgan, there are female equivalents out there that we could equally be talking about.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [53:45]
• “A woman’s natural place has always been at the heart of the economy.” — Dr. Victoria Bateman [56:01]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Introduction & Book’s Purpose: 01:20–04:46
• Women’s Role in Early Agriculture: 05:35–12:31
• Origins of Patriarchy (‘Three Ps’): 12:49–22:11
• Early Cities & Gender Equality: 23:37–27:28
• Women and the Silk Road: 28:28–31:03
• China’s Golden Age & Backlash: 31:31–36:42
• Black Death & Women’s Opportunities: 37:36–41:42
• Industrial Revolution’s Gendered Impact: 43:35–46:47
• Gendered Barriers in Work & Professions: 47:50–52:09
• Notable Women in Banking/Business: 53:02–53:49
• Modern Relevance and Historical Urgency: 54:01–56:38

Conclusion & Further Reading

Dr. Bateman’s book, “Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power,” offers a wealth of stories revealing that women have always been essential to global economic history. The discussion highlights forgotten innovators and underlines the need to recognize and remember their stories—as vital context for gender debates today.