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In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors: A Past, Present and Personal Story
When Rachel loses five family members in five months, grief magnifies other absences. Long-distance running used to help her feel at home in her body and the world, but now she becomes painfully aware of her inability to run without being cat-called or followed by strange men, or to walk alone at night without fear. Her eyes are opened to injustices facing women in sport, from men who push her off paths during races, to male bias in competition regulations, kit and media coverage. The outdoors becomes a place of danger, and her personal sadness is a version of the grief that all women experience, globally, for lack of freedom and safety.Rachel turns back to running and goes in search of a new the foremothers who blazed a trail - running, hiking, climbing and mountaineering - in the earliest decades of outdoor sport. She discovers a startling hidden history, not just of forgotten female achievements, but of male backlash. She unearths a devastating period in which women were comprehensively driven out of sport and public space - and she looks afresh at the present moment, to ask right now, are we living through a period of unprecedented female empowerment, or an era of reversal in women's rights? As she runs her way from bereavement to belonging, she is inspired by the tenacious women, past and present, who resist attempts to be driven indoors, and insist that being active outdoors is, most definitely, in women's nature.
513 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 11, 2023
Rachel Hewitt has penned a cogently passionate polemic on the way women have not only historically been viewed by men as they attempted to enjoy outdoor pursuits but also how they are still sadly too often currently treated abusively and poorly catered for.
The author reflects on her own experiences and how running has helped her through some traumatic periods of grief which is something I can relate to. Although various sports and activities are covered Hewitt has concentrated much of her research on women’s mountaineering in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She covers the life of Lizzie Le Bon in fascinating detail and she is someone who was unknown to me. That’s probably because despite having read a fair bit of climbing literature it was very male oriented.
Above all the book is a powerful argument for a long overdue and much needed change in policies and planning from those with the ability to do so but most of all a radical sea change is required in the mindsets of boys and men.
The author reflects on her own experiences and how running has helped her through some traumatic periods of grief which is something I can relate to. Although various sports and activities are covered Hewitt has concentrated much of her research on women’s mountaineering in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She covers the life of Lizzie Le Bon in fascinating detail and she is someone who was unknown to me. That’s probably because despite having read a fair bit of climbing literature it was very male oriented.
Above all the book is a powerful argument for a long overdue and much needed change in policies and planning from those with the ability to do so but most of all a radical sea change is required in the mindsets of boys and men.
February 23, 2024
Amazing book. Every woman who spends time in the outdoors should read this
September 6, 2023
Another non-fiction book in the format of "author researches a subject, and interweaves their findings with a first-person narrative about their life during the process of researching". This format seems to be very popular at the moment, at least by the publishing industry.
Personally, I find it can lead to first-person narratives that are aren't ready or rich enough to be written, combined with relatively weak research - as if hoping that the weaknesses of one will make up for the weaknesses of other. This book was one of these, and I found it stodgy.
I hate to give a negative review; the author seems like a lovely person, and not a bad writer, who has gone through a lot. So I'm reassured that seem to be in the minority. I don't think it's Rachel Hewitt in particular I dislike. What I dislike is the current trend for books in which we are endlessly subjected to reading about how the author sat down to type their subject's name into Google, is surprised nothing comes up, packs their back and goes to a library, eats a Twix, etc. It's dull and I wish publishers would stop pushing this format.
Personally, I find it can lead to first-person narratives that are aren't ready or rich enough to be written, combined with relatively weak research - as if hoping that the weaknesses of one will make up for the weaknesses of other. This book was one of these, and I found it stodgy.
I hate to give a negative review; the author seems like a lovely person, and not a bad writer, who has gone through a lot. So I'm reassured that seem to be in the minority. I don't think it's Rachel Hewitt in particular I dislike. What I dislike is the current trend for books in which we are endlessly subjected to reading about how the author sat down to type their subject's name into Google, is surprised nothing comes up, packs their back and goes to a library, eats a Twix, etc. It's dull and I wish publishers would stop pushing this format.
July 7, 2023
This book delves into Rachel Hewitts' experience of running to cope with grief.
Running facilitates Rachel to experience herself viscerally through her body and gain confidence in her place in the world. As opposed to a woman who accesses her body's experience almost second hand via the eye; how things appear or look which filters how/what she experiences.
Whilst all this is happening Rachael her husband Pete & 3 precious children move from London to the north of England with Mattie the cat. This part of the book was impressively honest & captivating.
I became a big fan of Lizzy Le Blond a wealthy climbing adventurer who found identity and peace in the mountains; & the question of what happened to shoe horn Lizzy and women of her time off the mountains.
However the book covers numerous other relevant topics such as female harassment on the street. The historic subjugation of women. I became a bit overwhelmed by the bandwidth of the topics covered. All very interesting and related but I needed two books here.
Running facilitates Rachel to experience herself viscerally through her body and gain confidence in her place in the world. As opposed to a woman who accesses her body's experience almost second hand via the eye; how things appear or look which filters how/what she experiences.
Whilst all this is happening Rachael her husband Pete & 3 precious children move from London to the north of England with Mattie the cat. This part of the book was impressively honest & captivating.
I became a big fan of Lizzy Le Blond a wealthy climbing adventurer who found identity and peace in the mountains; & the question of what happened to shoe horn Lizzy and women of her time off the mountains.
However the book covers numerous other relevant topics such as female harassment on the street. The historic subjugation of women. I became a bit overwhelmed by the bandwidth of the topics covered. All very interesting and related but I needed two books here.
May 26, 2023
This book is incredible, would 10/10 recommend to any women or human being involved in outdoor sports and anyone interested in learning more about some well buried history about women
October 13, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book, with its balance of personal account and healing from grief, stories of intrepid adventurers and challenges facing women who run
Unusually for me - my only criticism is that it was perhaps too pessimistic about women’s current experience in the uk - made you feel like there is a rapist on every trail - which could be offputting for women getting into exercise. But this could be her experience of grief
Unusually for me - my only criticism is that it was perhaps too pessimistic about women’s current experience in the uk - made you feel like there is a rapist on every trail - which could be offputting for women getting into exercise. But this could be her experience of grief
October 26, 2023
A really interesting story shining a light on the forgotten female mountaineers of the late 19tg century, interspersed with musings on modern women's sport and how we got there. There's also a more personal narrative of the author's experience with grief and running. Some pretty depressing stuff about what women have had to and continue to deal with - I found the erosion of women's participation in sport at the turn of the century particularly sad - but a fascinating account.
May 2, 2024
I really liked some of the book, but have issues with the personal elements of it. The sections about the female pioneers of mountaineering were fascinating. Amazing stories of women I didn't know about who achieved great mountaineering feats. Whilst I appreciate the difficulties the author may have faced in life (particularly deaths in the family and being verbally abused when running) I found the way the story was presented to be both depressing and over heavy on fear mongering.
September 3, 2023
This is not a good book to have as bedtime reading. I started it that way and soon realised I was getting too cross to be able to sleep calmly. Instead I’ve read it in chunks here and there and have allowed myself to be angry about the situations that my foremothers found themselves in.
Interesting, engaging, emotive
Interesting, engaging, emotive
February 11, 2024
Weaving together her own personal story of finding strength through running, the history of women in sport, and the problems of modern women trying to participate, this is both moving and illuminating.
It’s also inspiring, as it inspired me to return to walking and possibly return to running.
A really good and insightful read
It’s also inspiring, as it inspired me to return to walking and possibly return to running.
A really good and insightful read
October 27, 2023
Emotive and insightful. Not a bedtime book. It really shows you the importance of claiming women's space in the outdoors, while taking you through the most beautiful landscapes of England. I wish everyone would know about Lizzie Le Blond
December 6, 2023
A compelling interweaving of a deeply personal story of grief and discovery, and the search for the stories of women pioneers in the 'great outdoors' in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fascinating, and thought-provoking.
March 11, 2024
I loved this book. Rachel brings together a compelling group of stories highlighting the barriers between women and the outdoor world. I was sad to finish listening but this book will help my thinking on life in general!
June 2, 2023
The best book I've read this year. Has changed the way I feel about my running.
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September 20, 2023This is not a criticism but... holy flip that whole book was unbelievably depressing. Also can men please just not comment on sexism at all until they actually learn some history, thanks.
December 12, 2023
Interesting to learn about the History in Women's sport and adventuring.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews