THE NINE LIVES OF WOMAN

Mason describes the “evolutionary lineage” of life as a woman in this nonfiction work.

Aiming to expand on the old chestnut identifying a woman’s developmental stages as “maiden, matron, and crone,” the author conceptualizes the lifespans of women across nine stages: Foundation, Awakening, Sovereignty, Matrescence, Segue, Metamorphosis, The Free Period, The Glide, and The Resolution. For each stage, she describes typical features, outlines some science and research, and discusses how to empathize with someone living through it. Mason also includes excerpts from interviews, some of which were conducted on her podcast, The Rose Woman Podcast. Each chapter concludes with a list of “Key Takeaways” summarizing the main points of the stage in question. While the author presents ample scientific support for these developmental stages, her spiritual and social considerations are equally thorough and convincing. “Sovereignty” and “Matrescence” are the longest chapters, containing extensive discussions of sexuality along with feminist analyses of womanhood in society. Some of the most edifying arguments in the text are found in these chapters—one such concept is journalist Nicolle Hodges’ idea of a “sexual debut,” which typically occurs in Stage 3, Sovereignty. Mason describes the sexual debut as an alternative to the “loss” of virginity, “a celebration of stepping into your sexual self, in whatever way feels right for you. Not something you lose, but something you claim.” While the author expresses her hope that the book can be “for every woman—across age, background, and life experience—who is curious about the diverse stages of female development,” she acknowledges that her lens is that of “a woman in a particular cultural, racial, and socioeconomic context, and the perspectives of those I interviewed.” Throughout the book, Mason includes space for differences, emphasizing that the stages are descriptive, not prescriptive. (Only when discussing breast implants, which she views as “insanity,” does her validation of alternate perspectives wane slightly.) The book provides a powerful new way to look at the lifecycles of women that feels inclusive and affirming.

An empowering and informative read for women of all ages.