It is notable that in a review of the trends of new frontiers in ancient military history, women were excluded. So yes, I think it merited mention in the review. It is time we use our voices to draw attention to the lack of women included in such volumes, which has been consistent since the advent of the study of ancient military history. If not now, when? I just finished a review in the Classical Review wherein I pointed out that Clyde Pharr abused female graduate students. This is pertinent to understanding how and why the Theodosian Code was published as quickly as it was.
I spoke directly to many of the men in that BMCR review and yes, I do believe they should have withdrawn from publishing in order to pressure the editor to add at least one woman to help define the new trends in the field —one which includes women!
It is fine to disagree with me, but please know that we all make academic choices and bind our names to the volumes we agree to be in. Whether you think so or not, choosing to be in an all male panel, volume, conference proceeding, or the like all make statements to women that you cannot unsay. If you had bothered to read the blogpost linked to in the article, you would see I have a number of proposals for what should be done; I did not sit idly by simply lament it. I am proud to say hundreds of men and women in the field have stepped up and recognized the problem.
