mE BIRTH PROJECf while lamenting the lack of it in her I think part of the problem is the pace at workers: "The women in the group were which most of the needleworkers stitch. JudyChicago. Garden City, N.Y.: Double­ ... afraid to take any responsibility and Work that would take me a month takes day, 1985. wanting strict guidelines and guaranteed them much longer. As most of them fit their success, as if being involved in The Birth work around their lives while I, like most Maryon Kantaroff Project could be as safe as working on a professional artists, fit my life into what­ needlework kit." ever time my work doesn't fill. I am pawerful, and I expressed it, and I am Again and again she expresses dismay still expressing it. The power of the new at the lack of professionalism in the Judy Chicago is every bit as smart as images is incredible. I love them because needleworkers, while stressing her own any Wall Street financier, every bit as they are an expression of who I am, and total professionalism - and thus he insist­ capable of delegating diverse responsibili­ simultaneously I fear them because they ence on total control. And over and over ties as the D.S. President, every bit as result in so many personal dilemmas. again we read of how overworked and organized as any multinational cor­ tired the artist feels, keeping up with the poration, and every bit as power driven as In the above quote from her recently gruelling and ofteninhuman pace that she - the most ambitious man. As an artist she published book, The Birth Project, Judy herself has set. is as talented as Georgia O'Keefe or Mary Chicago sums up her own sense of power Judy Chicago's driving, unrelenting Cassall. She is the Quintessential and control as an artist, while expressing ambition (so unseemly in a woman and so American Wonderwoman - and surely a her fears and insecurities as a woman. respected in a man), together with her blow to the ego of every red-blooded What makes her so different from other awesome organizational abilities, is the American Male! Addto all that, she's slim, women artists is that the fears and main theme of her writing. The lesson of attractive and"feminine." Therein lies her insecurities she expresses periodically her book is - if you want to make it in a fascination to us all. Her particular throughout the book, seem to have no man's (art) world, then you have to work androgyny is so powerfully polarized that place in her day-to-day dealings either increasingly at your art/craft, using every­ we are mesmerized by her explosive crea­ with her self, or with the vast numbers of thing and everyone in your path to attain tive femininity (her subject matter is women whom she organizes in order to your end (as men have done): always super-female) while simul­ carry out her creative projects. taneously being forced to examine our Her book is a thorough documentation I am learning alot about women's real lives own inadequacies, fears and self­ of the evolution of this project, spanning - and I hate alot of what I'm learning. I'm contempt. five years following on the heels of the discovering many of the reasons that But while her art brings us into facing now famous Dinner Party. She uses the women have so much difficulty in achieving these feelings, we see this woman, this same formula as she followed in the their goals. They may "want" to do some­ creator, achieving hereffect onusthrough Dinner Party and, although The Birth thing, and they may have the talent, but so her super masculinity. She seems to us a Project book is almost a repeat of the many women don't realize that their lives street smart operator, but her street is Dinner Party publications, the subject must be structured to accommodate their named "Power" and she travels it at a matter moves here from womeninhistory work. Moreover, so many of them have no neck-breaking pace. And so she both fas­ to woman as giver of life. As in the Dinner idea what the world is really like - most cinates and repels feminists. The Birth Pro­ Party publication, there is a rich blending women seem totally confused about what ject is a lesson in feminist theory, full of of visual and written material, both perso­ pawer means. enlightening consciousness-raisers. At nal and technical, with many vignettes the same time, it is a technical manual and from the women who did the complex also a public relations and marketing The isolation I've imposed upon myself in needlework. course of instruction to any woman want­ order to do concentrated work does not exist As The Birth Project is a large soft-cover ing to achieve anything. Yet the reader, for these women [the needleworkersJ. book of over 230 pages, it can be tedious while following her struggles and iden­ for readers not overly interested in tifying with most of them, is left wonder­ needlework technicalities. But its real At the same time there is something suspect ing about this brilliant, talented, endlessly value to all readers is the running com­ about the quality of work possible in aday energized power-driven woman. mentaries of the artist's thought process. that includes cooking, cleaning, stitching, She espouses feminist theory, yet we Again and again Judy Chicago stresses taking care of the kids, and then stitching see her operating in the same autocratic, her own complete dedication to her art, some more . .. seemingly self-serving and controlling

114 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME ways that we are used to in men. She is didn't). When people are committed to a front the same buffeting ambivalences obsessed with women and our disregard fantasy, it's hard to get them to change their within. Judy Chicago not only confronts, historically, yet she is remarkably unsym­ views (which she did) - to her fantasy she has overcome. Near the end of the pathetic to the needs of her needle­ (art). book she writes: "Demonstrating the way workers in their own personal lives that How can a feminist artist question this art has been made will, I hope, take time away from her projects. She con­ another feminist artist who is so talented suggest that there are other models for stantly refers to women's abuse through­ and so single-minded as to have achieved art-making than the 'heroic' one we've out history, yet thinks nothing of using the seemingly impossible - putting inherited from the Renaissance, when her needleworkers' volunteer skills for her woman's creativity on the map? My only men were thought to be capable of creative ends without payment. She is ambivalence towards Judy Chicago, as great art." even impatient with their own ambitions she emerges in The Birth Project, does not But the nagging fear is left, that her own and aspirations: extend to her art, which speaks for itself 'model' seems dangerously close to that They see me as powerful, and therefore they and to all women (and some men, hope­ 'heroic' one to which she refers. Every­ assume that Ican change everything - make fully). It is reserved for her methods, thing and everyone (herself included) is the world view needlework as art (which which seem hopelessly masculine to me. sacrificed to her art, and the reader begins she did), arrange things so everyone can Yet, given our history and our times, to understand the price she pays as a get paid for their work (which she didn't), could she have achieved so much any Woman. She is as sensitive anartist as she ensure that any work force is radically and other way? Knowing the art world as well is ruthless in her single-minded pursuit of ethnically balanced (which she did) - and as I do, I doubt it. Any woman looking her ends. Let us be thankful that her ends it does no good to try to explain (which she deeply into her own attitudes will con- are ourselves.

THE SISTER BOND: experience. But in most of them another an intriguing read. She postulates that A FEMINIST VIEW OF A thesis would do as well: to attain profes­ sisterhood can be seen as "the model of TIMELESS CONNECTION sional prominence it is helpful for a marital happiness" in Austen's works. woman to have a "wife." Among the other essays, those on the Edited by Toni A.H. McNaron, New York: The chapters on Fanny Wright andJane sister bonds of Edith and Grace Abbott Pergamon Press, 1985. Austen are the most interesting. Their and Christina and Maria Rossetti are sisters Camilla and Cassandra provided rather flat and dry. That on Florence and Kitty Mattes them with life-long, self-effacing de­ Parthenope Nightingale is interesting, but votion. Celia Eckhardt treats Fanny and somewhat forced. All three seem not to The merits of this little book just barely Camilla to lively scrutiny, from their birth have quite passed from the note-taking outweigh its faults. The editor's focus is in Scotland in the 1790s through their end­ phase into true cohesion. In contrast, unnecessarily narrowandmostofthe con­ less travels and Fanny's burgeoning the short essay by Adalaide Morris on tributing essays are rather dry and notoriety. "The pattern of the sisters' Emily Dickinson (reprinted from the labored, but it does break ground. It will relationship was set early and traces that Massachusetts Review) is a light and bright find its way into many a bibliography in of the traditional marriage," writes cameo. Morris examines a triangular the future, as study of the sisterly bond Eckhardt. "Fanny was the star and sister bond: Emily with her blood sister proliferates. The topic is a gold mine for Camilla her faithful reflector. Fanny and "enduring companion" Vinnie and feminist perspectives. walked boldly through the world while her sister-in-law Susan. The three women There are ten essays by eight authors, Camilla kept the house." Fanny's cru­ "lived side by side for thirty years," seven of whom teach in D.S. colleges. sades for social reform, including the Vinnie the wife and Susan the muse to Editor Toni McNaron is the author of abolition of slavery, establishment of Emily's genius. chapters I, 8, and 10, in all of which she women's rights, and sexual liberation, The ninth chapterby Robin Fast is really tells us rather more than we need to know were outrageous in her day; she even two essays, parallel studies of poets about herself. Even her essay on Virginia went so far as to express the hope that the Denise Levertov and Adrienne Rich. Fast Woolf begins with over a page on herown black and white races would "gradually tries to unite the two essays byemphasiz­ experience. She pursues the sexual nar­ blend into one their blood and hue." That ing the poets' common concerns with rowly, claiming mother as daughters' first her sister's unquestioning support was parents and with the paradox of likeness/ love and thereby sisters as "second crucial to her success is well documented difference, intimacy/estrangement, but lovers," lamenting "our heterosexual and vividly evoked. not sufficiently to build a single cohesive myopia." Her glance at Jane Austen The Austen sisters, on the other hand, comparative essay. On the other hand, reveals that male characters "are manipu­ stayed decorously at home. And whereas Fast makes such adept choice and use of lated by the author." Camilla was moon to Fanny's sun, quotes that we emerge from this chapter A more serious narrowness informs the Cassandra and Jane's was a mutual quite satisfied. Look at Levertov's sister whole book, for the subjects of all the admiration. But Cassandra fulfilled the alga, "By the gas-fire, kneeling/to un­ essays lived within the last two centuries, domestic support role, Jane the wage­ dress,/scorching luxuriously, rakinglher are white and of European ancestry, earner's. In their own mother's words, nails over olive sides, the red/waistband affluent, and famous. The thesis with they were "wedded to each other." Susan ring..." Or Rich's "yet our eyes drink which McNaron unifies these studies is Lanser traces the life-long devotion of the from each other/our lives were driven that the intensity and ambiguity of the Austen sisters by interlacing biographical down the same dark canal." Indeed, sister bond is central to women's details with analyses ofthe novels to make Levertov and Rich evoke far better than

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4 115 any collection of essays possible the true Sister Bond, keep in mind the equal Celie and Shug in Alice Walker's The Calor essence of the sister bond. power of a variety of other sibling bonds, Purple. White Victorians too often form the me­ from the passion of George Eliot's Tom The Sister Bond is attractive in design and asure of our cultural comparisons. Let's and Maggie Tulliver to the sibling intrica­ format, greatly enhanced by six sets of not now make it white Victorian females! cies in Shakespeare's plays (for example, portraits of the subjects. Without denying the solid value of The As You Like It), to the life-sustaining love of

scape. Valuable and necessary as such Even the appearance of complicity with­ efforts admittedly may be for many indi­ out its substance neatly confers the seal of vidual women, minority group members, approval on a bureaucratic discourse that and men, Ferguson correctly acknow­ suppresses the authentic and radical orga­ ledges that individual success stories are nizational voice of marginalized groups, not in themselves particularly feminist, especially women. Alternatives are ren­ even when they occur en masse. Nor is dered invisible. For those of us subject to equal opportunity a radical response to bureaucratic invasion in our daily lives hierarchical structures which, by defini­ (virtually everyone) but with a limited tion, only permit equal access to inequit­ choice in workplaces, it is a classic case of able power arrangements, therebylegiti­ being caught, and conflicted, between yet mating relations of domination and another rock and hard place. subordination. The ascent of even large Fortunately, even the Gordian knot of numbers of women within corporate bureaucracy has a few strategically­ ranks is unlikely to effect radical change in located loose ends. Women, historically the nature of bureaucracy - although the subordinates in private enclave and some limited cosmetic reforms do occur, public enterprise, have learned some to the delight of public relations person­ essential survival skills from life on the nel. The problematic success of a few margin of two overlapping milieus. token women lends tacit approval to the Ferguson articulates a challenge to corpo­ systematic but sanitized domination of rate authoritarianism by drawing upon many, while effectively muting the dis­ the "submerged discourse" thatexpresses cussion of alternative arrangements for values moulded by women's traditional THE FEMINIST CASE accomplishing the productive work of experience as nurturers and caregivers. AGAINST BUREAUCRACY society. Thus, the most promising arena for orga­ A glance at the bottom line indicates nizational praxis proceeds from the actual Kathy E. Ferguson. Philadelphia: Temple that individual achievers pay an exhorbi­ "underside" experience and perspective University Press, 1984. tant price for organizational accomplish­ of women - rather than from the more ment. Ferguson points out that the terms familiar idealized human nature of radical Mary Anne Coffey of even limited success require at least Left persuasion. apparent conformity to bureaucratic rules Arguments based on the primacy of the It is difficult not to be circumspectly and values along with the lobotomizing of submerged values arbitrarily assigned to gleeful at the appearance of a radical critical consciousness, in itself a damning women as necessary to social functioning, feminist conceptualization of organiza­ indictment of typical organizational ex­ butinconvenient for capital accumulation, tional theory that refutes the familiar perience. Although coerced compliance is leave theorists open to often inaccurate social science excuses for bureaucracy and the norm among the heirs to friendly charges of essentialism. To counter this that simultaneously presents a challenge corporate fascism, apparent acquiescence tendency, Ferguson carefully delimits the to liberal feminist analyses and critiques to the rulebook does not totally preclude less savory distortions patriarchal oppres­ from the androcentric Left. To my know­ resistance to its strictures. But institu­ sion has imposed on women's values and ledge, it is the first extended enquiry of its tionalized conscientious objectors are, at on the complex of devalued traits labelled kind in a field in which radical feminist best, survivors of bureaucracy, and "femininity." In an interesting expansion contributions have achieved print status cannot expect to thrive there. Useful as upon the important work of Rosabeth at the proverbial snail's pace, while actual limited resistance is in affirming indi­ Moss Kanter, she draws parallels between institution-building in the womanculture vidual integrity, or in achieving specific the subordinate traits exhibited bywomen has proceeded at full speed. Design in­ workplace reforms, the overwhelming and their appearance among other novations developed by activists conse­ bureaucratization of human experience oppressed groups (managers, clerical and quently have remained hidden in the back co-opts dissent. Simply stated, the enemy industrial workers, and human service alleys of organizational discourse. cannot be subverted from within by using clients). "Femininity," she suggests, is a Movement contributions that do make what amounts to bureaucratic self­ trait exhibited by subordinates of both it to mainstreet have articulated a pre­ defence measures in attack mode. As genders, a learned tactical response to dominantly liberal strategy of gaining Ferguson notes, "It is hard to be a 'closet constant domination of either the equal access to power, status, and reward radical' when an inspection of the closets bureaucratic or patriarchal variety. within the ubiquitous bureaucratic struc­ is part of the organization's daily routine The difficulty with the "feminization of tures that blight the post-industrial land- (p. 193)." oppression" approach is that women, un-

116 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME like men, are subject to domination in Angela Miles and Geraldine Finn pointed explanatory power. both public workplace and private home, outin Feminism In Canada, the central issue Nevertheless, by presenting a critique reinforced by a pervasive, heterosexist which unites women otherwise divided of bureaucracy based in the perspective of ideology of specifically female subordina­ by colour, class, and sexual orientation is women, Ferguson has made a notable tion to men. Women who transgress our relation to the reproductive process. beginning at melting the bars of Max against cultural norms of appropriate An argument which draws inspiration Weber's "iron cage." Hers is a thought­ female behavior, especially lesbians, are from female-associated values as the basis provoking andaccomplished contribution severely sanctioned. Ferguson presents for a radical new politics of resistance and to the study of organizations and to an inadequate analysis of why it is that transformation in bureaucracy, but does feminist theory. women are oppressed as women, rather not unapologetically locate its genesis in than as a bureaucratic underclass. As women's specificity, loses much of its

UNION SISTERS: of ourabilities. It fosters responSibility and edited collection of twenty-eight articles WOMEN IN THE LABOUR cooperation among us, a sense of com­ grouped into five sections, each of which MOVEMENT munity with other workers." Within each deals with a different aspect of women in story, such a goal was not always articu­ the Canadian labour movement: the his­ Edited by Linda Briskin and Lynda Yanz. lated, nor was it won without a struggle­ torical and statistical background of Toronto: The Women's Press, 1983. nor indeed was it always won. But the women in the work force and in trade women's accounts provide us with a unions in Canada; specific union issues; HARD EARNED WAGES: dramatic and moving record of their the problems of non-unionized working WOMEN FIGHTING FOR commitment to attaining "good work." women; the experience of union women; BETTER WORK One of the striking merits of this book is the alliances between the labour move­ the vividness of the first-hand descrip­ ment and other organizations, and a re­ Jennifer Penney. Toronto: The Women's tions: even a canning factory in Nova source section on women and unions. Press, 1983. Scotia comes alive with sounds and The largest section of the book deals smells. In the chapter "Working Steel," with such union issues as affirmative Janice Newton three women hired at the Stelco plant in action, microtechnology, part-time work, Hamilton describe their very different sexual harassment, lesbians and gays in Union Sisters and Hard Earned Wages are motivations for working at SteIco, and the union movement, the right to strike, two books that deal with the challenges their very different reactions to the forms and collective bargaining. Some of these and experiences of women in today's paid of sexual harassment they experienced on articles, although useful as an introduc­ labour force. In many respects the books the job. Another woman pointedly tion for initiates to the union movement, address similar themes stemming from expressed her contempt for "crumbs-off­ would probably strike a union activist as women's experiences in the current paid the-table unionism" which presumed that far too simplistic. We are given the follow­ labour force: the struggle to get a job; the "If they're having a bigger meal at the ing as a sample contract clause for equal feminized job ghettos; the challenge for table, more crumbs will fall off the side for pay for work of equal value: "Employees women entering non-traditional jobs; the those of us waiting below." We are led to shall receive equal pay for work of equal relations with bosses, foremen, employ­ understand the frustration this woman value regardless of sex." Anyone familiar ers, co-workers, the government, unions experienced in trying to better her work­ with the process of collective bargaining and one's own family and friends; the ing conditions while having to work will recognize that such language is not struggles with poverty, racism, sexual through such a union. As the different very useful in the absence of language harassment and the double work day; themes in the lives of these women concerning how to implement the clause. and, in the context ofall this, the struggles emerge, they are dealt with in a very In contrast, other articles deal with simi­ to improve one's working life. In each straightforward fashion, without larly thorny issues in a much more book these issues are raised through the editorial attempts to impose upon the thoughtful manner. For example, Debbie first-hand experiences of women in their women's voices an artificial uniformity or Field's article on sexual harassmentmakes daily lives. The immediacy of these analysis. the important distinction between harass­ accounts provides a dramatic edge which Hard Earned Wages addresses itself to a ment from co-workers and harassment makes the books compelling and reward­ broad audience, particularly anyone who from employers, and goes on to discuss ing reading. has worked in the paid labour force. It possible on-the-job tactics appropriate to Despite their similarities, the orienta­ could also serve as a useful educational this distinction. Her insights are aptly tion of each book is very different. Hard tool for teaching women's work experi­ augmented by examples from her experi­ Earned Wages is a collection of stories, pre­ ence and ways to improve work. ence as a steelworker for Stelco. sented mostly in interview format, about Union Sisters is a very different sort of The articles are written primarily by the experiences of working women in ten book, even though it discusses many of women who were actively involved in quite different job settings. The objective the same themes. Its stated purpose is to these struggles; the book accomplishes its of the book is to focus on work itself and "document the struggles and victories of purpose of providing valuable docu­ the ways in which women have fought to the movement of union women as well as mentation of the experiences of trade attain "good work." This is work that to provide some direction to women and union women. It also provides very "enables us to use our gifts, to develop unions as they fight to defend the in­ practical information on improving the our skills, to become proud and confident terests of working people." The book is an position of women in the trade union

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4 117 movement and in work situations gene­ Union Sisters attempts to analyse these framework. As such it is a crucial resource rally. Finally, unlike Hard Earned Wages, issues within a larger analytical for activists within the field.

MAN-MADE LANGUAGE use of tag questions) interpreted as inar­ in writing, in getting published, and in ticulate and ineffective. Happily, much of getting fairly reviewed. Also noted are the Dale Spender. London: Routledge & the 1980's research has overcome this bias recent contributions of feminist presses. Kegan Paul, 1985. Second Edition. and questions Spender saw as unaddres­ Spender makes a strong case for sed or little-studied have been the subject women's muted state with respect to Ruth King of extensive investigation. language and society. It is a simple and Chapter 2, "Constructing Women's fairly obvious point, but one which has This immensely popular book has been Silence," documents the invisibility of met, and continues to meet, with reprinted three times since it was first women in many academic disciplines and considerable resistance. She is also right published in 1980; it now appears in a in research (in sociology and anthropo­ about a number of peripheral issues. second edition. The main body of the text logy, for example). Later in the book For instance, her comments on still­ is unchanged, but Dale Spender has Spender shows how women writers popular assertiveness training program­ added a preface and revised the introduc­ (except those few who have been judged mes for women get to the crux of the tion. In the preface she explains that, acceptable by male authority - Jane Au­ matter: writing in 1979, she had tried to fit the sten but not Elizabeth Gaskell) have been argument - that men are the creators and silenced, so that their work remains un­ Assertiveness training programmes based controllers of language - into terms known to following generations. Even in upon the premise that all will be well when acceptable to males: "I made suggestions her own work Spender acknowledges women come to talk like men have seemed to rather than assertions; I put forward that, writing in 1979, she assumed that she me misguided because they have overlooked excuses [for male behavior] rather than was the first to put forward her thesis, the cruci£ll deciding factor, sex. Women will allegations. Seeking acceptance within the unaware of the work of Elizabeth Cady still be judged as women no matter how academic community Itried to abide byits Stanton a century before. they speak, and no amount of talking the rules." The tone in the preface and new Chapter 3, "The Dominant and the same as men will make them men, and introduction is less conciliatory. Spender Muted," introduces the theoretical subject to the same judgments. is now convinced that the dominant framework developed by Edward group will not change of its own accord. Ardener in response to the bias he per­ The few flaws I have found with this Men continue to insist on theirownsupre­ ceived in the treatment (or non-treatment) book are all linguistic, and of a type macy, their own worth and their of women in anthropological research. probably not apparent (or important?) to autonomy; it is up to women to take The idea is that women have been ex­ the non-linguist. For example, her use of control of the language, as it will not be cluded from the creation of meaning and the word 'meaning' is vague. Sometimes handed to us. therefore have no means of expressing she equates meaning with denotation, The author believes that language is a themselves which reflects their own sometimes with connotation, and some­ vehicle for the perpetuation of patriarchy. world view. Shirley Ardener has argued times with world view. There is also some Encoded in language is a male world view that male control is most powerful in the confusion about whether a particular which shapes everyone's perceptions area of public discourse, the rules of phenomenon is semantic or syntactic in (consider the image conjured up by The which are especially foreign to women. nature: none of the examples given in applicant should include five copies ofhis CV). Chapter 4, ''Woman Talk: the Legitimate Chapter 5 are syntactic as claimed; they Women, like other oppressed groups, Fear", elaborates this theme and docu­ are semantic. Itis implied that a language have different life experiences and the ments the important role played by con­ may have natural gender or grammatical connotations they attach to words are not sciousness-raising groups in the early gender, but not both. This is clearly necessarily those of the dominant group 1970's in giving women an arena to not true. (for example, motherhood is not necessarily develop their own form of talk. Spender deals only with English "beautiful"). For there to be change in the Chapter 5, "Language and Reality: data. Data from other languages would social order, women must invest the lan­ Who Made the World?," gives concrete strengthen some of her claims. For guage with their own meanings. examples of sexism in language (he/man example, cross-linguistic evidence would The book is divided into seven language is discussed in some detail) and help her argument that male pitch chapters. Chapter 1, "To Believe or not to in Chapter 6, "The Politics of Naming," changes atpubertyare notsolelybased on Believe ... Language/Sex Research," pre­ sexism in religious terminology (drawing physiology. The claim that in English a sents a critique of earlier work in the field, on the work of Mary Daly) and in sexual mixed-sex group can be referred to as in which sexism in language was consi­ terminology are dealt with. Women are "men" or "guys" but not "women" dered a separate issue from malelfemale beginning to inject our words into the reminds one ofstrict pronominal usage in differences in language use. Spender sees language. Not so long ago the terms a language such as French - no matter this split as an artificial one; both have 'sexism' and 'sexual harassment' did not whatthe proportion of females to males in their origins in patriarchy. She is also criti­ exist; today, the primary meanings of a group, the third personplural masculine cal of early studies in which male speech 'chauvinism' and 'sisterhood' are female­ pronoun, ils, must be used. tended to be regarded as the norm and influenced ones. On the whole, the book is an important deviations from that norm (usually with Chapter 7, "Women and Writing," is one, as readable and pertinent today as respect to isolated variables, such as the about the history of women's difficulties when it was first published.

118 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME LANGUAGE, THE SEXES AND an excellent summary. The first part of should certainly be clear to anyone who SOOETY Chapter 4, "Feminine and masculine has finished the book. speech," is devoted to acoustic correlates Smith writes the book from the view­ Philip M. Smith. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, of speaker sex and to recognition of speak­ point of social psychology, but draws 1985. (Language in Society, volume 8.) er sex for both prepubertal and postpuber­ heavily on results in linguistics and tal speakers. The rest of the chapter anthropology. Thus the book will be of Sheila M. Embleton returns to some issues raised in Chapter I, interest to anyone in these fields, in discussed here in more detail-phonologi­ women's studies, andas mentioned inthe Recent years have seen an explosive cal and grammatical variation, standard editor's preface, to "concerned human increase in the amount of interest, and prestige speech norms, sex dif­ being(s)" in general. Reluctantly, research, and publication in the study of ferences, and perceived masculinity and however, I must state that I would be very the relationship between language and femininity. hesitant about recommending this book, sex. Although the question of sexism in Chapter 5, "The measurement of particularly as a textbook, despite its language is perhaps one of the most femininity and masculinity," reports criti­ manyinnovative contributions. Although salient issues for non-linguists, linguists callyon the history of the measurement of I am no expert in social psychology or have spent far more time investigating masculinity and femininity and gives the anthropology, as a linguist and a statisti­ sex-linked differences in the use of lan­ results of a study undertaken by the cian I was alarmed at the number of infeli­ guage and in conversational strategies. author with a view to developing a mea­ cities and even downright errors in the Much recent work, particularly that sure which would overcome the short­ book related to these latter two fields. concerned with sex-linked variations comings ofprevious measures. Chapter6, Itis stated twice (pp. 5, 81) thatinKiirux (sometimes extremely subtle) in pronun­ 'Judging masculine and feminine social (a Dravidian language) "only women ciation and in use of dialect forms, has identities from speech: two experiments', pronounce the conjugation of verbs for been quantitative in nature, employing applies the new method experimentally, the feminine gender;" presumably what sophisticated sampling and statistical suggesting that "listeners discriminate is meant is that a particular verbal inflec­ techniques. It is against this background less between male and female spea­ tion is only used by women in certain cir­ that Philip Smith sets his investigation of kers, perceive members of their own sex cumstances. Human vocallzations do not sex-stereotypes, perceptions of mascu­ as less uniform, and members of produce "electromagneticenergy" (p. 58); linity and femininity, interaction, and the opposite sex as more uniform, as the human vocalizations.produce sound social change. strength of ingroup gender identity pressure waves, which may be converted Chapter I, "Major influences on increases." (by mechanical devices) to electromagne­ language and sex research," briefly Chapter 7, "The management of in­ tic energy for transmission by, for exam­ reviews well-known examples ofpronun­ teraction," is concerned with interperson­ ple, radio or telephone. The standard tone ciation, grammar, and vocabulary differ­ al interaction in communication and the for tuning musical instruments (middle A) ences between male and female speakers dimensions of "control" (traditionally is not 400 Hz (p. 59), but rather 440 Hz. in various languages, and then sketches associated with masculinity) and "affi­ The vocal "chords" (pp. 59, 63, 64) are in some recent results in sociolinguistics, liation" (traditionally associated with fact the vocal cords. Compared to a figure where certain social factors (e.g., social femininity), as well as with the tactics of of 81% accuracy, 60% is "significantly re­ class, sex, age) have been found to deter­ conversation management and conflict duced" whereas 59% "is not significantly mine some aspects of linguistic variation. resolution. Chapter 8, "Language, the above chance performance" (p. 61); Chapter 2, "The sociogenesis of relations sexes and social change," isolates "some whichever label is chosen, both 60% and between the sexes," examines the binary of the more salient sources of language­ 59% should be treated in the same way social categorization of sex and the atten­ related social conflict in female-male (unless anexplanation for the difference is dantlack of tolerance of "negative correla­ relations [and illustrates] strategies for forthcoming). tions between sexual anatomy and resolving them." This chapter is extreme­ A studyis reported inwhich fourteen gender" in most societies. This leads into a ly well-written, with an excellent section student teachers judged the sex of the discussion of sex stereotypes, self­ on contemporary challenges to the status speaker from recordings of twenty assessed gender identity, and impression quo (such as the use of Ms. and the adop­ working-class and twenty middle-class formation. tion of non-sexist guidelines for language ten-year-olds equally divided betweenthe Chapter 3, "Language and the repre­ use) and denial of those challenges sexes, without also reporting on the sex or sentation ofwomen and men," deals with (e.g. arguments that sexist language does class of the student teachers (pp. 67-8). the differential portrayal of women and not exist). Dental articulations are confused with men in advertising, reference books, and In keeping with the strength of this alveolar (p. 79). Sample means are con­ the media in general, followed by naming book as a review of the literature, there is a ventionally represented as X rather than and forms of address, association of occu­ 21-page reference section, followed by an Smith's ~ which would be used for pational terms (such as plumber, nurse) index of names and an index of subjects. populations means (pp. 119-24). I am una­ primarily with one sex, "generic" nouns A word must also be said about the car­ ware of any linguistic term"exempletive" and pronouns, and the relationship of toon illustration on the cover, which (p. 150) for such words as "Damn!" and all these to the "sexual subculture" would probably puzzle those who have cannot find it in any dictionary of linguis­ and perceptions of masculinity and not yet read the book. It neatly illustrates tic terms; surely "expletive" is intended. femininity. Although the chapter goes three features assumed to characterize Unfortunately, these problems damage well beyond this, those whoare interested female speech - hesitation, exaggerated the author's credibility to an extent which in sexism in language will find this to be intonation, and tag questions - and they should not. Furthermore, theycould

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4 119 have been eliminated simply by having a annoying, but some of these errors occa­ and stereotyping, and which has already linguist and a statistician read the entire sionally interfere with comprehension, devoted space to how advertisements manuscript before publication; this is all particularly awkward in a book with a "conventionalize our conventions" by the more surprising as the series editor, large interdisciplinary audience. It is also excessively correlating higher status, Peter Trudgill, is an eminent linguist. In surprising to find a statement such as larger physical size, and male. Ironically, addition, there are somewhat more typo­ "since boys enjoy a slight average size it shows how much further some of the graphical errors than one is accustomed to advantage over girls ... [italics mine]" in a "social change" described in Chapter 8 in a book from Blackwell. Most are merely book so clearly concerned with sexism has yet to go.

Most of the contributors are academics: letters to the editor - although she was this affects the tone of the book, deter­ unable to match Eastman's six-foot mines what issues are highlighted and the stature. Linda Koolish, a photographer, kinds of problems encountered by the claims that "When I am photographing various writers during the course of their someone, I 'take her in' with a kind of research. active receptivity. If this process does not Between Women contains a wealth of occur, then nothing meaningful appears information about the various women on film." subjects. Yi-Tsi Mei Feuerwerker's essay This identification with subjects is taken "In Quest of Ding Ling" discusses the even further by a number of women who Chinese writer's long career and the discuss their subjects in the most personal effects of political change on her life and terms, often admitting a merging of their work. Ann Jackowitz's essay "Anna 0./ mother and their subject. Carol Ascher Bertha Pappenheim and Me" questions remarks in a letter to her subject, Simone the conflicting stories about Pappenheim de Beauvoir: "just as I love my mother as psychoanalytic case study and as phi­ when she assumes her independence, I lanthropist and activist. Gloria T. Hull's love your urge toward freedom." Myrtha essay on Alice Dunbar-Nelson is rich in Chabran's essay takes the form of a letter detail about this nineteenth century Black to her mother about her subject; May woman writer and public person. Each Stevens's essay is a juxtaposition of essay is accompanied by photos of both images of and words on her mother and the essay writer and her subject. Itis fasci­ Rosa Luxemburg. This intensely sub­ nating to study these images: many of the jective perspective comes from feminists BElWEEN WOMEN women chose images of their subjects that who highly value personal revelation and in some way resemble themselves. who believe in an inherent commonality Edited by Carol Ascher, Louise DeSalvo The collection addresses questions between women that transcends and Sara Ruddick. Boston: Beacon Press, about how personal life affects work and significant differences. It is, however, 1984. the manner in which one's own history problematic. influences the choice of subject and the Barbara MacDonald argued in the Pamela Walker stance taken. The question of objectivity/ plenary session of the 1985 National subjectivity runs throughout the entire Women's Studies Association Conference Between Women is a collection of essays book. Feminists have questioned the that the writers in this collection who appropriately sub-titled "Biographers, notion that there exists a value-free, identify their mother with their subject are Novelists, Critics, Teachers and Artists neutral stance from which one can study ageist. The identification assumes that Write about Their Work on Women." It is and write. What then is the relationship older women are maternal by definition, the companion volume to Working It Out: between self and subject? although many of these women were 23 Women Writers, Artists, Scientists, and Bell Gale Chevigny writes that her childless by choice. Many of the writers Scholars Talk About Their Lives and Work approach to her biographical subject seek the approval of their subjects, there­ (Pantheon, 1977), which Sara Ruddick co­ Margaret Fuller gave rise to questions and by creating a dependency relationship edited with Pamela Daniels. a sense of engagement with her subject that gives the older woman responsibili­ Nearly all of the twenty-five contribu­ that "amounted at times to a sense of ties that do not belong to her. tors are American; all but five are white identification. I wondered how this had The underlying assumption is that women. Their subjects are primarily affected my work, whether it had dis­ through such intense identification the women who are familiar to feminist scho­ torted it or deepened it, or both, and what writer can somehow come to better know lars, such as Simone de Beauvoir, Simone the identification meant." Blanche Weisen her subject. Bonny Vaught, for example, Weil and Charlotte Bronte. Three of the Cook writes: "My identification with the suggests that her isolation in a new town essays focus on Virginia Woolf, a surfeit views and style of Crystal Eastrnan be­ made her sensitive to the racism suffered that undoubtedly resulted from came the key to my ongoing work. Perso­ by her Black nineteenth-century subject, Ruddick's original conception: "In the nal attachment is central to me. Ifit fails to Charlotte Forten. Is there a need for this first glimmering of this book, Ienvisioned emerge in the course of research, Ichange empathetic construction in order for us to women telling personal stories about their subjects." She found herself, like appreciate the effects of racism on Forten? reading and writing on Virginia Woolf." Eastrnan, drinking too much and writing Is it even possible to fully comprehend

120 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME another person from another era and address, except in passing, events outside women. The sense of distance from the culture? Does the intense identification of the work itself and aspects of the writer's rest of the world which comes from a read­ writer with subject in any way clarify the personal life. Meredith Tax's essay is one ing of most of these essays emphasizes the sUbject's work or life? Although the collec­ of the few exceptions: she deals with the fact that they are about women writing tion addresses these questions, it does not connections between her work and her about women's writing and work-which fully grapple with the effects of this identi­ on-going political engagements and places them at three removes from the fication. concerns. Interestingly, she is the only actual text or event. The majority of these essays do not contributor to write about a group of

A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE: THE like Kathy Stobart, a talented jazz appointment that nearly all the women LIVES OF OLDER WOMEN saxophonist, who struggled all her feel in their relationships with men ­ life against male prejudice and obstruc­ the "agonizing incompatibilities," the Susan Hemmings. London: Pandora tionism. Black and Asian women speak of suppression "of their own needs and in­ Press, 1985. their fight against the double oppression tellect." Hemmings says she did not de­ of racism and sexism, only to later con­ liberately seek out unhappily married Leah Cohen tend with ageism as well. These stories are women. In fact, she says she is surprised painful to read, but ultimately are uplift­ at how few of the women she interviewed Western society is experiencing a ing in their honesty and determination. spoke positively about the joys and re­ population explosion among its mid-life The clear unequivocal political con­ wards of marriage. What sustains and and older women. Traditionally we have sciousness of many of these women is nurtures most of these women, especially quietly faded into life's sidelines or conve­ very exciting. Most of them realize that as they grow older, are their friendships niently died just as our usefulness as the women's movement is the Single most with other women. wives and mothers ended. important political force in this century On a societallevel, these women quite A Wealth of Experience is a book of elo­ and that it is women's only hope for accurately describe the female condition­ quent oral history, capturing the lives of "sanity and salvation in a misogynist one of silent endurance. Women sacrifice eighteen older British women between world." for and nurture and support their hus­ the ages of forty and eighty-five. These The many issues touched upon- pover­ bands, children, and finally their aging women, of various educational levels, ty, racism, sexist health care, wife batter­ parents. Regardless of class, race, or write vividly of the events in their lives ing, ageism, lesbianism, etc. - graphically sexual orientation, all women experience which were most significant in shaping portray women's collective oppression life as second-class citizens. The differ­ their ideas and their life choices. from mid-life on. However, editor Susan ence is one of degree. Henrietta Hempstead, ateighty-five the Hemmings assumes too much knowledge We feel these women's courage, pain, oldest woman, and a life-long political on the part of the reader. In an effort to let and amazing endurance. They are won­ activist, concludes, "1 believe that co­ women speak in their own voices, she derfully self-aware and full of the absurdi­ operatives can provide the answer to neglected to group the stories by theme or ty of life. At the same time, many exude many of the problems of the world ... to provide some very necessary tran­ hope and optimism about their own people are doing something for them­ sitions. As a result, the reader is jolted personal futures and the future of huma­ selves where profit isn't the only motive." from one voice to the next and can easily nity. These are women from whom we Vera Carpenter, who became politically become disoriented. The book also suffers normally never hear - ordinary women, active on her housing estate, fought for from poor organization and a lack of com­ struggling to find meaning in a sexist, issues like good daycare and accessible ments or analysis within the stories. ageist world. birth control. Othervoices are heard, such Unless one is very familiar with older Susan Hemmings has the raw material as that of Ann Gabriel, a retired school­ women's issues, it is hard to pick out any here for raising our consciousness about teacher who took up feminism and unifying threads. Hemmings beginS with life as an older woman; for forcing us to activism late in life after a lifetime of a powerful introductory essay, but does reflect on our narrow options; and for passivity and dependence. And Leah not draw any conclusions. Unfortunately, harnessing our collective rage. It is unfor­ Shaw, a Jewish immigrant who fled we are too frequently left dangling, not tunate that she did not take the further certain death in Hitler's Europe, had sure what the point is and wanting to and final, but difficult step of pulling it the courage to acknowledge her own know more. all together in a powerful concluding lesbianism in mid-life and to start a The one personal common theme that synthesis. supportgroup. Then there are the women does clearly emerge is the acute dis-

WOMEN'S FOLKLORE, Compiled by Francis A. de Caro. the recent explosion of interest in WOMEN'S CULTURE Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1983. women's folklore. One provides the first substantial bibliography on the subject, Edited by Rosan A. Jordan and Susan J. Kalcik. Philadelphia: University of Edith Fowke and the other gives a dozen articles on a Pennsylvania Press, 1985. wide variety of aspects. These two books produced by active Women's Folklore, Women's Culture falls WOMEN AND FOLKLORE: members of the Women's Section of the into three sections titled "Women in A BIBLIOGRAPHIC SURVEY American Folklore Society demonstrate PrivateIWomen with Women," "Women

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4 121 in Public," and "Two Worlds/One roles held by men and women in that published in the States. Granted, the World." The first emphasizes the age-old culture. Elaine Jahner studies the inter­ editor does say "it has no pretence to custom of women talking among them­ dependence of men and women in the being all-inclusive," but there are numer­ selves about family history and subjects of rituals and everyday life of the Lakota ous English and Scottish listings, plus peculiar feminine interest. Unda Degh Sioux in Nebraska, with special reference some from Germany, India, Australia, describes two Hungarian women in Gary, to the ancient art of beadworking. and Mexico, so it is obviously intended to Indiana, who exchange observations Naturally the selection in any anthology be international. This ignoring of the about their neighbours and traditional like this can be criticized; I would like to closest neighbour is particularly unfor­ stories in telephone chats. Rosan A. have seen something dealing with tunate as women have played a major part Jordan examines stories told by Mexican­ women as singers, as well as story-tellers in our folklore. A brief scanning of A American women that reveal their sense and craft workers. However, on the Bibliography of Canadian Folklore in English of women's place in the men's world. whole the editors have assembled avaried would have provided a great many items. Susan Roach writes of a family quilting and interesting batch of articles and fitted Afew include Adele Wiseman's delightful bee in Louisiana that involves a grand­ them into relevant patterns. All the book, Old Woman at Play; Anna's Art by mother, five aunts, three cousins, and one authors except one are American; the Reginald Good; More than 50%: Women's male family member. Geraldine Niva exception is Kay Stone who teaches at the Life in aNewfoundland Outport by Hilda C. Johnson writes of a Maryland woman University of Winnipeg. Murray; The Backwoodswoman by Isabel who continues the pioneer craft of making The aim of Women and Folklore: A Biblio­ Skelton; "Women and Folklore" by rag rugs in a small room off her gas graphic Survey is to provide "a reference Gillian Thomas; biographical material on station. Margaret R. Yocum, who writes of tool which brings together knowledge of Barbara Cass-Beggs, Louise Manny, Grandmother Yocum and her Pennsylva­ what has been published on women's Charlotte Cormier, Ida Halpern, and nia Dutch family, makes the point that folklore, folklore about women, and re­ others; and numerous books on women's women's folklore is frequenHy over­ lated topics." It opens with a very useful handicrafts such as Women's Costume in looked because it is usually shared only "Essay Guide" that discusses the various Early Ontario: "Keep Me Warm One Night"; among women. types of books concerned with women's Early Handweaving in Eastern Canada; The second section deals with women folklore, giving examples of each and 300 Years of Canada's Quilts; Ukrainian who operate outside the small circles of commenting on the important points they Embroidery Designs and Stitches; plus many friends and family. Susan J. Kalcik studies make, thus providing a form of annota­ items on Indian weaving, spinning, knit­ women who are part of the community tion. It was a considerable task to assem­ ting, basket-making, etc. This is without using citizen's band radio (CB). She finds ble over 1,600 entries on this topic, and reference to publications since 1979, and significance in the names (or "handles") this bibliography will certainly be useful to without checking any of the fairly numer­ chosen and the development of airwave anyone working in the field of women's ous Canadian women's periodicals. courtships. Janet L. Langlois examines a studies. Perhaps it is time for someone to compile a female outlaw, Belle Gunness, who is said It might have been more useful, bibliography of "Women and Folklore in to have killed numerous suitors and her however, if the 1600 entries had been sub­ Canada." husband and children in Indiana some divided or some system of classification eighty years ago. The legends about her had been devised. I would like to have raise questions of her "femaleness" and seen a separate grouping for the fairly *Managing Editor's Note: Edith Fowke, the whether she was a victim of domineering numerous references that are not directly author of the above review, has been men. Kay F. Stone ex~mines the images of relevant, and possibly separate sections respected for many years as a leading women in fairy tales as witches, wicked for biographical material, text collections, Canadian folklorist. In discussing the stepmothers, fairies, fairy godmothers, or analytical articles, etc. The Study Guide failure of the bibliography under review to passive heroines, and the way boys and and the index help some, but not enough. cite relevant Canadian materials, she girls react to them. It would also have been useful to have a modestly omits any reference to her own The third section deals with the ways list of the major women's periodicals with distinguished work in the field. Had the men and women relate to each other. addresses. Many of those cited would be bibliographer Francis A. de Caro taken Karen Baldwin shows how her aunt and difficult to locate from the titles alone. note of the vast number of books, articles, uncle together produce a family's history From my point of view the most serious records and radio broadcasts prepared by as they compete in telling their stories. fault is the almost complete lack of Edith Fowke, she would have found Carol Mitchell analyzes the differences in Canadian items. I found only one book many items centrally relevant to women the jokes told by men and women. published in Canada: Helen Creighton's and folklore. I highly recommend to Margaret Mills shows how sex change autobiography. The only other items our readers her rich collection Folklore of and sex role reversal in Muslim storytell­ by Canadians are Barbara Cass-Beggs' Canada (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, ing reveal the differing views of women's Lullabies and several articles by Kay Stone 1976; reprinted 1982).

ERRATUM: In our last issue (Vol. 6, No. 3) we published Joan Gibson's Review of Genevieve Lloyd's The Man of Reason: "Male and Female" in Western Philosophy (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984). The fifth sentence in the final paragraph of her review (p. 105) should read: "The material is well presented, but probably requires some background in the history of ideas."

122 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESILES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME apologies to the musician-poet and my "Choices": friend, and to you who flinch at this flat­ our separate lives that wait like footedness since you knew all along.] In a pair of red shoes left out all nzght Robyn Sarah's poems very occasionally a in the rain. it's no good. they're foreground fragment intrudes, for exam­ shrunken . .. ple, with the snowman in the rain: "All's Her resort to spondees is sparing, and gone granular, like a news photo/ held too every time effective. In the "Japanese close to the face"; or "... the twiimed! and Journal" section, she writes: single wings copter/ off maples." this morning I'm caught Compare these with the relationships­ in the landscape, a speck rendering of "A Drop in the Rate of in a corner of postcard Exchange" which moves from the sur­ mountains. Tdon't belong here, face-tension section, a child's walnut-shell or anywhere else boat that may float or capsize, to: or, from the final section and poem, "A we are reduced Matter of Time": to this currency graves the size of drmned lakes in which a glance with bodies like tree stumps dumped/ sustains. hurriedly ... The implicit persons, though in specific The rhythms make the emotional truth situations and places, illuminate the ourown. The words in this book too bring reader's privacy without destroying the a reader through precision into joy - joy poet's. And elegant play is going on even even in that poignant poem of be­ in the most acutely painful moments of reavement, flUdo Beach", full of light and ANYONE SKATING ON THAT clarity, a play of pure energy: tints of light. In the whole book only the MIDDLE GROUND ... You are afunctional illiterate word "calico", once, stuck inbetween Robyn Sarah. Montreal: Vehicule Press, among the software, the blip-blip reader and world, for me - maybe from 1984. and the wooky-pooky. Everything's sliding, my ignorance of the fabric not from in­ like horizon when the plane dips ... eptness. Itmustbe so, from someone who BINDING TWINE ... perhaps you bank too much sees "the low sheep-like clouds/ hanging, Penny Kemp. Charlottetown: Ragweed on knowing there's tomorrow. dropping", or "white weeds limp/ as rub­ Press, 1984. Penny Kemp's title, Binding Twine, too, ber bones in the ditch." The presence of is elaborated throughout her book, in the experiencer does not embarrass her RED SHOES IN THE RAIN terms of family ties, the bind ofalien social strict recording of what is out there. She Jan Conn. Fredericton: Fiddlehead Poetry codes, a custody trial, the coming to terms makes it over to usandleaves us shivering Books, 1984. with terms. From "Isaac's Story:" "The with gratitude. bond is the boy's/ release. The cutting! of Although at odds with her title, The THE SQUARE ROOT OF FEMALE the bond is ours.! The twine unties us Square Root of Female, Gillean Chase's Gillean Chase. Charlottetown: Ragweed both"; or "Only the full embrace off loss poem "Sons of the Fathers" dominates Press, 1984. will bind me. Empty/ armed" (a magnifi­ this book: the whack of axe hitting hard cent line-break); or "1 am tying up loose wood, unremittingly; bone-jarring work; MOTHER POEMS ends.! I am binding twine", through to an unremarked constant of pain that Susan loannou. Toronto: Wordwrights "The Twine" with its final couplet: carries over into the angry contempt this Canada, 1985. The false stories we tell ourselves, workman expresses about his easy-going the slack cord of hope. brother - a brother with whom he subse­ ON NIGHTS LIKE THIS Kemp says in her 'Introduction' that she quently relaxes in a companionable even­ Marianne Bluger. Coldstream: Brick is writing explicitly to "people who might ing of drinking. "Wood! takes a long time Books, n.d. not normally read poetry ... women to rot! even in water" - though the line is going through such a trial [who] think of from another poem. The act and impact, Margaret Avison themselves as utterly alone and indefin­ the unexplained contradictions, keep re­ ably 'guilty'." Maybe so. But what has curring in many contexts. Forceful and Anyone Skating on that Middle Ground is a been written has the sparse beauty of gentle by turns, this poetry is notintrepid, title poem and the title is a line within a meeting the intolerable open-eyed; it as Penny Kemp's is. poem and also a motif. This is a book speaks to anyone fighting off evasions or After the storm unified by a focus - strained for, malformation underan unwanted embos­ what is left is anger managed, melting away, sensed again, sing ("Itdid not occur to me/ to lose" gives and the edge of a thin fear. with each phase meticulously recorded. A full double value to both those verbs). The At one momenta lovely melancholy ques­ musician-friend explained the term poet is ready with any means. And tion rises ("what other world is there/ be­ 'middle ground:' invented by Heinrich although she chooses compression, plain side the dread tide which is Now/ bearing Schenke it means one level of configura­ words, a poem like the "Bidding Spell" us forward"), but it is betrayed by gibber­ tion of sound farther back than the music lifts the hair on your neck. ingrage atany of the ancient andbeautiful heard (the foreground) butnearer than its Jan Conn's Red Shoes in the Rain comes answers. The eruption of poetic energy is basic contours (the background). [And my from the first of four sections in herbook, a method, but a method that calls for a

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4 123 good editor. May such an editor work In Mother poems Susan loannou traces Nights like This. Her waiting is worth wait­ with this poet's output, inthe next bookor an arc of a mother's lifetime from elating ing for, viz. the word "pond": "as with in the Selected Poems when it comes. exhaustion through din, litter, hubbub, that Greek whomarvelled! atthe stars and The above four books give me pause in into the wistful awareness of approaching so doing feW into a pond, a night, an end,/ a long campaign to see some Canada freedom - having given "herself/ for a his own especial seal weird with reality." Council literature-money used to handful of soft baby buttocks/ andan hour The book at times communicates a sense develop the audience, by widening the of quiet beside City Hall." The headlong of almost-drowning escape from the flot­ distribution of the works of Canadian wri­ pace along this arc permits only sketch­ sam of everyday, with gulps of poetry ters (and not through school textbooks). book poems, with no time to revise or taken from afar to sustain life. Rhythms Only the following two books were pre­ settle rhythmic pulses. There are too may echo the sixteenth century ("the pared without Canada Council grants. many three-beaters, too may iambic pen­ paths of coins the dying sun! makes on They both come through muffled by tameters, for variations to come to a trust­ seas for her own favoured fools"), or children's preoccupying relationships and responsi­ ing ear. But such a medium is part of this rollicking verse ("and remarkable ability/ bilities. May the books lead now to provi­ message. for working upside down"). The poet's sion of time and support for both poets to "It comes for us aW as we wait where voice is finding itself among these echoes, develop their powers. we are" writes Marianne Bluger in On and one looks forward to the next book.

editor. Not even poor editing, however, events begin as the narrator's"examples" can totally obscure good writing. Some­ of coincidence, until one of them actually one at Fifth House must take the credit for coincides with another within the text. At taking risks with newer writers, and for this point another narrative begins (in ita­ servicing women who like to read fiction lics), and the "roundup" ends. COUNfRY that bespeaks their experience. Even more radical is Eunice Scarfe, who No fan of Canadian prose, I have uses parody and the absurd to almost OfTHE~ learned a lot from these two books. I do bracket the whole of "In the Clearing," a not come away from Double Bond or Coun­ story peopled by a lady-like pine cone try of the Heart sensing a prairie women's picker, a multi-breasted lactating mother, HE~R'I vision, but I do come away knowing a few a runner-messenger in "an emerald triple things for sure. This fiction is decidedly ply polyester jersey suit," and a Pete, a women's; it is most certainly not of central Joe, a masturbator, and a deft [with a Canada; and, with a few minor excep­ boomerang] Diana. Soap opera and tions, it does women justice. parable - Scarfe mocks them both. The fifteen stories in Double Bond tend The more realistic stories in Double Bond toward realism - set in the country or the are written by women who were born on a !K)\'C! small town - or postmodernism, and a the prairies, and by women who were Sharon Butala few are a bit ofboth. Diane Schomperlen's born as far away as England and India. remarkable "Life Sentences" is probably But most of the stories are set in prairie the most experimental in the collection. towns and small cities, or on farms and Not unlike the bracketed thought patterns ranches. And the relationship between DOUBLE BOND: AN ANTHOLOGY so common to the nouveau roman, the main character(s) and her environ­ OF PRAIRIE WOMEN'S FICTION Schomperlen's sentences are punctuated ment and its traditions is generally central by parenthesized blanks the reader can­ to her quest. Edna Alford's Aria, for ex­ Edited by Caroline Heath. Saskatoon: not help but fill in. One of Schomperlen's ample, finds courage in the companion­ Fifth House, 1984. protagonists ["she"], for example, "just ship of Mrs. Dawson, a woman whose naturally assumed that the young man habits and wisdom represent all that is COUNTRY OF THE HEART () her as much as she () him." good about the prairies to Aria. Alford, "She" and "he" are, like Kafka's Joseph K born in Livelong, Saskatchewan, holds Sharon Butala. Saskatoon: Fifth House, in The Trial, sentenced to the same term as Mrs. Dawsonin her arms as she dies, only 1984. their parents. Don'tbe dismayed, though, a few days away from her hundredth because "there is no one to blame, no one birthday. "Companionship" is, unfortu­ Marlene Kadar to thank but ( )." The story ends nately, the only Double Bond story which where it began. celebrates love between women as a Double Bond and Country of the Heart Next to Schoemperlen, Carol Shields, primary episode in the plot. are probably a thorn in the side of author of the award-winning novel Small Aria is an earnest hero, who learns from Saskatchewan's Fifth House press. Ceremonies, pushes the psychological her experience with Mrs. Dawson and Worthy of attention both within and out­ limits of the postmodern vision in acts on what she has learned. In the most side Canada, reviewers may hesitate at "Various Miracles: A Roundup." She light-hearted of the realistic stories, the glaring typographical errors, the un­ organizes various, apparently mundane Sandra Birdsell's Lureen ("Falling in grammatical sentences and, in the case of events in peoples' lives in order to cele­ Love") fulfills her quest without acting on Double Bond, an amateurish back cover­ brate coincidence and happenstance, and it at all. Lureen has taken falling in love all, in the end, the responsibility of the she, too, ends where she began. These with Larry Cooper very seriously, but

124 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME Larry "has flown the coop," leaving a to his bed" the day that she was born ­ a growing number of fictional daughters black rabbit ("Satan") and "one measly "November 7, the anniversary of the who is - now that women are writing shirt" to remind Lureen of him. Lureen Bolshevik Revolution." Harris' "The more of the scripts - mis-fathered or has no interest in acting on anything she Soma Building" is the most philosophical, fatherless. It is not an entirely satisfying has learned; she wants her Larry back, polysemous of the realistic stories. In the ending because Lannie leaves too many and she dreams about him, waits for him, end the narrator becomes the creative stones unturned: we wonder what ever and reconstructs conversations with him writer about whom Hams writes, and the came of her university lover, the ''boy'' until Larry finally reappears in the middle father's wisdom initiates her own Tim, or herchildhood friend, Angela- the of the night, and they go off and make revelation, her unfinished fiction, in her only person in whom she confides. And love in the park. office in the Soma Building. Hams' narra­ we also expect there to be a more pro­ This is the only story of its kind in tive voice is complex, butnowhere is voice found reason for getting to know Barney Double Bond, but it is one of the stories as self-consciously intricate as it is in and Iris from the inside, but none which depends very much on its prairie Sharon Butala's first novel, Country of comes. setting for metaphor and dialogue, almost the Heart. Not as tendentious as last year's Baker's as much as Merna Summers does in the Shattering reader expectations in terms Dozen (Toronto, Women's Press), the already much acclaimed "Threshing of both its moral vision and its narrative stories in Double Bond are just as radical. Time" (1982). "Threshing Time", winner conventions, Country of the Heart is at the Although we don't know why the editor, of the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for its same time a most conventional novel. Caroline Heath, has settled on this title (in year, is wrenching in its detail of a Short on action, Butala concentrates on spite of the fact that there are some brief threshing job, gripping in its presentation the story which emerges when told simul­ notes on the back jacket that try to of ranching men and, in particular, of Max taneously from at least three different explain), we do know that it has some Staunton's subtle and entirely controlling points of view. She does this not so much meaning for her, for Fifth House, and pre­ molestation of little Estelle while a father to show incongruities as to illustrate both sumably for the writers in the collection. paralysed by his sense of powerlessness the shared experiences of intimates, and And we also know that the bond has watches on. the separate and secret lives of individuals something to do with women and, in Joan Clark's "God's Country" is also who are intimate. most cases, the land. But something else very much tied to the land, but it's not the One character dominates the triangle ­ struck me about the "double bond." That prairies. Set inan East Coast mining town, Lannie, a university student whose woman's bond with her past (with tradi­ Clark's hero simultaneously confronts her mother died when she was a child, and tions, with convention, family, and the home town and her first love. Sharon whose father abandoned her. She returns land) is as revolutionizing as the bond she Butala's Meredith (a feminist chemistry "home" to her Aunt Iris' and Uncle makes with her present (with experiment professor in Central Canada) relinquishes Barney's when university term ends. and change, with new mores, sexual her troublesome daughter to her roots ­ During her stay with them, she sur­ love, society, and the city). The her father's prairie ranch. But the story mounts obstacles rarely elevated to plot tremendous variety of fiction in Double ("0 What Venerable and Reverend material, among them dysmenorrhea and Bond covers a literary spectrum thatwould Creatures") closes with a touching abortion. Though imperfect, Lannie's stretch from one kind ofbond to the other, passage in which Meredith remembers point of view is sometimes corroborated and from one kind of literary tradition to her "beautiful baby," reminding us of and sometimes confused by the points of its radical antidote. Brenda Riches' tender, 8-part vignette, view of her guardians, Iris and Barney, Itis primarily for this reason that Double "Snow Flurries," through which every both of whom have skeletons in their Bond is radical- it has defied our expecta­ mother will weep. closets - where they remain. Separate tions withoutmaking us too uncomfortab­ Butala and Riches focus on the experi­ narrative threads do develop and in­ le, without judging us or our sisters, even ence of mothers with daughters, while tersect, but there is always some slippage, our brothers ("the night watchman," the Beverley Harris and Gertrude Story giving Lannie enough room to set things novel's Barney, Bonnie Burnard's as yet weave slightly eerie plots around right for herself. unmentioned Allen in "Crush") too daughters and their memories of their Lannie's quest for intimacy is also her harshly, and without dismissing the ordi­ fathers. Story's moving "Das Engelein passive mourning after it, and in this nariness of womenwho have immigrants' Kommt (The Little Angel Cometh)" is respect, Lannie very much resembles Lois blood, rural families, family wounds, jobs written from the point of view of "the Simmie's meek and lonely night watch­ and ambitions, and illicit longings and angel's" sympathetic sister, whoinimper­ manin herwondrous shortstoryin Double secrets. And this is also true of Country of fect English witnesses how the father Bond. Almost too quickly Lannie resolves the Heart which, if condensed and filmed, crushed his daughter(s). Harris' narrator, to act, and sets out to find her lost father, would give us a graphic picture of the however, is reverent ofa father who "took her sister and herbrother. Lannie is one of double bond of which we are all a part.

Pat Armstrong, Labour Pains: Women's McClelland and Stewart, 1984. Revised Work in Crisis. Toronto: The Women's ed. Dooks Press, 1984. Christopher Bagley, Child Sexual Abuse Pat Armstrong and Hugh Armstrong, The Within the Family: An Account of Studies Double Ghetto: Canadian Women and 1978-1985. Calgary: University of Ureceived Their Segregated Work. Toronto: Calgary Press, 1985.

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 4 125