Sisterhood
is Powerful, edited by Robin Morgan,
was the first major anthology to emerge out of feminism’s
second wave. First published in 1970, Morgan's collection helped
launch to prominence many then-unknown feminist thinkers, including
Kate Millet, as well as members of influential women’s liberation
groups such as the Daughters of Bilitis and Redstockings. Until
the 2003 release of Morgan’s subsequent anthology, Sisterhood
is Forever, Sisterhood is Powerful was unmatched
as a nearly comprehensive overview of modern feminism. (A third
anthology, Sisterhood is Global, also edited by Morgan,
while enthusiastically recommended, is not included in this review
due to its close similarities to Sisterhood is Powerful).
Reading Sisterhood is Powerful is the best way to familiarize
oneself with the history of the modern day women’s movement,
while reading Sisterhood is Forever is the best way to
familiarize oneself with the state of the women’s movement
today. Taken separately or together, Morgan's two anthologies educate
us in feminist history, and compel us to take immediate action by
becoming involved in the women’s movement.
Sisterhood is Powerful is more than a collection of articles and essays; it is an all-inclusive
guide to then-contemporary women’s movement. In addition to
groundbreaking essays and social analyses, the book, which is now
unfortunately out of print included a contact list for women’s
liberation groups and recommended resources. Reading these reference
guides today is captivating -- it's easy to forget how difficult
it must have been for feminist women outside of major cities to
find each other in 1970. Where such groups did exist, they often
consisted of radical cells operating far outside the mainstream
of American life. Sisterhood is Powerful makes reference
to the fact that before the book was published, many women tried
look feminism or women’s groups up in the phone book, often
only to find none were listed.
While the two anthologies
are similar in structure, Sisterhood is Powerful is a much
more radical book than its counterpart, largely because women fighting
for liberation in the late 60s and early 70s were viewed -- and
often viewed themselves -- as extremists and radicals. Sisterhood
is Powerful was written at a time when women were still defined
by their relation to a man and by motherhood, and before they had
control over their reproductive options.
To put the radicalism
of Sisterhood is Powerful into context, readers may recall
that by 1970, a major rift had formed between feminist women and
the men of the New Left. As the "Know Your Enemy" list
offered by Morgan in Sisterhood is Powerful notes, Abbie
Hoffman, a leader of the New Left, once declared, "The only
alliance I would make with the Women’s Liberation Movement
is in bed." Today, it's disturbing to read a quote like this
from a leftist, but before women in the liberation movement called
attention to sexism within the left, it was not at all uncommon.
The essays in Sisterhood is Powerful articulately defined
the problems women had while working in the New Left movement of
the late 1960s, and why they ultimately had no choice but to splinter
off and form their own social revolution.
Since feminism was largely
new during this time period, it also went through a painful period
of division between the two major forces: radical and liberal feminism.
Sisterhood is Powerful was clearly a product of the former,
while mainstream women’s organizations, such as NOW, represented
the latter. Morgan addresses this split when she wrote of the need
for radical feminism in her introduction:
I fear for
the women’s movement’s falling into precisely the
same trap as did our foremothers, the suffragists: creating a
bourgeois feminist movement that never quite dared enough, never
questioned enough, never really reached out beyond its own class
and race. The only hope of a new feminist movement is some kind
of only now barely emerging politics of revolutionary feminism,
which some people are trying to explore in this anthology.
Morgan called for a radical
feminist revolution, and Sisterhood is Powerful, which
explained and ultimately came to represent radical feminism, and
was not written to be beloved by a mainstream audience. The writers
openly and aggressively challenged the fundamental structures of
mid-twentieth century society, including workplace norms, relationships
and family formation. As with other radical feminist works published
in 1970, such as Shulamith
Firestone’s The Dialectic of Sex, many women
in this anthology are calling for an abolition of the nuclear family
and a complete overhaul of patriarchal society.
Radical feminism was
a direct response to the overt sexism which permeated nearly every
aspect of American life. One of the experiences Lindsy Van Gelder
shares in her essay, "The Trials of Lois Lane: Women in Journalism"
shows what women were dealing with at the time Sisterhood is
Powerful was published: "…[M]y favorite adventure
was at the New York Daily News, which operates an internship program
for college graduates. I remember the editor in charge beaming over
my resume….then he noticed that I was married….I told
the editor I was on the Pill and planned to stay that way for some
time to come. Anyway, my husband and I both believed in working
motherhood. 'Honey.' The editor said cavalierly, 'that’s no
way to talk. A pretty little thing like you ought to be home having
a baby every year!' It was only due to the efforts of second wave
activists that it is now illegal for a potential employer to ask
a woman if she has children or ever plans to have them.
Sisterhood is Powerful
has obviously left an imprint on feminism and our society as a whole.
For those who are familiar with some of the most outspoken feminists
of today, it is clear the women anthologized in Sisterhood is
Powerful paved a way for their present day counterparts. For
example, Nomy Lamm, the writer who discusses her disability and
plus size body in many funny and radical essays, clearly has these
women to thank for their style of the "in your face feminism"
she has embraced.
Morgan’s later
anthology, Sisterhood is Forever (2003), surveys feminism
in a very different era. Women today not only have the internet
to help them find like-minded activists, but there are also active
chapters of feminist groups such as NOW and Feminist Majority in
nearly every major U.S. city. It would seem in our increasingly
interconnected world, a follow-up anthology to Sisterhood is
Powerful is irrelevant. However, Sisterhood is Forever
stands up to the most pointed criticism: not only is Morgan's message
still relevant, her recent anthology is arguably a more important
feminist book than Sisterhood is Powerful. So why has the
book received such a lackluster reception compared to Sisterhood
is Powerful? Possibly because the original was written during
a time of excitement about promise of feminism, and feminist activism
was energized by a political and cultural climate fiercely opposed
to its aims. Sisterhood is Forever, on the other hand,
was published at a time when many women, especially young women,
feel the feminist fight was won by their mothers and an ongoing
feminist struggle is no longer necessary. Published at a time when
many younger women proudly announce, "I’m not a feminist,
but I support equal rights for women," Sisterhood is Forever
was lost in a chorus of many other books targeted to women, most
of which were not feminist. In addition, while the internet has
done wonders in helping feminists create support networks, it has
also diminished the demand for printed publications which aim to
connect feminists.
Like Morgan's earlier
anthology, Sisterhood is Forever includes articles by a
veritable who’s who of leaders of the present day women’s
movement, including Eve Ensler on the theatre, the Guerrilla Girls
on women in art, Catherine A. Mackinnon on the law, Helen Zia on
Asian feminists, Andrea Dworkin on violence against women, Karla
Jay, a second wave member of the "lavender menace" on
lesbian feminism, feminist internet pioneer Amy Richards of feminist.com’s
"Ask Amy" column, the women behind Our Bodies, Our
Selves, and Anita Hill on sexual harassment. The prominence
of these women and the brilliance of their words makes this book
a must read for any feminist, and anyone interested in learning
about today’s feminism.
Without question, the
writers in this anthology are the absolute experts in their field.
One of the most persuasive essays is written former Congresswoman
Pat Schroeder’s article, "Running for Our Lives: Electoral
Politics." Her essay, which chronicles her struggle and ultimate
triumph in her campaigns for congress, begins with this provocative
sentence. "When are you running for public office? I’m
serious" A few sentences later, her brilliance continues, when
she writes, "You can’t wring your hands and roll up your
shirtsleeves at the same time. Pick one." These are passionate
words from a woman who knows her field well. For anyone interested
in politics, her article could change their life.
While all the essays
in Sisterhood is Forever are interesting to read, the anthology
closes with two especially captivating essays written by Robin Morgan
herself. The first, "To Vintage Feminists" is written
to Morgan’s fellow second wavers who paved the way for the
modern women’s movement. While Morgan was one of the most
visible leaders of this movement, she pays homage to her fellow
sisters in recognizing both the obstacles they faced and their many
accomplishments. As a third wave feminist, I found her article most
interesting in its discussion of the advantages of being a "vintage
feminist." She quotes Ursula K. LeGuin in saying, "Old
women are different from everybody else, they say what they think."
She makes me look forward to my "vintage" years when my
inhibitions will be more stripped away.
For her final piece,
Morgan addresses an article "To Younger Women." She makes
the compelling statement in this piece, "…please don’t
put us on a pedestal, since then you can’t look us in the
eye." Much has been written about the schism between second
and third wave feminists, yet little has been done to solve it.
Both generations of feminists would benefit from reflecting on Morgan’s
point of view.
Both anthologies include
must read articles for women about motherhood and parenting. The
beloved essay "The Politics of Housework" by Pat Mainardi
is included in Sisterhood is Powerful. In this piece, Mainardi
includes a section on how to encourage participatory democracy at
home, and includes the very memorable lines, "He is feeling
it more than you. He’s losing some leisure and you’re
gaining it. The measure of your oppression is his resistance."
These words gave credence to women feeling overburdened with domestic
responsibilities at home.
In Sisterhood is
Forever, Susanne Braun Levine, the former editor in chief of
Ms. Magazine, includes an essay about feminist parenting,
entitled, "Parenting: A New Social Contract." Levine makes
a number of arguments about why and how parenting is not supported
in our society. Most compelling is her argument that parenting should
be considered a public good. She points out that parents help foster
our society and should be respected and supported in doing so. It
is hard to disagree with her pragmatic logic.
Also interesting to parents
is the article, "Just a Housewife?!" by Helen Drusine.
While much has been written about this topic, what makes Drusine's
entry especially intriguing is her argument that the low social
status of housewives has been perpetuated by women themselves. She
writes, "That myth of 'housewife worthlessness' gets internalized
by a lot of women -- though probably less so now, after more than
four decades of the contemporary Women’s Movement raising
these issues. For me it was a constant conflict. I thought I had
to prove (more to myself than those around me) that I was doing
something 'meaningful'." Nearly any parent who has cut back
on paid work to prioritize caregiving can sympathize with these
words. While it is rewarding to focus on the needs of your child
or significant other full time, it can also give you a feeling of
worthlessness that is hard to shake. It certainly does not help
when women do not support each other in this work, and as Drusine
argues, it puts a burden not only on the women themselves, but upon
their children and our future. It is not often a general feminist
anthology includes articles about full time hands on parenting;
Levine's and Drusine's are excellent and ought to be widely read.
Despite the quality and
intelligence of its many articles, Sisterhood is Forever
has yet to receive the attention it deserves. While shopping at
my local bookstore recently, I was disappointed to discover several
copies of Sisterhood is Forever on the clearance rack,
priced for quick sale. What a shame! With Sisterhood is Powerful out of print, we've lost part of the legacy of the women’s
liberation movement. It would be doubly unfortunate if Sisterhood
is Forever meets the same fate. If you haven't read it, find
the time. Do not let the amazing words and dreams of our fellow
feminists die out. We must continue to show the world that we are
not content to live in the age of "post-feminism," and
that feminism has a future.
mmo : december
2005
Serene
Williams has a Masters degree in political science
and prior to her daughter's birth was head of the history department
at Convent of the Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco. She
lives in San Mateo, California with her husband and one year old
daughter.
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