| Much has been written about women and women's | | | | whether you agree with their message or not, |
| issues throughout the ages - by women | | | | will keep track and gauge women's |
| themselves, and about women by men. Books and | | | | progress.Women writers have given us bibles, |
| poems about women's mastery and mystery, | | | | road maps to navigate the passages of time, |
| their beauty and perceived lack of it, the | | | | how to turn roadblocks and detours into new |
| ties that bind them to good men, the lies | | | | roads - they have told us how to avoid |
| that bind them to bad men. Millions of words | | | | crashing. But, men too, often with great |
| have been written about women's tight-knit | | | | sensitivity and understanding of their |
| bonds with other women, their co-dependency | | | | subject, write perfectly eloquent treatise |
| on men, the wondrous bliss and fulfillment of | | | | ode to women. Thus many poets and authors |
| being a new mother. Writers throughout the | | | | have played a key role in advancing the |
| ages have turned ordinary women into legends, | | | | society of women. Others, sometimes |
| pariahs, or superheroes being equally | | | | unintentionally, have aided women's |
| vilified, vindicated, or honored in their | | | | regression. Others still, have elevated women |
| society for their perceived weakness, | | | | to goddess and queen who rules all, their |
| overcoming the odds, or simply because they | | | | mellifluous poems and stories an unabashed |
| are beautiful.Significant works of literature | | | | celebration of WOMAN. Awestruck they have |
| by women like Germaine Greer, who authored a | | | | created for women's hungry hearts and minds, |
| ground-breaking and controversial book called | | | | female characters who like birds on the wing, |
| The Female Eunuch in 1970, echo still within | | | | are fluid, magical, flash-dancing bolts of |
| the hearts, minds, and sexuality of many | | | | warm liquid lightening whose very existence |
| women over fifty. This one work was so | | | | makes man's world go 'round. And writers from |
| compelling and controversial that the women | | | | every age have felt compelled to chronicle |
| of the time were confronted with an 'in your | | | | that sparkling, and ever so scary dance of |
| face' force that propelled them beyond any | | | | love and desire, that men and women either |
| place they otherwise would have more | | | | wickedly or heartfelt, engage in every day of |
| comfortably inhabited. Some of them embraced | | | | our lives.Literature is the mirror that |
| the message and passed the passion down to | | | | reflects our society. It is unforgiving and |
| their daughters. Anti-feminist critics | | | | completely accurate. Books and poetry have |
| accused Greer of being a bitter man-hater. | | | | given us an in-depth exploration of women and |
| Some feminists accused her of catering to men | | | | their journey, how they fit into the complex |
| and castigating women for the sexual | | | | tapestry of time - how far they have come, |
| disabilities of society.Many women did indeed | | | | and where they need to travel next. The |
| rise to the challenge of that rallying cry | | | | written word teaches us that mothers, |
| way back then to break free, to empower | | | | daughters, sisters, friends, and life |
| themselves! It was called 'women's lib' in | | | | partners make rich contributions to their |
| those days. But, here we are more than half | | | | loved ones and to the world. Through reading, |
| way through the first decade of the 21st | | | | we sense their power and become acutely aware |
| century and women have a considerable journey | | | | of the elegance they possess - even beyond |
| ahead. Still women must persist and strive | | | | their own imaginings.Thousands of women |
| for that peaceful place where their | | | | throughout the world overcome adversity every |
| accomplishments are recognized and ultimately | | | | day, rise above their circumstances to create |
| their needs are met - where their souls, | | | | beauty, share their boundless love, and lead |
| spirit, and value as human beings are defined | | | | the way for others. Literature records it |
| by themselves and no one else.Today, with the | | | | all. The essence of women resonates through |
| women's liberation movement almost entirely | | | | the poetry and stories of women themselves |
| demobilized, women's lives are actually | | | | and those who love and appreciate them. Ample |
| getting harder. Social services are | | | | proof that courage, strength, perseverance, |
| de-funded, wages and working conditions are | | | | and vision can and do change laws, scare the |
| eroded, and women once again are working | | | | hell out of the powers that be, give children |
| round the clock, on the job and at home. | | | | successful role models, and ultimately make |
| Ironically, Greer's most recent book, The | | | | for a better world. Read the books, welcome |
| Whole Woman, documents this new turn and | | | | poetry into your soul, write your own story! |
| angrily refutes the claim of some feminists | | | | Because sometimes, putting it in writing is |
| that women have achieved their liberation. | | | | the only voice we have that can really be |
| She states: "Fake equality is leading women | | | | heard.Susan Dorling is a freelance writer and |
| into double jeopardy. The rhetoric of | | | | poet, copywriter, and web designer who lives |
| equality is being used in the name of | | | | in rural Ontario with her furry and feathered |
| political correctness to mask the hammering | | | | family of dogs, cats, ducks, and soul mate, |
| that women are taking. When The Female Eunuch | | | | Gary. She writes articles on a wide variety |
| was written our daughters were not cutting or | | | | of subjects including web design, small |
| starving themselves. On every side speechless | | | | business, personal development and success, |
| women endure endless hardship, grief and | | | | Internet marketing, jewelry collecting, |
| pain, in a world system that creates billions | | | | animals and nature, environmental issues, and |
| of losers for every handful of winners. It's | | | | pest control. |
| time to get angry again." Books such as this, | | | | |