Along with Marilyn Frye’s book, I’m also now reading Dale Spender’s “Women of Ideas & What Men Have Done To Them” in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the history of feminist literature and activism. So far I’ve been introduced to bits of writing from women such as Mary Astell, Aphra Behn, Mary Wollstonecraft, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Mary Pix, Mary de la Riviere Manley, Fanny Burney, Abigail Adams, Madame Roland, Olympe de Gouges, and Catherine Macauley, most of whom I’d never heard of before. And I’ve only just begun reading this book.
It’s of particular interest to learn that the writings of these women had all but disappeared, until being rediscovered by the modern women’s movement, and that this is not by accident. Hence why it is said that the feminist movement essentially has to remake itself every 50 years or so without the benefit of the writings and influence of our foremothers.
*sigh* Living and learning…
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