The GriffithREVIEW reaches its 40th edition by embracing the much discussed, digested and mulled over topic – Women & Power.
With an informative introduction from editor Julianne Schultz, this volume provides fresh perspectives, powerful writing and thought provoking essays.
A collection of writing entitled Women & Power begins as you might expect, with more than a brief foray into the power filled world of politics, and the ultimate woman and power relationship – that of Julia Gillard in her role as Australia’s first female Prime Minister. From here the writing delves into the microcosm of societies, spanning Australia, Japan and Indonesia. This powerful collection encompasses coming of age stories, family relationships and experiences – experiences that have shaped and moulded the women (and men) who are ushering forward the next generation armed with the wisdom that has gone before.
‘Liars, witches and trolls’ is an essay from award winning journalist Mary Delahunty. It makes powerful waves as she explodes into the vindictive vitriol waged against the Prime Minister, targeting not her polities, viewpoints or policies, but her gender. Delahunty unpicks the ‘corrosive, undermining’ aimed at the leader of a country that appears to simultaneously revel in and ‘sneer at’ having a woman in control, concluding with a line that will have you punching the air.
‘Madame Butterfly’s Revenge’, by journalist Masako Fukui, delves into the Asian-white male relationship. Whilst skimming, mercifully, over the surface of the much maligned ‘mail order brides’ scenario, Fukui ploughs deeper into the reasons behind the stereotyped image of Asian woman. Quoting a myriad of intriguing resources, she works hard to obliterate the ‘powerful-West versus submissive-East brand of prejudice’ in prose that questions and probes stereotypes.
Hazel Dooney’s delicately written ‘Broken’ gives voice, with a palpable sense of her relief, to a very personal coming of age story. Dooney recounts the grooming and manipulation she endured from an older teacher, with a critical reflection on the enduring rippling effects those nine months had on her life. Shouting out from the pages is her hard to fathom realisation that her experience is far from uncommon, yet these ‘morally corrosive, as well as manipulative and exploitative’ experiences are not talked about and shared, thus condemning the women affected to feeling ‘personally responsible and ashamed.’
Reports such as Adcock’s ‘Is it hard to surf with boobs?’ and Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s memoir ‘On the rigs’ shows women plunging headfirst into male dominated arenas with differing results. Abdel-Magied has realigned her thoughts on what it ‘means to be a strong woman’, whilst Adcock’s uncovers a world which offers a bleak future for female surfers.
Women & Power is punctuated by poetry from Mandy Beaumont. Contributors include Meera Atkinson, Helen Gildfind, Pat Hoffie, Mark Moran and Anne Summers.
In true GriffithREVIEW style this is a collection of powerful writing that crosses genres and delves into your thoughts. It’ll have you nodding, in both directions, and it’ll certainly get you thinking.
4 Stars
GriffithREVIEW Edition 40 Women & Power
Edited by Julianne Schultz
Paperback, 286pp
RRP $27.99
ISBN: 9781922079978
Text Publishing
