Dropped Threads 2: More of What We Aren't Told

Britta Santowski is a freelance writer in Victoria.

In the introduction to this collection, Adrienne Clarkson reminds us of
feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir’s famous observation that one
is not born woman, one becomes woman. Because women’s voices and
experiences have so long been bypassed in favour of “human” (aka
“men’s”) experiences, uncovering these female voices, wallowing in
them, magnifying them, and setting them beside each other becomes
central to the process of becoming woman. Clarkson remarks that this
collection helps answer Freud’s question, what do women want? In a
word: everything.

The 35 essays that follow Clarkson’s introduction portray a wide
range of women’s experiences. While there are common threads or
themes, such as losing a loved one or dealing with breast cancer, each
woman’s essay depicts a unique and very personal journey.

The essays are divided into four sections: “End Notes” deals with
separation, loss, and bereavement; “Variations” looks at shared and
unique experiences; “Glimpses” explores the question of identity;
and “Nourishment” delves into women’s ability to create and
nurture life. The four sections provide some shape and framework, but
the women’s stories overlap and often bridge one or more sections.

Most of the stories reflect a white, middle-aged, middle-class
woman’s perspective. Except for one essay, sexuality is homogenous
hetero; western women’s struggle with consumerism and its sisters,
weight and self-esteem, remain completely untouched. Other glaring gaps
exist. However, to produce a compendium that truly embraced woman’s
experiences would deforest all of Canada’s remaining old growth.

Contributors include famous Canadian personalities (Maude Barlow,
Adrienne Clarkson, Flora MacDonald, Shelagh Rogers, etc.) and renowned
writers such as Sandra Birdsell, Susan Swan, and Jane Urquhart. The
collection also includes new and less familiar voices. Each writer,
regardless of reputation, offers the very precious gift of her unique
experience. Each writes from her soul and dares to bare the most
vulnerable parts of herself.