I used to be a huge fan of Alice's. All through the 70's, 80's and 90's, I read anything of hers I could get my hands on. She's one of my favourite authors, HOWEVER, her last 4-5 books have been terrible. I haven't enjoyed anything she's released in the last 8-10 years. I've known for years that she's off her rocker and is someplace else other than reality. It's sad because she's so intelligent and such a great writer, but she went a little "off" several years ago, so reading something like this doesn't surprise me in the least.

SimpleSoul said:

JustErin said:What a horrible woman. When they stated Alice Walker believed so strongly that children enslaved their mothers , it made me cry a little.

If your child is unwanted, or conceived under traumatic circumstances, I see the point, but when your child is wanted and loved and cherished, it's a whole other story.

With the mothers attitude about what children do to women, how did she expect civilization to carry on?

Very very sad for a child to grow up with a lunatic for a mother like that

TD3 said:

That word is thrown at women but you never hear anyone say a man is too independent in fact, its seen as a badge of honor. Give me a break....

It's not that Alice Walker or any woman is "too independent" - it's that a true feminist supports and respects fellow sisters who choose children and family as well as those who choose "independence." Disregard whether you think she's a good mom or not, whether she was "too independent" or not - but simply as a so-called feminist, do you think it's right for her to impose her values and choices on another woman (namely, on her daughter)?

Lots of educated women now are choosing not only to be moms, but stay-at-home moms, and I think it's ridiculous that fellow women chastise this choice as being anti-feminist. Let's just applaud the fact that this is can be a realistic choice for some women - not something that is expected of them or forced on them, and not something that diminishes their independence or their value as human beings.

artist76 said:

TD3 said:

That word is thrown at women but you never hear anyone say a man is too independent in fact, its seen as a badge of honor. Give me a break....

It's not that Alice Walker or any woman is "too independent" - it's that a true feminist supports and respects fellow sisters who choose children and family as well as those who choose "independence." Disregard whether you think she's a good mom or not, whether she was "too independent" or not - but simply as a so-called feminist, do you think it's right for her to impose her values and choices on another woman (namely, on her daughter)?

Lots of educated women now are choosing not only to be moms, but stay-at-home moms, and I think it's ridiculous that fellow women chastise this choice as being anti-feminist. Let's just applaud the fact that this is can be a realistic choice for some women - not something that is expected of them or forced on them, and not something that diminishes their independence or their value as human beings.

Spot on.

I'm old enough to remember the era of bra burning and I can tell you that women who preferred a more "traditional role" were pretty much marginalized and I had a huge problem with that because I felt that feminism should have been about emphasizing the value of that role as well as opening up new roles for women, equality and so forth.

For many, many years so many women were made to feel inferior and inadequate if their goal in life wasn't to conquer the boardrooms and other so called male occupations.

It should never have been either/or.

babynoz said:

artist76 said:

It's not that Alice Walker or any woman is "too independent" - it's that a true feminist supports and respects fellow sisters who choose children and family as well as those who choose "independence." Disregard whether you think she's a good mom or not, whether she was "too independent" or not - but simply as a so-called feminist, do you think it's right for her to impose her values and choices on another woman (namely, on her daughter)?

Lots of educated women now are choosing not only to be moms, but stay-at-home moms, and I think it's ridiculous that fellow women chastise this choice as being anti-feminist. Let's just applaud the fact that this is can be a realistic choice for some women - not something that is expected of them or forced on them, and not something that diminishes their independence or their value as human beings.

Spot on.

I'm old enough to remember the era of bra burning and I can tell you that women who preferred a more "traditional role" were pretty much marginalized and I had a huge problem with that because I felt that feminism should have been about emphasizing the value of that role as well as opening up new roles for women, equality and so forth.

For many, many years so many women were made to feel inferior and inadequate if their goal in life wasn't to conquer the boardrooms and other so called male occupations.

It should never have been either/or.

Its still that way... I have people make fun of me all the time for being a 'housewife'... And they are all women saying it...

Alice Walker lost a lot of points with me when I read about her disowning her daughter...and her own comments. You can be a feminist without going that extreme, goodness gracious...

tinaz said:

babynoz said:

Spot on.

I'm old enough to remember the era of bra burning and I can tell you that women who preferred a more "traditional role" were pretty much marginalized and I had a huge problem with that because I felt that feminism should have been about emphasizing the value of that role as well as opening up new roles for women, equality and so forth.

For many, many years so many women were made to feel inferior and inadequate if their goal in life wasn't to conquer the boardrooms and other so called male occupations.

It should never have been either/or.

Its still that way... I have people make fun of me all the time for being a 'housewife'... And they are all women saying it...

Seriously? That's a danm shame because women should be the main ones advocating the importance of our contributions inside the home or out. I had hoped that there would be a more balanced outlook than in years past.

babynoz said:

tinaz said:

Its still that way... I have people make fun of me all the time for being a 'housewife'... And they are all women saying it...

Seriously? That's a danm shame because women should be the main ones advocating the importance of our contributions inside the home or out. I had hoped that there would be a more balanced outlook than in years past.

I think its gotten worse myself...