'Challenge' is a fine poem about a woman asserting her right to walk proudly in her own streets, her own land, her own country. Walt Whitman would have liked this.
Yeah absolutely! I think in terms of "progessiveness" - while I totally agree - I have been thinking a lot about that term recently. And it implies, to me, that these views are "recent" and that the acceptance of sex work and women's rights were a "progression" of human thought in "stages" if you know what I mean. But of course, among sex workers, for instance, these views would not have been unusual, or "progessive" - they probably would have been commonplace, and well worn. So when we say "progressive" it speaks from the perspective of those in power, if that makes sense? So yeah, I wonder if these views aren't so much "progressive" (particularly among the communities these women would have been a part of), but are completely normal, and very old. However, they have been repressed by dominant culture and those in power (i.e. denied publication and widespread distribution). Anyway - thanks for the lovely comment Rod, and yes, I agree. Just had some stray thoughts about language as well. :-)
'Challenge' is a fine poem about a woman asserting her right to walk proudly in her own streets, her own land, her own country. Walt Whitman would have liked this.
Lovely 💜
This is so interesting, Dick. These poems must have been quite progressive for their day.
Yeah absolutely! I think in terms of "progessiveness" - while I totally agree - I have been thinking a lot about that term recently. And it implies, to me, that these views are "recent" and that the acceptance of sex work and women's rights were a "progression" of human thought in "stages" if you know what I mean. But of course, among sex workers, for instance, these views would not have been unusual, or "progessive" - they probably would have been commonplace, and well worn. So when we say "progressive" it speaks from the perspective of those in power, if that makes sense? So yeah, I wonder if these views aren't so much "progressive" (particularly among the communities these women would have been a part of), but are completely normal, and very old. However, they have been repressed by dominant culture and those in power (i.e. denied publication and widespread distribution). Anyway - thanks for the lovely comment Rod, and yes, I agree. Just had some stray thoughts about language as well. :-)
My pleasure! I was honestly looking for a better word.