*I am not a Muse.*

[anghara]

http://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/gender-blah-blah-blah

"And it’s a powerful thing, the learnt reflex to look at a woman and see someone who is by definition unaccomplished, a novice; someone’s disciple, companion, muse; someone with no power or expertise of her

Comments

[pameladean]

I blame Robert Graves.

P.

[joycemocha]

Yay! Yes, absolutely.

I'm pretty certain (but have no solid proof, alas) that my own outspokenness and desire to forge my own path has kept me from wider recognition. OTOH, I just figure that keeping on working, speaking out, and doing my own thing will eventually pay off. Somehow.

[green_knight]

Maybe - but since when has being meek and mild and not advocating for your needs ever _helped_ them? It's a 'lose-lose' situation, because people look for reasons to dismiss women (and minorities), full stop.

[silkensteel]

Do you ever read rosefox's posts? This sounds like something she has been writing on this for years now.

And, I must say this is one of the most awesome essays on the subject I have ever read. I think it applies to more than just authors and literature, too.