Telling It Like It Is: Reflections of a Not So Radical Feminist

220 Pages·1991·34.788 MB·English

by  Elayne Clift

Telling It
I,ike It Is
-
Reflections of a
Not So Radical
Feminist
by
Elayne Clift
!(i11
KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS & TRENDS
Manchester, Connecticut
Cover Art Work: Sara Eyestone
Cover & Text Design: Tobi Krutt
Author Photography: Carol E. Kuehl
First Published in 1991 by:
Knowledge, Ideas and Trends, Inc.
1131-0 Tolland Turnpike, Suite 175
Manchester, CT 06040
Copyright ©1991 by Elayne Clift
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case
of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Some of the essays in this book were originally published in New Jersey
Woman, Utah Network, Hartford Woman, HW, Hot Flash, Network
News, Tucumcari Literary Review, Parent to Parent.
All reprinted by permission.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
CIP: 90-092193
ISBN: 1-879198-00-2
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
Printed in the United States of America
D EDICATION
To Arnold, Rachel, and David
For so much love, support, and rich material;
For my sisters everywhere, but especially Ina;
And with special affection to Pat, Sue, Nancy, Jean, Bar
bara, Valerie, Pam, and all the others whose wanting to
read more kept me writing.

CONTENTS
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
SIGNIFICANT OnlERS 1
Under The Willow Tree, 3
Writing My Mother's Life, 7
On Mother's Day ...T o My Daughter .. . , 13
" Now I Lost My Ina," 15
'lradition, 19
In Memoriam, 23
EXPERIENCF.S IN MOTIIERING, WIFING, AND KEEPING COOL 27
Pride And Progeny, 29
Driving Me Crazy, 31
Bonding, 35
Parenting: Part II, 39
Raising Teenagers In Affluent America, 41
The Case Of The Merchandise Maniac, 43
Hail Britannia: The Pleasures And Pitfalls
Of Marrying A Brit, 47
Greetings From The Control Room, 51
Marry Mr. Fixit If You Can, 53
THERE'S 55
A REASON WHY THEY CALL IT WORK
Managing The Managers, 57
The Culture Of Corporate Consulting, 59
Out Of The Mouths Of Babes ... And Boys, 61
Star Wars, 65
The Half-Generation Gap, 69
Rosie The Riveter Revisited, 71
Mothers And Managers: Working It Out, 73
Mentoring, 75
CONTENTS
VIII
77
WOMAN, TIIY NAME IS STRENGTH
Needy Women, 79
Coming Out, 81
Company Women, 83
Watching Our Gardens Grow, 85
Get The Message? 89
The Locker Room Law Boys, 91
Giving Up The Rag, 93
On Reaching Middle Age, 95
Marching To The Midlife Drummer, 97
Worrying Less And Enjoying It More, 101
Change, 103
107
REFLECTIONS
On The Art Of Letters, 109
Freedom, 113
The Fine Art Of Ego Badging, 117
The Curse Of Options, 119
Which Way To Dodge City? 121
Betrayal, 123
Just Say No, 125
Impressions At A Protest, 127
Orphans In The Public Health Ward, 129
"Just Let Me Rock Her In My Arms
Until She Dies," 131
There But For The Grace Of God, 133
Vigilance Without Vengeance, 137
The Second Sex, The Second Generation, 141
Power Women, Woman Power, 143
Apocalypse Now, 147
Learning To Live With The "F" Word, 151
Yorn Kippur, 153
Autumn Reflections, 155