Of Woman Born : Motherhood as Experience and Institution

New York, NY, U.S.A.: W. W. Norton & Company, Incorporated, 1995. Trade Paperback. Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Asking "But what was it like for women?" with "painful consciousness of my own Western cultural perspective and that of most of the sources available," Adrienne Rich examines pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood from historical, physical, religious, institutional, political, and personal angles. Written with a stimulating combination of poetic rhythm, scholarly precision, feminist perspective, and personal reflection, Of Woman Born is both an engrossing read and an affirmative, potentially life-changing examination of what it means to be of woman born. I have never realized how literally confining motherhood is. I look back at what my mom used to tell me about how kids held her back from what she wanted to do, and I realize (with the help of this book) what she meant. Not that she was being a mean mother when she said this, but it's just a fact that our patriarchal society uses motherhood to put women in 'their place'. If there is one book you take time to read make it this one. Rich writes this analytical book in such a way as to make it sound personal and interesting. If you are trying to understand your mother or mothers in general read this book! 322 pages. Front cover bottom right corner slightly bumped..