11-28-94 Women of Achievement and Herstory Remember this one? "...I want a wife to make sure my children eat properly and are kept clean. I want a wife who will wash the children's clothes and keep them mended. I want a wife who is a good nurturant attendant to my children, arranges for their schooling, makes sure that they have an adequate social life with their peers ... I want a wife who take care of the children when they are sick ... My wife must arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job ... Needless to say, my wife will arrange and pay for the care of my children while my wife is working. "I want a wife, who will take care of MY physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean ... A wife who will pick up after me. I want a wife who will keep my clothes clean, ironed, mended, replaced when need be, and who will see to it that I can find what I need the minute I need it. I want a wife who ... is a good cook ... a wife who will plant the menus, do the necessary grocery shopping, prepare the means, serve them pleasantly and then do the cleaning up ... I want a wife who will care for me when I am sick and sympathize with my pains ... I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue to care for me and my children when I need a rest. "My God, who wouldn't want a wife?" -- Excerpted from Judy Syfers' wonderful magazine article that has been anthologized often, "Why I Want a Wife" and strikes to the bone the problems of the patriarchal system of social order. If you haven't read the ENTIRE essay, you have a treat coming. Anniversaries -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- B. 11-28-1853, Helen Magill White, raised Quaker which taught women were as deserving of the same education as men, organized Howard College in Massachusetts. B. 11-28-1944, Rita Mae Brown*, novelist and poet. Gained fame with her rollicking _Rubyfruit Jungle_ about growing up lesbian in South Florida. _Rubyfruit Jungle_ has been optioned for a movie. I personally spoke to the writer/director about it when she was here in Hot Springs early this month for our film festival and the first-draft script is completed. Filming, however, may not start for a year or two because of previous commitments. Quotes du jour -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "If the world were a logical place, men would ride side-saddle." --Rita Mae Brown, in _Sudden Death_. " If Michelangelo were heterosexual, the Sistine Chapel would have been painted white and with a roller." -- Rita Mae Brown, in _Venus Envy_. "Next time anybody calls me a lesbian writer I'm going to knock their teeth in. I'm a writer, I'm a woman, and I'm from the South, and I'm alive, and that is that." -- Rita Mae Brown. (C) 1994 Irene Stuber, PO Box 6185, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71902, irenestuber@delphi.com. Distribute verbatim copies freely with copyright notice for non-profit use.