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True Confessions

Feminist Professors Tell Stories Out of School
by Susan Gubar
True Confessions: Feminist Professors Tell Stories Out of School. Norton. Aug. 2011. c.400p. ed. by Susan Gubar. ISBN 9780393076431. $29.95. SOC SCI
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Gubar (Distinguished Professor Emerita of English, Indiana Univ.; coauthor, with Sandra M. Gilbert, The Madwoman in the Attic) collects new pieces by 27 feminist professors in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts, most of whom began their careers in the 1960s or 1970s. Their autobiographical essays, divided into two sections, "Personal Views" and "Professional Vistas," display a wide variety of concerns and treat gender prejudice with the related issues of race, social class, and sexual orientation. They also cover the difficulties of gaining tenure, providing child care, and accusing others or being accused of sexual harassment.
VERDICT The stories here are poignant and instructive for those who may be unaware of the real struggles of women in academia and the difficulties educated women can face outside the academy. They are also cautionary; some of the writers feel, with good reason, that in the last decade or two women have lost ground in some areas. Especially for those familiar with the challenges discussed, the pieces are gripping and provide much material for reflection.
Reviewed by Carolyn M. Craft, formerly with Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA , Aug 01, 2011
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