IMAGINING OURSELVES: Global Voices from a New Generation of Women by Lenelle Moïse
IMAGINING OURSELVES:
Global Voices from a New Generation of Women, edited by Paula Goldman.
At first flip-through, it's hard not to smile about IMAGINING OURSELVES: Global Voices from a New Generation of Women (New World Library), an ambitious anthology, edited by Paula Goldman in association with the International Museum of Women. Flaunting its diversity as its greatest strength, the contributors—all in their twenties and thirties—are self-identified women from fifty-six different countries and six continents. The 240-page, full-color book boasts stunning paintings and photographs, as well as poems, testimonials, song lyrics, letters, journal entries, artists' mission statements, speeches, short stories and memoir excerpts. Emerging artists share a platform with internationally well-knowns like Ani Difranco, Zadie Smith, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and Angelique Kidjo.
Contributors responded to one simple question: What defines your generation of women? Although the trigger proved broad enough to garner nearly 800 submissions, it is too broad to offer a cohesive read. Random texts like Marcela Nievas' "The Past Decade," in which the Australian/Argentinean photographer lists her many accomplishments ("I have published a short story…Several newspaper articles have been written about me…") focus too acutely on the self, evading that crucial discussion about our generation as a whole.
Americans Ishle Yi Park, Anh ào Kolbe, and Rebecca Walker are among only a handful of women of color to speak candidly about same-gender romantic love. Working-class women's voices are also sadly lacking from this anthology, probably because the editor received 90 percent of the submissions via email. Goldman states herself that less than 15 percent of the world's population has internet access. Privileged women are still invited to contribute their own stories and artwork to the IMAGINING OURSELVES project at the International Museum of Women's website (www.imow.org) until June 30, 2006.
In any case, despite its omissions, IMAGINING OURSELVES is a great coffee table read. More "girl-power" than feminist, the anthology confirms that women are beautiful, amazing, conscious and active all over the world. Our generation is, no doubt, more educated, literate, financially independent and well-traveled than our grandmothers' generation. Soak up the profiles in this fun book for inspiration. Then pass it on to your little sister.
—Lenelle Moïse
Lenelle Moïes is a writer and performance artist living in North Hampton, MA. Find her on tour, www.lenellemoise.com
Comments [1]
Hello Lenelle. I just
Hello Lenelle.
I just stumbled upon you review on Imagining Ourselves and actually felt a bit chuffed (flattered) that you took the time to criticize me contribution to the anthology. Let me leave a response that is not intended to criticize your work and efforts but to say, “girl power” publications that are accesible and fun reads for our little sisters, daughters and nieces is possibly what we need to create more of.
I love that my little sister, nieces and friends can read about my travels and adventures and maybe someday feel inspired to also explore the planet, because those experiences for me were so far, some of the most powerful. Maybe we don´t all necessarily need to be or want to be, examining feminist texts or attending conferences or representing a mass.
I feel the need to pass on messages to our young sisters and that is to be sure and proud of who they are, delight in being alive, fight for their independence, passions and always support sisterhood everywhere they go.
I wanted to fill my page with adventure stories, with my essence, not with the hundreds of feminist marches I have been on, the women´s projects in theatre, textiles and photography around the world I have directed, the books I have read or the post graduate studies I have acheived. All of that is for my CV and for other conversations.
Let´s be OK with celebration of self, because beyond all the theories, what inspires me in my encouters with women, with humanity, are the joyful human beings who often, without the theoretical and critical dialogue are, by their own instinctive wisdom and power, the women who teach me the essential learnings, practices and attitudes. Yes, feminism can and should reflect on a whole generation and also, can and should take the time to celebrate individuals.
Back in 2001, sitting at my home in Melbourne Australia, I remember reading the acceptance letter from IMOW that said my contribution would be published because of its personal reflection. This was a great honour for me and inspired a few women around me at that time, to take their dormant passions more seriously - including myself.
Let me assure you that after the kind of childhood I had, those little adventurous anecdotes on that page, the pride I experienced to be included in the book and the events that followed, consolidated and changed more than you can ever imagine.
Enjoy yourself,
Marcela