Terrorising Amazons
Sir, —“The Press” article on August 27 entitled “Europe’s terrorising Amazons” prompts the observation that women’s involvement with violence is not new. Since the overthrow of the matriarchies women have been subject to male law, violence and intimidation, daily, in the forms of rape and wifebeating. Women’s liberation does not advocate violence to achieve its aims. It does encourage women to know themselves as people rather than a species of decorative property or servile child. Women warriors are no oddity. Warrior queens Tomyris, Boadicea, Cartismandua. Eire, Scotua, have been written from history by masculist historians. Joan of Arc was forgiven her womanhood 500 years after her “heresy.” As a feminist I acknowledge sisterhood with women who commit themselves to the political ideal of a more equitable distribution of power and property. I will not acquiesce in judgments or decisions about women made by “gynophobic authorities.” The wonder is not women’s violence, but male wonder at it.—Yours, etc..
HEATHER McPHERSON. August 28, 1977.
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Press, 1 September 1977, Page 16
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164Terrorising Amazons Press, 1 September 1977, Page 16
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