The Smith Women

Press, 4 December 1981, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Smith Women

"The Smith Women" is an exploration of how a wide cross-section of women see themselves and their place in New Zealand society. Written by Rosemary Barrington and Alison Gray, the book is a fresh approach to the problems facing women. In it, 100 women, aged between 20 and 50, and all with the surname Smith, talk about their lives, their experiences at school and work, their families, their marriages, their friends and interests, dreams and regrets. Their conversations are seen in the context of a changing social climate and this, together with the women’s varying backgrounds and expectations,

have affected the amount of control they have assumed over their lives. The book is unique for New Zealand in both its presentation (it is set out in question and answer form) and because for the first time "ordinary” New Zealand women have been asked to speak about themselves in their own language. There is sadness and there is humour; there is anger and joy, disarming pragmatism and the admission of wild fantasy, but always their conversation is frank. Extracts from the book include: "I’m needed, I run the house, I pull things together, I make things work. I’m not the power, but. I’m like the

clockwork inside a clock. " . “In 10 years time I'll be living in a rut with no money — much the same as now. trying to lose weight."" Rosemary Barrington was educated at Victoria University and London University and is a research fellow with the Institute of Criminology in Wellington. Alison Gray has an M.A. in both English and Sociology from Victoria University, where she is now a research officer with the Sociology and Social Work Department. She also wrote ""The Marriage Maze,” and was coauthor of “Fun for Kids” and “Fun for Big Kids.” The book is published by A. H. and A. W. Reed, has 256 pages, and costs $14.95.