🌐 WOMEN’S STORIES _ Marilyn French
By Sara Sherwood,
The Heroine Collective
Writer
and Scholar
and Scholar
Even men
who are not actively keeping women down, but are profiting from women’s
position, or who don’t mind things being the way they are – they are
responsible too.
Marilyn French
Marilyn
French was an American author and feminist scholar whose most prominent work
was the classic feminist novel The Women’s Room. Marilyn was born in Brooklyn,
New York in 1929 as Marilyn Edwards. Marilyn recalled that her mother was the
dominant parent in her childhood; she saw this as an early
lesson in not bowing to male authority.
French was an American author and feminist scholar whose most prominent work
was the classic feminist novel The Women’s Room. Marilyn was born in Brooklyn,
New York in 1929 as Marilyn Edwards. Marilyn recalled that her mother was the
dominant parent in her childhood; she saw this as an early
lesson in not bowing to male authority.
But her
marriage to Robert French in 1950 was reportedly an unhappy one. Throughout
their marriage, Marilyn set about educating herself, sometimes
despite disapproval from her husband. She attended Hofstra College in 1951 to
study literature and philosophy, and then after the birth of her two children,
she returned to Hofstra to complete her Masters. When the couple divorced
after seventeen years of marriage, Marilyn attended Harvard University to study
for her Ph.D.
marriage to Robert French in 1950 was reportedly an unhappy one. Throughout
their marriage, Marilyn set about educating herself, sometimes
despite disapproval from her husband. She attended Hofstra College in 1951 to
study literature and philosophy, and then after the birth of her two children,
she returned to Hofstra to complete her Masters. When the couple divorced
after seventeen years of marriage, Marilyn attended Harvard University to study
for her Ph.D.
As an
academic, Marilyn’s work concentrated on the construction of the patriarchy and
women’s history. Additionally, her thesis on James Joyce’s Ulysses was
published to acclaim in 1976. During her early years as an academic, Marilyn
attributed her growing awareness of feminism to her disappointment in her
marriage, the rape of her then 18 year old daughter in 1971 and reading Kate
Millet’s Sexual Politics.
academic, Marilyn’s work concentrated on the construction of the patriarchy and
women’s history. Additionally, her thesis on James Joyce’s Ulysses was
published to acclaim in 1976. During her early years as an academic, Marilyn
attributed her growing awareness of feminism to her disappointment in her
marriage, the rape of her then 18 year old daughter in 1971 and reading Kate
Millet’s Sexual Politics.
In 1977,
Marilyn published her most famous work The Women’s Room which contained the oft
quoted remark ‘all men are rapists’ which is spoken by the novel’s protagonist.
Influenced by Marilyn’s personal experiences, the novel follows Mira Ward who
lives as submissive housewife in the 1950s before separating from her husband
and going to study at Harvard. Whilst at University, Mira discovers the
security and support of female friendship and feminism against the backdrop of
sweeping social change.
Marilyn published her most famous work The Women’s Room which contained the oft
quoted remark ‘all men are rapists’ which is spoken by the novel’s protagonist.
Influenced by Marilyn’s personal experiences, the novel follows Mira Ward who
lives as submissive housewife in the 1950s before separating from her husband
and going to study at Harvard. Whilst at University, Mira discovers the
security and support of female friendship and feminism against the backdrop of
sweeping social change.
The
Women’s Room was hugely successful and influential, it has sold nearly 20
million copies and has been translated into over 10 languages. It is still
praised today for its unflinching portrayal of physical and psychological
violence which occurs in women’s day to day lives.
Women’s Room was hugely successful and influential, it has sold nearly 20
million copies and has been translated into over 10 languages. It is still
praised today for its unflinching portrayal of physical and psychological
violence which occurs in women’s day to day lives.
Following
The Women’s Room, Marilyn went on to write six more novels which included The
Bleeding Heart, Her Mother’s Daughter, Our Father, In the Name of Friendship,
and her final novel, The Love Children, was published after her death. In
addition to her fiction, Marilyn wrote many nonfiction pieces focusing on
women’s history which include Beyond Power: On Women, Men and Morals and The
War Against Women. However, what is often thought of as her most significant
nonfiction work, From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women, is a staggering
four volume project and documented women’s lives from the earliest evidence of
bones, flints and shards through to the twenty first century.
The Women’s Room, Marilyn went on to write six more novels which included The
Bleeding Heart, Her Mother’s Daughter, Our Father, In the Name of Friendship,
and her final novel, The Love Children, was published after her death. In
addition to her fiction, Marilyn wrote many nonfiction pieces focusing on
women’s history which include Beyond Power: On Women, Men and Morals and The
War Against Women. However, what is often thought of as her most significant
nonfiction work, From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women, is a staggering
four volume project and documented women’s lives from the earliest evidence of
bones, flints and shards through to the twenty first century.
In her
later years, French was hopeful about the development of feminism. She believed
that she had seen social change and attitudes to women change during her
lifetime but still stressed the need for continuing this progress. Marilyn
French died at age 79 in Manhattan, New York in 2009.
later years, French was hopeful about the development of feminism. She believed
that she had seen social change and attitudes to women change during her
lifetime but still stressed the need for continuing this progress. Marilyn
French died at age 79 in Manhattan, New York in 2009.
