Professional women writers

I found it interesting (and shocking) that Prof. Perkins' father would be so against her going to college. I am fortunate in that both my parents insisted that I earn a degree no matter what I had to do in order to pay for my education. Although both my parents are feminists, I was not aware that women writers were treated with little respect as recent as the mid-1900's.

I find it ironic that Ms. Fern's work was treated with less importance because she was a "professional"--- one would think that because she was a professional she would have a better chance of being treated with the same recognition given to Hawthorne, Emerson, and co.

What I appreciate most about attending Roosevelt University is that many of my instructors made a conscious effort to choose books which included a wide array of women authors. One instructor, who is male, said that his reason for doing so was because he was tired of reading the white, male authors who have (excuse me) dominated the literary world for so long. He told me that he preferred the refreshing words and perspectives of female authors such as Sarah Orne Jewett, Eudora Welty, Edith Wharton, etc.

Even though most literary giants have been male, I have discovered that some people view writing for a living in the same catergory as those who are actors for a living (i.e. "When are you going to get a real job?") What I found fascinating about the above-mentioned instructor is that throughout his childhood, he was a rabid reader who spent a majority of his time writing in secret. I couldn't believe it! He's white, he's male, but he still had to write in secret. My understanding is that his family frowned upon his literary tendencies.

I am glad that Prof. Perkins went to college in spite of her father's hopes for her. To think that I would've missed out on a challenging and enlightening instructor! It is with pride that I call her "Professor Perkins" because it is a title that she so rightly deserves.