THE INVISIBLE DRAMA: Women and the Anxiety of Change

by Carol Becker ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 24, 1987

Turnabout and turmoil in the lite of today's woman. In the last two decades, extensive options have opened up to women, says Becker. These changes have produced considerable stress. She points out that, back in the 1950's, housewives were inflicted with depression because of the monotony and powerlessness of their lives. Today, women are plagued with pervasive anxiety because of their new status and opportunities. The women now forgoing a variety of lives in a competitive world were, she says, conditioned as children to become traditional self-sacrificing care givers as wives, mothers and daughters. This creates a conflict--and anxiety--for those women who cannot shake off these ""internalized. . .concepts and language of their own oppression."" Men also create problems. Although, says Becker, the New Woman expected passionate love between equals, men still tend to prefer more traditional mates who look up to, serve and keep themselves beautiful for them. Becker calls for women to shed all negative images of themselves and gain confidence and true maturity with the help of feminist therapists, caring friends and books by feminist writers. Yet another work that examines at length the plight of the New Woman--but, in the final analysis, says little that is new.

Pub Date: March 24, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1987

Categories: NONFICTION