What is it about?
The introduction to this chapter describes the author’s symbolic utilization of snapshot to describe the length, format and content of her memoir entries. Each entry is short, five hundred words, and offers a brief look into the coming-of-age childhood leading to her anorexia. The book draws attention to the patriarchal mandates placed upon women during the 1960s. It also explores the impacts which the media and the maternal relationship have upon this adolescent girl’s developing sense of identity. Within this volume there are two distinct books: Book One is the author’s memoir; Book Two sets the stage for exploring female identity development, highlighting historical, psychological, and social influences. The author also offers examples of self-discovery rituals for empowering adolescent girls.
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Why is it important?
This book bring to light the female suppression which the author experienced in coming of age 1960's America. The suppression remains to this day, which makes it important to girls entering womanhood. Snapshot well describes, in all its aberrations, the structure and formatting of my memoir selections. Each of these snapshots is short, informal, and quick. Each offers a brief look into my childhood and into my coming-of-age without following a chronological progression. The sequencing meanders through time, as do the memories that surface and beg to be noticed. I have limited each to approximately five hundred words. I have deliberately limited the time frame from which they have been extrapolated, to my first sixteen years of life. This time frame represents the prelude to my Anorexia. The snapshots are easy to read and as a compendium, give readers an understanding of the suppression experienced by patriarchal mandates and by lack of maternal guidance in developing an empowered female identity.
Perspectives
This book is an offering to women of all ages, to caregivers, clinicians and to mothers; It is an offering that might assist each in achieving or seeking out the before suggested harmony. It is an offering to girls who have been denied rituals and rites of passage into womanhood. It is an offering to all women whose lived experiences and intuitive knowledge have been devalued. I have created and offer examples of rituals and practices for self-discovery and for validating group development.
Creative Director Boston Children's Foundation Dicki Johnson Macy
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Introduction, November 2024, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004711051_001.
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