From the first appearance of the lead essay in this collection in 1969, Vivian Gornick established herself as one of the most respected voices in the new literature of contemporary feminism. Speaking always for herself, always maintaining her independence, while at the same time reflecting and commenting upon current feminist concerns, Gornick became one of the most eagerly read writers in The Village Voice, The New York Times and other periodicals. With characteristic passion and a quick, penetrating intelligence, she dissects the culture that is at the root of female oppression. This collection will stand as a permanent record of the evolution of one feminist's personal consciousness over the seven years that paralleled the renaissance of American feminism. These are essays to be read and reread for years to come, as both men and women begin to assimilate what we have all learned from the women's movement.--From publisher description.