Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1996

Thesis Director

David Carpenter

Abstract

This collection of short fiction, narration and empathetic characters, through third-person tells the stories of five different women struggling to be themselves, essentially telling the struggle of women and humans everywhere.

These women, who are in the minority--a lesbian, a single career woman, a black woman, an elderly woman and a young college woman--especially represent the wonders and beauties and complexities and difficulties of being a woman. Their obstacles though are society, homophobia, gender, race and age.

However, despite their obstacles and their opponents--themselves, family, friends, co-workers, employers—somehow they reach within themselves and find new strength to emerge from their respective conflicts. They emerge into truer, more determined, stronger, more peaceful and better selves.

Brooke Uriah lets go of the woman with whom she was in love and who has died recently. At the same time she takes ownership of her lesbianism by standing firm with her family, primarily her mother. By letting go and standing firm, she embraces a truer woman in herself.

Mick Niessen takes on everybody and everything that gets in her way of being a successful businesswoman, until her conscience decides to take her on. She hears her conscience and the significant people in her life before listening to an even more determined woman in herself.

Laine Judé steps around anybody and anything that may cause conflict in her life, until someone steps in front of her black skin and her dream to teach. instead of stepping backward and then around, she steps forward for once, clearing the path for a stronger woman in herself.

Cade Quinlan gives in to her failing health at age ninety, but her family does not. They judge her wishes to hold on no longer as fleeting, delirious from age and pain and medication. Before she becomes comatose, she thinks enough ahead to ask her friend to speak on her behalf, finding a younger, more peaceful woman in herself.

Sally Crofton gives up herself to help her friend Cade Quinlan. At age twenty, however, her word is as valued as Cade’s. Still, she steps up and confronts Cade's family regarding her friend's wishes. They make her step back, causing her to step back even farther and see the good of her failed attempt, thus seeing a better woman in herself.

Collectively, these women have similar advantages—human spirit, humor, intelligence, talent, wisdom—and distinct advantages--love for another woman, female anatomy in a "man's world," color of skin, too much age, too little age. Individually, they take different paths to utilize their advantages in order to overcome their disadvantages.

Some self-interpretation may consider this collection as feminist. More simply, it is a reflection of some of the diverse personalities within the 1990s, reemphasizing the importance of serious subject matters and reaffirming perhaps the ultimate moral value: truth.

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