Discussion Questions 10/24

Susan Rubin Suleiman
Writing and Motherhood page 620

1.) Suleiman brings up Jane Lazarre's The Mother Knot and talks about the mother and the dark lady.  The dark lady is representing a mother wanting to express herself.  

Why do you think Lazarre uses the words 'dark lady' as a woman trying to express herself that has a child? 

2.) "The oppositional themes- guilt vs. love, mother's creative self vs. child needs, isolation vs. commitment..." pg. 626
Why do you think it is difficult for a woman to balance motherhood and self expression? Does society have an impact on this?

3.) "I feel that to be respected I must produce pancakes and homebaked bread and have neat, tidy rooms.' pg. 627
Why do you think men encouraged to work outside of the household while women are obligated to be the stay at home mom? Do you think that still today women are obligated to have children and be the stay at home mom?

4.) Suleiman talks about a mothers struggle within herself to use her creative energy on page 628.  bell hooks also talked about a woman's struggle within herself to write.
Do you think that it is harder for a mother to creatively express herself through writing over a woman without children? Why?

5.) "As long as her motherly capacites are put to use, a mother does not need to write: "A motherly woman can give up her other interests in favor of the reproductive function, and she returns to the former when she feels the biologic restriction approaching." pg 625.

What did you think about this quote?