Memories of the Second Sex: Gender and Sexuality in Women’s Writing

"Memories of the Second Sex stems from the lively, open and even contradictory voices of thinkers–authors and poets–at a seminar that was conceived around the works of celebrated French writer Marguerite Yourcenar. Focussed on memory, gender and sexuality this scintillating book offers insights rich in depth and sensitivity by women like Urvashi Butalia, Malashri Lal, Rukmini Bhaya Nair and Indira Chowdhury. Rich and vibrant, the voices in the book echo Yourcenar’s approach of self-affirmation and self-acknowledgement, rather than joining in the official battles of branded feminism. An articulation of both the individual and collective reality of women, this book blows away the cobwebs and unveils new vistas even though the medium used is the memory–again both individual and collective of being a woman."