Poetic Feminism

Diving Into The Wreck: Feminism

(Play “I’m Not a Service Station” by Margie Adams)

An era of social and political upheaval, of transition and change, of protesting on the streets and through the arts; the 1970s represented a time when controversial and alternative opinions were not only expressed, but acted upon. Among many of the global movements which developed and gained momentum during this timeframe was the prominent faction which undisputedly holds the most relevance and magnitude for the women of today - feminism. The women’s movement spawned myriad poems, songs and literature generating a wave of work protesting oppression, discrimination and patriarchy with one dominant goal in mind, gender equality. Adrienne Rich, an American poet and active feminist, used subtlety in dealing with these discourses and this technique is seen in her poem “Diving into the Wreck,” written in 1973. Remaining appreciable throughout the last 30 years, this poem is seen as Rich’s ...