Word: signetics
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...regard to the recent problems in maintaining the time-honored distinction between poetry and politics at the sexist Signet Society Adrienne Rich. "feminists poet" according to The Crimson, refused to read her poems when it becomes clear that her audience is male chauvinist. Unfortunately, it appears that Rich draws her fine lines in odd places...
...implication of her act of protest is that she would gladly have read her poetry a before "a non-sexist" Signet Society: the chances, however, of finding such a society within the bastion of bourgeois aesthetics are slum. The capitalist literary elite is about as receptive to ideological liberation (or even struggle) as the Harvard Board of Overseers. It should be clear that the Signet Society is only slightly more qualified to judge radical poetry than is Dean Dunlop to judge the "competence" of Professor Guinier, yet apparently Rich expected something more advanced, more avant-grade--or, at least, more...
Rich's recent letter of clarification only intensifies the contradictions implicit in her protest: "I accepted the Signet's invitation well aware that it was 'male dominated'...I left the dinner because a crudely sexist toast was given..." (my emphasis). She explains her exit, but obscures her entrance. The question is, why was Rich there in the first place? Would it be enough for Signet members to be "non-sexist" while remaining ideological servants of capitalism and sexism go so well together?) Haven't we seen enough bourgeois poets chasing their souls like butterflies? Haven't we seen enough backs...
...would like to clarify your story of December 18 on my departure from the Signet Club dinner last Saturday evening. I accepted the Signet's invitation well aware that it was male dominated" and that only in the last year or so had women been elected to membership. I left the dinner because a crudely sexist toast was given, insulting to women in general and in one allusten, to the woman president of the Stenet in particular. The style of Mr. Mayer's toast was chauvanist in the extreme and degrading not only to women out to the club steward...
...expected to find at the Signet a liberalized, though not radicalized attitude toward women. I found a group of token women myself included, expected to enjoy the sexist humor of a traditional stag club. I was deeply distributed by the fact that Mr. Mayer's monologue was received with hilatity and applause by those prevent, including both men and women who I am sure if asked, would say that they had found it offensive. I felt the atmosphere of dinner to be so decadent that I lost all desire to read poetry in such a situation or to collaborate with...