13 Women's discourse and literature: the question of nature and culture*

In examining the content and form of woman's expression in terms of whether any differences may be exclusively due to culture and not to nature, I want to emphasize that my simple aim is to advance several considerations and to sharpen the focus of some initial questions. Right away I admit that the vastness of the subject makes me uncomfortable, reminding me of the anecdote of the driver who asked directions from a Vermont farmer and was told: ‘Well, now, if I wanted to go where you want to go, I wouldn't start from here.’ ¹ Speaking for myself, I can start only from where I am and from what I have, with the restless solace that my thinking on the subject continues to change.