THE “Woman Friday” profile on Judy Sexwale (M&G June 30 to July 7) makes Janet Wilhelm sound like a feminist Robinson Crusoe who’s been stranded on a desert island with nothing to read but The Female Eunuch. Wilhelm invokes Germaine Greer as her foil to a supposedly anti- feminist Judy Sexwale. While Greer’s rapier wit cut the figure of the Seventies Western feminist critique, Wilhelm’s half-witted criticism of Sexwale misses the thrust of feminism in the
Feminists today fight not only for gender equality, but for everyone’s right to a multi- faceted lifestyle. Instead of taking to the streets to burn our bras, feminists now wear what they damn-well please — even black lace underwear!
I don’t think it’s necessary to sing Judy Sexwale’s praises in detail; her actions have shown her to be an intelligent, well-rounded, socially responsible and politically active individual, who also maintains sound relationships with her partner and children. Wilhelm comes across as the stereotypical Seventies screaming feminist, a persona the rest of us have outgrown. I think it’s clear who women would prefer as their role model. — Kerry Ward, Cape Town
I HAD to put pen to paper to compliment you on the most brilliant “Dear Walter” letter from “Nelson” that I have read in a long time, which appeared in the June 23 to 29 issue.
When I showed my colleagues, they actually cried with laughter and all photostatted copies for their friends. I have posted copies to family and friends overseas.
The content and humour were absolutely outstanding. What a great journalist! — Nummy Zasman, Bramley
* I CAN see no point whatsoever to Khumalo’s avowal, in paragraph two (M&G July 7 to 13), of no longer being an “angry, young black man”, when the rest of his column proves that he is still exactly that. I have tried to find a trace of wit in his obvious self-contradiction, but have been wasting my time looking for something that is not there.
As a journalist who has earned the right to his own column, Khumalo must surely know that irony cannot possibly work if it is heavy-handed. Added to this sorry lack of stylistic skill, is a harping on about a subject that has been worn to death and made the back page of this particular edition of M&G gratuitously sour. — Barbara English, Northcliff