Ildney Cavalcanti wrote:
>
> of the story. I agree with her point, but still find the term "female hero"
> a bit awkward... Any suggestions? Best,
>
> Ildney
Susanna J. Sturgis takes up this problem in "The Women Who Walk Through
Fire: A Vindication of Heras and Heraism" (which is the introductory
essay to the feminist sf anthology, _The Women Who Walk Through Fire:
Women's Fantasy & Science Fiction, Vol.2_). She comes up with "hera" as
a suggestive term that encompasses both meanings (& more) of the word.
She notes, "Real-life feminist heras often become visible by passing
some kind of test." (Hence, "walking through fire"-- a test they don't
always realize they've let themselves in for taking-- but which, when
they find themselves taking, transforms them into "heras." "To walk
through fire," Sturgis says, "is to face the questions, to risk being
singed, to be changed, to be changed utterly."
Timmi
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