In the wall-to-wall media that surrounds us, images of women are dominated by pencil thin celebrities who seldom speak. They are known simply for their latest outfits or sensational personal dramas touted in tabloids. Though we might hear them perform skillfully as actresses or vocalists, we rarely hear their authentic self expression.

What of the rest of us, the majority of women, who live our lives in obscurity, loved only by family and friends, respected by colleagues? Next to the often air-brushed images of celebrated femininity in the media, we can hardly measure up.

In the memoir anthology, soon to be released on September 1st (Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother), we purposely collected memoirs of everyday women who wrote skillfully about their mothers. We realized that the image of the typical mother is even less attractive to the media than that of a single young woman. And so, we wish to bring that very woman, the mother, into view. Without an understanding of mother, our culture is certainly at a loss. From the beginning of this anthology, we begin to see her. In the Introduction, Kate Farrell, editor, writes:

“Mother is the silent icon of our times. Shrouded in myth or dehumanized by high expectations, she often remains hidden from view. Daughters whisper about Mother to friends, vent about her to therapists, or honor her with reverence and respect. But in all cases, mothers matter to their daughters and it is through their eyes that we can begin to see the mothers around us. We discover who she really is and learn from Mother. This…collection of twenty-five memoirs about mothers written by their daughters reveals a legacy between them.”