Judy Mackinolty
Strength of Purpose by Susanna de Vries, Harper Collins, 1998, rrp $49.95
WISENET's recent special project resulted in the 1998 publication Science Futures. This was part of a long line of publications which have sought to correct the gender balance of biography publishing in Australia or provide examples of women's success in spheres often dominated by men or considered as male domains. For example, Heather Radi's 200 Australian Women set out to fill a gap in biography in 1988, the year of bicentennial celebrations in Australia.
Science Futures was specifically directed at secondary school students in the junior high school years with the clear aim of demonstrating to those who had yet to decide on their future careers that science could provide varied, satisfying work. The technique used was to profile a number of enthusiastic young Australian women and men who were engaged in a wide range of scientific activities.
Both of these publications, and others, have provided historical and current role models for young people today, reflecting the struggle for women to achieve in spite of lack of support, or outright discouragement.
Strength of Purpose reflects both these types of books while being somewhat different. It is sub-titled Australian Women of Achievement from Federation to the Mid-20th Century and in this respect it is biographical. In the fourteen chapters, the author traces the careers of 28 women in a number of fields. Some chapters have groupings of women, for example 'teachers and educational reformers', 'pioneers in medicine', and swimmers Fanny Durack and Annette Kellerman. Other chapters focus on single individuals, for example, Australia's first female architect, Florence Mary Taylor, and publisher Louisa Lawson.
Since the book has limited the number of entries, more space can be devoted to the various individuals than in a biographical dictionary and it is possible to sketch in some of the historical background to the women's lives. The introduction, however, fails to provide a satisfactory general historical overview of the period for readers without a background in history.
The coffee-table format and presentation has made it possible to include both black and white and colour photographs, art reproductions, sketches and cartoons. This adds greatly to the appeal of the book and its initial impact while it also helps to illustrate the topics.
Unlike Science Futures this book concentrates solely on women and it deals not only with women in scientific fields but also with those who have excelled in the arts, the professions, in sport and in politics, and with women who have pioneered the way for other women. Thus it appears to share some of the aims of Science Futures in the presentation of possible role models for young women, without being quite as focused. It is aimed at general readership but would probably be a welcome addition to high school library collections.
It is a sequel to De Vries' 1995 companion book which, with the same overall title, dealt with pioneering women of achievement from First Fleet to Federation.