A question of power Strong women can still be seen as a threat, but a change has come BY PAM STEAGER

I’m wild again

Beguiled again

A simpering, whimpering child again

Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered am I

Some of the most prominent female archetypes floating around of late seem to indicate a need for the prevailing culture to remind us gals once again of who we should be — or else. There’s also evidence that we’re just not buying it this time.

Take the witch archetype. No matter which witch definition you prefer — powerful, evil, green-faced woman, or powerful, ethical, protector of nature and weaver of magick — the key word is powerful. Nothing upsets the existing (which, I’d like to point out, is only one letter away from exiting) power structure more than a powerful woman — except maybe a group of powerful women. That’s why it has always been necessary to divide and conquer us. To keep us, above all, suspicious of each other.

That used to be easy in the early days of feminism. Back then, the old boy network could spin the story as the struggle between those who wanted to preserve the sanctity of home and family, and the bra-burning, castrating bitches who wanted their own magic wands of political and financial power. But as some of the changes sought by feminists were achieved, and eventually taken for granted, things started getting fuzzy. Traditional homemakers started entering politics and business. Feminists made decisions putting their families first. Madonna became a mother. "Superwomen" tried to have it all. We became the majority of voters in American elections. "Soccer moms" became a euphemism for politically aware and active working mothers — whether they worked exclusively inside the home or inside and out.

All the lines were blurred and the old stereotypes were harder to uphold. Not that there weren’t valiant efforts to do so. When Hillary Clinton blew the First Lady/presidential helpmate role wide open, she became an easy target for a new wave of witch trials. But the woman refused to burn. Not only does she now wield her own political power; she won an $8 million advance from her publisher, Simon & Schuster. Then there’s that formerly homeless single mom on the dole (that’s welfare, for the Britspeak-impaired), J.K. Rowling, who is now richer than the queen of England. Best of all, she got there by telling stories about a little human who escapes the abusive, confining structure in which he was raised, and rediscovers his true nature and talents, with a little help from his friends. Dangerous stuff, to be sure.

There’s Martha. Could there be a more traditional American female name? That of the first First Lady, and now of the first lady of domestic tranquility. Martha Stewart, perhaps more than anyone, represents the crossover point between bread-maker and breadwinner. Like Hillary, she’s blonde, ambitious, financially independent, and well-connected. Unlike her, she made her millions baking cookies and pursuing assorted other traditional homemaker pursuits. She is another woman admired or despised by legions, so there were plenty of vultures ready to move in for a taste of the spoils when she was knocked down in an insider trading scandal. Whether it represents her lovers or haters (or more likely both) her new Web site — www.marthatalks.com — received 12 million hits in one recent month, and her personal statement says she’s looking forward to her day in court. The woman refuses to stay down for the count.

Then there’s Oprah. Can we talk? Used to be there was nothing as unempowered as a black woman, but the sisters, who have always been a powerful force on the home front, are rising in the public sphere as well, and Oprah is off the charts. Women of color are making names for themselves and making money in unprecedented ways and means. Powerful women now come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and creeds.

That brings us to the "woman as victim" archetype. The Disney culture of our childhood has gone a long way in reshaping some ancient myths and stories, often of powerful women and their connection to nature, into stories of women in need of rescue. Think Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc. These characters often have dead mothers, find joy in household tasks, and/or find themselves in competition with some witchy woman. But some male principal always comes along to save the day. In case you didn’t recognize it when it hit you over the head, the latest version of this story was the daring rescue of Private Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital. And what a wonderful sequel to the daring Baby Jessica rescue story from 16 years ago. Why, Jessica Lynch could almost be Baby Jessica all grown up — small, white, blonde, Southern, and no memory at all of the events surrounding the dramatic rescue. But in this retelling, it’s looking like the actual rescuers may have been the Iraqi hospital personnel who treated Private Lynch as one of their own. Go figure.

I’m wise at last

My eyes at last

Are cutting you down to your size at last

Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered no more

Well, at least bewitched no more. And possibly no longer in need of rescuing at every turn or fall. But not bothered or bewildered? I don’t think so. At least not the women I know. In fact, there’s a whole lotta’ bothered and bewildered goin’ on among the testosterone-challenged. But that’s a good thing. Because this time around, there are a whole lotta’ guys who feel the same thing and are right there with us. Agitated, disturbed, upset, provoked, vexed and/or perplexed, puzzled, confused, embarrassed, led astray. If that’s what it will take to get people to get wise, to see things as they really are, to cut the paper tigers down to size, then bring those bothered and bewildered feelings on!

This month, you may want to get involved in planning one of the women’s political summits being held around the country, www.mccormack.umb.edu/cwppp/, or check out the new Government Information Awareness Web site, http://opengov.media.mit.edu. You may want to support, join, or continue building one of the many woman-owned businesses popping up all over the land. Perhaps you’ll want to make music or art, or spend your time with family, in nature, your garden, or your home, clearing the clutter and creating places of safety and beauty. However you choose to spend your time, do it with good intentions and we will all benefit. Happy Interdependence Days.

Pam Steager can be reached at pjsteager@earthlink.net