…Because They're from Mars, and We're from Venus
- Le Guin starts by thanking the Class of '83 for letting her speak in public in the language of women. (Is there a Duolingo lesson for that?)
- She acknowledges that there are men present in the class, but she's just super psyched to recognize that the vast majority of the audience are women. For once.
- And haven't they had enough of men-speak? Since the intellectual tradition is male, everything else that follows is as well, which is why the robes you wear at graduation are so unflattering.
- Basically, lots of women have learned how to speak like men, so they're often indistinguishable.
- But it's time for women to speak their own language.
- If she speaks in the language of women, though, at a commencement of all places, it's gonna sound terrible.
- Because the way women define success isn't the same as a man's definition.
- Regardless, she hopes that if you want kids, you can have them. And that you're all healthy, and happy, and have a roof over your heads.
- But…is that really "success"?