Erica Jong
In ”Fear of Flying,” ”How to Save Your Own Life,” and ”Parachutes and Kisses” (New American Library), Erica Jong has created a heroine, Isadora Wing, whose life reflects the times. Over the course of the past 10 years, Isadora has left her husband, taken several young lovers, developed a career, and raised a child by herself. No wonder so many women identify with her.
Q–”Fear of Flying” was published in 1973. Since then how have men and women changed vis-a-vis each other?
A–Women have gotten stronger. They now know that the only parachute that they have is themselves, not men. They still want men in their lives–men still want women in their lives for that matter–but they don`t look to men to rescue them as they did in the `50s. We also have a much clearer idea of who women are and what they want and need than we did a decade ago. When I was touring in 1973 to promote ”Fear of Flying,” I got arguments as to whether or not women had sexual fantasies, whether or not women liked sex, whether or not women should work or stay home and have babies. Nobody is seriously debating those points any more. It is accepted that women want love and work in their lives. Those problems have been solved. Now there are other ones.
Q–What are they?
A–They have to do with suddenly being single again and realizing that the whole etiquette of sex has changed. The whole world has changed. Women who have children are dating men who have children. Can he stand her children? Can she stand his? Do his children get along with her children? Women of the baby- boom generation grew up in the repressed `50s and early `60s and came to adulthood in the crazy `70s, with social revolution in the air, and we are now raising our children in the Reagan `80s, with conservatism newly rampant.
Q–”Having it all” has become the catch phrase of the `80s. Is it possible?
A–If you want to never sleep, yes, it is possible. Women are very strong. They are like lionesses. They can do everything. But it is very hard. Having it all for women means having the right to be eternally exhausted while they balance a baby, a mortgage, and a demanding professional career and try to find time to have men in their lives–and not just one-night stands–but real relationships as well.
Q–What effect have these ”lionesses” had on men?
A–There are a lot of men who can`t cope with strong women. There are also a lot of men who have new attitudes about women, who are proud of strong women. That`s a very hopeful sign. I did not see that in the `60s or in the
`50s. But I see a lot of it now, especially among younger men who like strong, self-reliant women. I think there are more egalitarian relationships than before, whereby people really assume that taking care of each other is a mutual task.
