Cirrus@Austlit

'Stressing the Modern: Cultural Politics in Australian Women's Poetry is the first major study of modern Australian women's poetry. As it demonstrates, the first part of the twentieth century was a prolific period for women poets. Their work challenged previously given roles of gender and negotiated a rapidly changing social climate. Ausralia became an independent nation in 1901. By 1903, it 'was the only country where white women could both vote and stand for national parliament'. Poetry written between 1900 and 1940 reflected the suffrage movement, as well as the effects of Federation, World War I, increasing industrialisation and, emergent discourses of sexology and psychology. New subject formations were taking place around gender, race and nationalism. Women writers would also move between contrasting sensibilities and styles.'

Source: Stressing the Modern: Cultural Politics in Australian Women's Poetry, p.3.