Issue: March 2004
News
The Themis v Gaia syndrome
WHEN GREEK MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS DIFFER
In Greek mythology, Themis, the enlightened goddess of human rights, did not always see eye to eye with her more conservative mother, Gaia.
And so even today, Greek mothers do not always agree with, or understand, their better-educated daughters raised in more liberated and egalitarian environments.
This is one of the themes of a new anthology on mothers and daughters by women writers of the Greek diaspora being commissioned and edited by La Trobe University Greek Program lecturer, Helen Nickas.
Currently being accumulated by Ms Nickas-Australia's foremost expert of the literature of the Greek diaspora-for publication this year, the texts will explore mother-daughter relationships, particularly those affected by migration, different cultural values and sometimes huge difference in educational levels. The writers commissioned were asked to write short stories, memoirs, biographical fiction or short plays.
'The results of these differences between mothers and daughters can often be traumatic-but on the other hand can be enlightening and rewarding,' says Ms Nickas who has already written two and edited 12 books on and by Greek-Australian writers whose stories reflect the experiences of Australia's estimated 350,000 to 500,000 people of Greek birth or descent.
Founder of Owl Publishing (Melbourne), Ms Nickas is general editor of the publication series Writing the Greek Diaspora which publishes literary works, studies and bilingual editions of poetry.
While most of the previous books in the series concentrated on Greeks in Australia, the latest book-as yet untitled-will look at relationships between Greek mothers and daughters not only in Australia but also in other English speaking countries, mainly Canada and the USA.
'The advent of multiculturalism and feminism has encouraged women of recent migrant background to tell their stories which are becoming part of Australian literature. I want to see more women contribute and re-tell their stories from their own perspectives and in their own voices,' Ms Nickas said.
'Migrant stories were initially told by men. Because women have different perceptions and outlooks, they can throw new light on how migration affects migrants and their descendents in the new land. 'All material in the new anthology will be new, previously unpublished work. I hope to have about 40 contributors and I will write the introduction,' she added.
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