Sun Signs and the Second Wave

I have an interest in astrological knowledge because I am interested in how the events surrounding our early brains shaped our lives. As far as I know, astrology is the body of knowledge with the most information about this. My co-workers know this, so last year, one bought me a copy of Linda Goodman's Sun Signs. Linda Goodman was a famous astrologer in the med 20th century, and this book has descriptions of different signs, including how to spot someone of a sign and understand a man, woman, child, boss, and employee of that sign.

Interestingly, the book describes Cancer women as having large upper bodies - having a sweater size larger than skirt size. A child born in July was conceived in October, just after the harvest, when food was plentiful. But as the year wears on, carbohydrates run out, and a mother will begin to eat more and more meat during a large part of her pregnancy. In the northern and western hemispheres (quadrisphere?), we have a lot of animal protein. I think this is accurate, and this dietary influence, which was much much more pronounced before this century, might be the reason for my "linebacker in drag" physique. But the assessment also describes a cancer as one who is not very open about "himself", which is not me, not at all. Its also not my dad for that matter, who is also a Cancer. Its also hard to know how much overlap there is between what the book says about a certain sign and a description of typical human behavior. Unlike global warming, I think we could do double blind studies with astrological information.

The book is interesting, but also infuriating, as it was written in 1968. Even though written by a woman, the sexism of American society before the second wave of feminism shines through free and clear. Someone is only called "she" or "her" and possessions/traits hers if the person has been specifically identified as a woman. Generic characters are always he, him, and the traits his. Female employees are secretaries, men anything else, and I haven't read the boss section, but I doubt that the words she, and her even appear in that section. Even the women's section is rife with sexism. The section on the Virgo woman warns the reader that "unfortunately" Virgo women are rarely virginal.

Reading the book makes me grateful for the work and sacrifices of all of the women in the second wave that allow me to realize this in the first place. Because of those bra-burners, I am free. Free to make my own decisions, earn my own money, and be my own person. Free from pandering, free from harassment, and free to enjoy myself. I am proud to carry on their spirit now, in the third wave, because we know there is still work to be done.

In other news, I just read that Sagittarius, the sign of my little sister, is very very incompatible with both Cancer and Capricorn, which might explain why she seems so distant. I'm going to see if taking this viewpoint for my sister improves my relationship with her.