Contradictory (W)omens?- Gender Consciousness in the Poetry of Una Marson

Scholarship during the last decade has successfully highlighted the wealth of creative talent and literary innovation from contemporary Caribbean women writers, yet there remains a dearth of research and criticism on early women's writing in the region. Even Out of the Kumbla, the recent study on Caribbean women and literature, introduces its volume of scholarship with the bold declaration that 'Out of this voicelessness and absence, contemporary Caribbean women writers are beginning some bold steps to creative expression.' 1 In general terms 1t might well be significant to note that Caribbean women's writing, like many other literary traditions outside of Western metropolitan male interest, has been subjected to a whole range of material obstacles and critical biases which have affected the quality of literary production and reception.