Taking A Whiff On Psychsomatic Play For Power

Know anyone who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivity? These sufferers (mostly women) are allergic to stuff like perfume, cleaning products, pesticides and petroleum products. A fascinating article in the spring issue of Women’s Quarterly says the illness is psychosomatic and draws parallels between modern times and the Victorian era, when women often fainted. Here’s an excerpt:

“There clearly is a universal human desire to control others and the flight into illness is one way to do it. The Victorian hysteric was able to dominate her environment completely, subordinating the needs and desires of her husband, relatives and servants to the imperatives of her illness. Similarly, today’s multiple chemical sensitivity victim is able to order wholesale modifications of her environment, be it her classroom, her workplace, or her home.

“But the MCS sufferer actually enjoys more power than her 19th-century predecessor. Through political pressure, and the threat of litigation, she is able to force others to modify their own behavior and environments. Sonoma State University recently settled, for an undisclosed amount, a claim by a woman who alleged that one of her professors harassed her after she collapsed into spasms during one of his lectures allegedly as a reaction to a fragrance.”

Mark your calendar: The Spokane branch of Mothers Against Violence in America was recently chartered as an official chapter. They will hold an appreciation night Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Group Health Northwest’s Corporate Center. For more information, call 880-2529.

Life changers: Two programs at the Institute for Extended Learning help women get jobs and become independent. They are free courses. Change Point is designed for women in transition - either separated, divorced, widowed or women whose husbands are disabled or chronically unemployed. Both evening and day classes are offered, beginning Sept. 16. The evening program is also designed for women who feel underemployed. The other program - Project Self-Sufficiency - helps young women get off public assistance. For more information, call 533-3753.

Escape fantasy: We asked for these a few weeks back. Here’s one from Colleen Kelley of Spokane: “My escape fantasy involves a trip wherein money and time present no problems. First, I’d be a contestant on ‘Jeopardy’ and know all the answers. Then I’d attend a poetry reading by Maya Angelou. From there I’d visit Mother Teresa to learn how she is able to see God in each person. My last stop would be Wimbledon to watch a tennis match between Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.”

, DataTimes MEMO: Common Ground is written on alternating weeks by Rebecca Nappi and Dan Webster. Write to them in care of The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615. Or fax, (509) 459-5098.