MJ Stickney, long-time resident of Delta and previous Richmond/Delta candidate for the New Democratic Party, has written and published her first book, Sapien, at 90 years old.
A work of creative non-fiction, Sapien explores social and biological roles relating to gender throughout history. Stickney delves into theories she has built from her experiences and observations over years of travel and living in the world as a woman.
In Sapien, she considers thousands of years of evolution as she poses questions on why women have time and time again been denied the same rights and freedoms of expression as men. From the story of Eve to the modern day, Stickney discusses the roles women have played throughout history, and how circumstance and evolution have led us here.
“The point of this work is to let females know about themselves,” said Stickney. “The book sows the seeds of a project to be carried forward by others.”
An active member of the feminist movement in the 1970’s, Stickney worked to implement Women’s Studies as a post-secondary course subject in B.C. She has always focused particularly on women sharing their experiences and learning from each other.
When asked about the title of the book, she says, “’Woman' is a definition created and defined by mankind - men. 'Sapien' is the word I chose to represent the species.”
Sapien is available for purchase through Friesen Press as a Staff Pick, and can be borrowed through the Fraser Valley Public Library.
