The Clan of One-Breasted Women

The Clan of One-Breasted Women by Terry Tempest Williams illustrates a new perspective of a family who was hurt and is still hurt by the government. With a dream to a reality, Williams shares her story of her hardships and the fight she had to endure to protect her homeland and defend her rights. It was assumed that due to the government testing atomic bombs near the area that she lived, William's family had a history of breast cancer and the women having to get "mastectomies," hence the clan of one-breasted women. One interesting point that Williams brought up, was how the government thought that "public health was secondary to national security." This was ironic as the safety of the people came at a price of their well-being. If the government was trying so hard to protect their people, then how could they do that if the people themselves are either dying or fighting against each other? The only reason the government acts this way is because they only care that they are immune-"the king can do no wrong."  As long as they- the important people-are safe and protected, then all others are irrelevant or "virtual uninhabitants." Even those who try to oppose the government and try to get some justice in a justice-based world are thrown aside and "stranded." Although Williams' point of view is one that most might not be able to reconcile and relate with, it is one that is worth exploring and acting upon for the betterment of our society.