The Secretary Chant

Marge Piercy is a lifelong feminist, which is often reflected in her written work. At the time of “The Secretary Chant[’s]” publication, second-wave feminism was at its height and Piercy was involved in the movement. As opposed to first-wave feminism that focused on voting and property rights for women around the turn of the 20th century, second-wave feminism of the 1960s and 70s was characterized by an interest in women in the workplace, sexuality, the family, and more generally social and legal issues stemming from oppressive patriarchal structures. The influence of this movement is evident in Piercy’s poem, which uses an office setting as a way to explore issues of gender discrimination, womanhood, and the conflicts of objectification and becoming lost in one’s job.

In more of a personal historical context, this poem takes on increased meaning, as Piercy worked as a secretary and switchboard operator while living in Chicago. Piercy’s poetry often contains autobiographical elements, which would seem true even within the metaphorical world of “The Secretary Chant,” as two specific jobs she held are named.