Contributors

BARBARA EHRENREICH, who has written dozens of essays for TIME, has a Ph.D. in biology and this week reports on several new books that challenge the assumption that women are the weaker sex. "Feminists have been leery of biology," says Ehrenreich, whose most recent book examines the prehistoric roots of war. Her cover story introduces us to the new feminists--she calls them femaleists--who embrace biology.

HOWARD SCHATZ, who is responsible for the stunning graphic on the cover, has made a career of photographing strong women. His camera is able to capture both their beauty and their strength, a combination well suited for our featured story. He says he instructed cover model Silvia Nevjinsky, a dancer, to "show off your muscular arms in a way that just happens to cover your chest." The result, he says, "is not about not having clothes. It is about power."

RICHARD SCHICKEL, a writer for TIME since 1972, has made a television documentary on Elia Kazan and has written a biography of Kazan's acting collaborator, Marlon Brando. Schickel is producing the tribute to Kazan that will air when the filmmaker receives a lifetime-achievement Oscar on March 21. This week Schickel explains why he admires Kazan despite the director's still controversial stance during the McCarthy era.

S.C. GWYNNE, our Austin bureau chief, writes this week on the healing process that the town of Jasper, Texas, has undergone in the wake of a vicious race crime. "Some stories are sheer tragedy, not redeemed by anything," says Gwynne, who has seen his share of sad stories during his 10 years with TIME. "But here, in spite of the horrible deed, the community has repaired itself morally and spiritually. There has been real soul searching."