"ETHEL Leave Her Alone " is a story about a southern girl growing up in a changing society. Born in Mississippi in 1935, Betty Jo Whitten was different from Day One. Her first sentence was "Me do it me self " Even as a young child she seemed to believe that all the privileges available to boys would also be available to her. The life she has lived since then has made - and is making- that equality a reality for the women who follow her. This book includes stories that describe the history and attitudes that served as the backdrop for the author's life and her recollections of memorable characters who influenced her along the way. By the time you're finished reading, you'll have no doubt why her father found it necessary to repeatedly say to her mother, "ETHEL Leave Her Alone "