Feminism unfinished : a short, surprising history of American women's movements

**The American women’s movement has been shrouded in myths, argue three leading scholars in this bold and revisionist history.** Eschewing the conventional wisdom that places the origins of the American women’s movement in the nostalgic glow of the late 1960s, __Feminism Unfinished__ traces the beginnings of this seminal American social movement to the 1920s, in the process creating an expanded, historical narrative that dramatically rewrites a century of American women’s history. Also challenging the contemporary “lean-in,” trickle-down feminist philosophy and asserting that women’s histories all too often depoliticize politics, labor issues, and divergent economic circumstances, Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon, and Astrid Henry demonstrate that the post-Suffrage women’s movement focused on exploitation of women in the workplace as well as on inherent sexual rights. The authors carefully revise our “wave” vision of feminism, which previously suggested that there were clear breaks and sharp divisions within these media-driven “waves.” Showing how history books have obscured the notable activism by working-class and minority women in the past, __Feminism Unfinished__ provides a much-needed corrective. 20 illustrations Traces The Origins Of The Feminist Movement To The 1920s And Follows The Post-suffrage Movements, Which Exposed The Exploitation Of Women In The Workplace And Fought For Sexual Rights And Freedoms. In This Bold, Revisionist History, Three Leading Scholars Of Women's History Provide The First Concise History Of American Women's Movements Over The Nearly Hundred Years Since Women Gained The Right To Vote. They Eschew The Popular--though Incomplete--narrative Focusing On The 1960s And 1970s, And Trace The World-changing Social Movement To The 1920s. This Broader Canvas Allows For The Struggles Of All Women, Including Working-class Women, To Come To The Foreground. Among The Many Myths The Book Dispels Is The Notion That Feminism Was A Movement Of The Largely White, Highly Educated, Upper Middle Class. The Authors Vividly Render The Struggles Of Those Women Who Organized Rallies, Demonstrations, And Sit-ins--often Working Alongside Civil Rights Demonstrators--to Demand Equal Wages And Better Jobs, As Well As The Right To Both Sexual Pleasure And Reproductive Control. The Book Also Provides A Counterpoint To The Contemporary Corporate-backed Lean-in Philosophy; The Authors Argue That This Assumes That Gains For A Tiny Elite Will Help All Women. They Demonstrate That, To The Contrary, The Gains Women Have Made Were Created By Working Together For Social Change Rather Than By Striving Individually For Personal Success. While Each New Generation Since 1920 Has Arrived In A World Improved By The Efforts Of Previous Struggles, The Movement Is Far From Over. Progress Is Not A Birthright But Rather A Vision That Has Been Constructed, Reconstructed, And Fought For Over And Over Again.--publisher Information. More Than Sex Equality : Feminism After Suffrage / By Dorothy Sue Cobble -- The Women's Liberation Movement / By Linda Gordon -- From A Mindset To A Movement : Feminism Since 1990 / By Astrid Henry. Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon, And Astrid Henry. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 233-237) And Index. "In this bold, revisionist history, three leading scholars of women's history provide the first concise history of American women's movements over the nearly hundred years since women gained the right to vote. They eschew the popular--though incomplete--narrative focusing on the 1960s and 1970s, and trace the world-changing social movement to the 1920s. This broader canvas allows for the struggles of all women, including working-class women, to come to the foreground. Among the many myths the book dispels is the notion that feminism was a movement of the largely white, highly educated, upper middle class. The authors vividly render the struggles of those women who organized rallies, demonstrations, and sit-ins--often working alongside civil rights demonstrators--to demand equal wages and better jobs, as well as the right to both sexual pleasure and reproductive control. The book also provides a counterpoint to the contemporary corporate-backed "lean-in" philosophy; the authors argue that this assumes that gains for a tiny elite will help all women. They demonstrate that, to the contrary, the gains women have made were created by working together for social change rather than by striving individually for personal success. While each new generation since 1920 has arrived in a world improved by the efforts of previous struggles, the movement is far from over. Progress is not a birthright but rather a vision that has been constructed, reconstructed, and fought for over and over again"--Publisher description