No Turning Back : The History of Feminism and the Future of Women

Repeatedly declared dead by the media, the women's movement has never been as vibrant as it is today. Indeed as Stanford professor and award-winning author Estelle B. Freedman argues in her compelling new book, feminism has reached a critical momentum from which there is no turning back. A truly global movement, as vital and dynamic in the developing world as it is in the West, feminism has helped women achieve authority in politics, sports, and business, and has mobilized public concern for once-taboo issues like rape, domestic violence, and breast cancer. And yet much work remains before women attain real equality. In this fascinating book, Freedman examines the historical forces that have fueled the feminist movement over the past two hundred years'and explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity. Freedman begins with an incisive analysis of what feminism means and why it took root in western Europe and the United States at the end of the eighteenth century. The rationalist, humanistic philosophy of the Enlightenment, which ignited the American Revolution, also sparked feminist politics, inspiring such pioneers as Mary Wollstonecraft and Susan B. Anthony. Race has always been as important as gender in defining feminism, and Freedman traces the intricate ties between women's rights and abolitionism in the United States in the years before the Civil War and the long tradition of radical women of color, stretching back to the impassioned rhetoric of Sojourner Truth. As industrialism and democratic politics spread after World War II, feminist politics gained momentum and sophistication throughout the world. Their impact began to be felt in every aspect of society'from the workplace to the chambers of government to relations between the sexes. Because of feminism, Freedman points out, the line between the personal and the political has blurred, or disappeared, and issues once considered "merely" private'abortion, sexual violence, homosexuality, reproductive health, beauty and body image'have entered the public arena as subjects of fierce, ongoing debate. Freedman combines a scholar's meticulous research with a social critic's keen eye. Sweeping in scope, searching in its analysis, global in its perspective, No Turning Back will stand as a defining text in one of the most important social movements of all time. From the Hardcover edition. Read more... Abstract: Repeatedly declared dead by the media, the women's movement has never been as vibrant as it is today. Indeed as Stanford professor and award-winning author Estelle B. Freedman argues in her compelling new book, feminism has reached a critical momentum from which there is no turning back. A truly global movement, as vital and dynamic in the developing world as it is in the West, feminism has helped women achieve authority in politics, sports, and business, and has mobilized public concern for once-taboo issues like rape, domestic violence, and breast cancer. And yet much work remains before women attain real equality. In this fascinating book, Freedman examines the historical forces that have fueled the feminist movement over the past two hundred years'and explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity. Freedman begins with an incisive analysis of what feminism means and why it took root in western Europe and the United States at the end of the eighteenth century. The rationalist, humanistic philosophy of the Enlightenment, which ignited the American Revolution, also sparked feminist politics, inspiring such pioneers as Mary Wollstonecraft and Susan B. Anthony. Race has always been as important as gender in defining feminism, and Freedman traces the intricate ties between women's rights and abolitionism in the United States in the years before the Civil War and the long tradition of radical women of color, stretching back to the impassioned rhetoric of Sojourner Truth. As industrialism and democratic politics spread after World War II, feminist politics gained momentum and sophistication throughout the world. Their impact began to be felt in every aspect of society'from the workplace to the chambers of government to relations between the sexes. Because of feminism, Freedman points out, the line between the personal and the political has blurred, or disappeared, and issues once considered "merely" private'abortion, sexual violence, homosexuality, reproductive health, beauty and body image'have entered the public arena as subjects of fierce, ongoing debate. Freedman combines a scholar's meticulous research with a social critic's keen eye. Sweeping in scope, searching in its analysis, global in its perspective, No Turning Back will stand as a defining text in one of the most important social movements of all time. From the Hardcover edition

“on The Situations Of Women Around The World Today, This One Book Provides More Illumination And Insight Than A Dozen Others Combined. . . . Freedman’s Survey Is A Triumph Of Global Scope And Informed Precision.”
–nancy F. Cott Professor Of History, Harvard University

repeatedly Declared Dead By The Media, The Women’s Movement Has Never Been As Vibrant As It Is Today. Indeed As Stanford Professor And Award-winning Author Estelle B. Freedman Argues In Her Compelling Book, Feminism Has Reached A Critical Momentum From Which There Is No Turning Back. Freedman Examines The Historical Forces That Have Fueled The Feminist Movement Over The Past Two Hundred Years–and Explores How Women Today Are Looking To Feminism For New Approaches To Issues Of Work, Family, Sexuality, And Creativity.

drawing Examples From A Variety Of Countries And Cultures, From The Past And The Present, This Inspiring Narrative Will Be Required Reading For Anyone Who Wishes To Understand The Role Women Play In The World. Searching In Its Analysis And Global In Its Perspective, no Turning Back will Stand As A Defining Text In One Of The Most Important Social Movements Of All Time.

nola Theiss - Kliatt

unable To Name One Book That Would Cover The Entire History Of Feminism, Women's Studies Professor Estelle B. Freedman Decided She Needed To Write One. No Turning Back Is Based On Lectures Given At Stanford University, But Has Been Broadened To Cover The Full Range Of The Past, Present And Future Of Feminism. Scholarly And Well Documented, The Book Is A Wonderful Source Of Information About The People And The Times That Have Shaped Our Present Concept Of Feminism. While This Book Could Easily Be The Basis Of A Course, It Is Also Appropriate For Informal Discussion Groups, Personal Reading Or For Personal Reference. Topics Cover The Definition And History Of Feminism And The Areas Of Women's Place At Work And In The Family, Health And Sexuality, Art And Politics. This Is More Than A Compilation Of Facts And Figures, As It Combines Statistics With Stories Of Real People Struggling To Understand Their Role In Society As Women. Senior High School And College Students, As Well As Adults, Will Find The Writing Style Easy To Read, But The Sheer Volume Of Information Makes This A Book One Wants To Refer To Again And Again, Both For Personal Understanding And For Use In Research Papers. Kliatt Codes: Sa Recommended For Senior High School Students, Advanced Students, And Adults. 2002, Ballantine, 446p. Notes. Bibliog. Index.,

Examines the feminist movement over the past two hundred years and explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity. Repeatedly declared dead by the media, the women's movement has never been as vibrant as it is today. Indeed as the author, a Stanford professor, argues in this book, feminism has reached a critical momentum from which there is no turning back. A truly global movement, as vital and dynamic in the developing world as it is in the West, feminism has helped women achieve authority in politics, sports, and business, and has mobilized public concern for once-taboo issues like rape, domestic violence, and breast cancer. And yet much work remains before women attain real equality. In this book, the author examines the historical forces that have fueled the feminist movement over the past two hundred years, and explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity. She begins with an incisive analysis of what feminism means and why it took root in western Europe and the United States at the end of the eighteenth century. The rationalist, humanistic philosophy of the Enlightenment, which ignited the American Revolution, also sparked feminist politics, inspiring such pioneers as Mary Wollstonecraft and Susan B. Anthony. Race has always been as important as gender in defining feminism, and the author traces the intricate ties between women's rights and abolitionism in the United States in the years before the Civil War and the long tradition of radical women of color, stretching back to the impassioned rhetoric of Sojourner Truth. As industrialism and democratic politics spread after World War II, feminist politics gained momentum and sophistication throughout the world. Their impact began to be felt in every aspect of society from the workplace to the chambers of government to relations between the sexes. Because of feminism, the author points out, the line between the personal and the political has blurred, or disappeared, and issues once considered "merely" private such as abortion, sexual violence, homosexuality, reproductive health, beauty and body image, have entered the public arena as subjects of fierce, ongoing debate. The author combines a scholar's meticulous research with a social critic's keen eye. Sweeping in scope, searching in its analysis, global in its perspective, this book is a defining text in one of the most important social movements of all time. -- From publisher NO TURNING BACK......Page 1 Contents......Page 4 Preface......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 8 1. The Historical Case for Feminism......Page 10 Part I BEFORE FEMINISM......Page 17 2. Gender and Power......Page 18 Part II THE HISTORICAL EMEGENCE OF FEMINISM......Page 31 3. Women's Rights , Women's work And Women's Sphere......Page 32 4. Race and the Politics of Identity in U.S. Feminism......Page 46 5. The Global Stage and the Politics of Location......Page 57 Part III THE POLITICS OF WORK AND FAMILY......Page 70 6. Never Done : Women's Domestic Labor......Page 71 7. Industrializaton , Wage Labor , and the Economic Gender Gap......Page 82 8. Workers and Mothrs : Feminism Social Politics......Page 95 Part IV THE POLITICS OF HEALTH AND SEXUALITY......Page 110 9. Medicine , Market and the Female Body......Page 111 10. Reproduction : The Politics of Choice......Page 124 11. Sexualities , Identities ,and Self-Determination......Page 136 12. Gender And Violence......Page 148 Part V FEMINIST VISIONS AND STRATEGIES......Page 161 13. New Words and Images : Women's Creativity as Feminist practice......Page 162 14. No Turning Back : women and Politics......Page 173 Notes......Page 184 Appendices......Page 196 Bibliography......Page 200 Index......Page 218 About the Author......Page 233 Repeatedly declared dead by the media, the womens movement has never been as vibrant as it is today. Indeed as Stanford professor and award-winning author Estelle B. Freedman argues in her compelling book, feminism has reached a critical momentum from which there is no turning back. Freedman examines the historical forces that have fueled the feminist movement over the past two hundred yearsand explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity. Drawing examples from a variety of countries and cultures, from the past and the present, this inspiring narrative will be required reading for anyone who wishes to understand the role women play in the world. Searching in its analysis and global in its perspective, No Turning Back will stand as a defining text in one of the most important social movements of all time. Repeatedly declared dead by the media, the women's movement has never been as vibrant as it is today. Indeed, as the author, a Stanford University professor, argues in this book, feminism has reached a critical momentum from which there is no turning back. She examines the historical forces that have fueled the feminist movement over the past two hundred years, and explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity. Drawing from examples from a variety of countries and cultures, from the past and the present, this narrative informs on the role women play in the world, and defines one of the most social movements of all tme. -- From back cover