I realize I have let this blog fall into oblivion but I'd like to try again, if you'll have me. My desire to re-spark this blog came out of a book I started reading this morning, When Everything Changed, by Gail Collins. The book is basically the story of what happened to women in America in the last 50 years and how drastically their life has changed. I recently watched this video on amazon.com, in which Collins says of the book,
"thoughts about the way women are, about the difference of the sexes, about women's roles, that existed for millennia ended in our lifetimes. that is an incredible story and that is the story i really wanted to tell here"
I know some of you have aversions to the word feminism, and this is obviously a key part of this book, but I urge you to try again. Our general historical knowledge of the feminist movement that occurred during this time period is often fleeting and inaccurate. Think feminism consists mainly of radical, obnoxious bra burners? Think again.
In looking for a photo for this post, I read an article from The New Yorker called "Lift and Separate: Why is feminism still so divisive" by Ariel Levy. In the article, Levy tackles the bra burning myth (yes, myth. if you didn't already know that, read it.) and moves into pointing out what really happened during this tumultuous time and not what most perceive. If you do read any of the article, make sure you include the last three paragraphs. You may be surprised.
If you know me at all, you know I love American women's history - especially in the last century - and this book has me very excited. I just started this morning on my commute in, so I don't have a lot yet, but it's certainly coming. The first part of the book is setting the stage. It begins in 1960 - so think post WWII, nuclear family, cold war, self medication. This is a book I'll be sure to read with a pen because I'm going to want to bring a lot of it back here.
Stay tuned . . . and pick up a copy!
"thoughts about the way women are, about the difference of the sexes, about women's roles, that existed for millennia ended in our lifetimes. that is an incredible story and that is the story i really wanted to tell here"
I know some of you have aversions to the word feminism, and this is obviously a key part of this book, but I urge you to try again. Our general historical knowledge of the feminist movement that occurred during this time period is often fleeting and inaccurate. Think feminism consists mainly of radical, obnoxious bra burners? Think again.
In looking for a photo for this post, I read an article from The New Yorker called "Lift and Separate: Why is feminism still so divisive" by Ariel Levy. In the article, Levy tackles the bra burning myth (yes, myth. if you didn't already know that, read it.) and moves into pointing out what really happened during this tumultuous time and not what most perceive. If you do read any of the article, make sure you include the last three paragraphs. You may be surprised.
If you know me at all, you know I love American women's history - especially in the last century - and this book has me very excited. I just started this morning on my commute in, so I don't have a lot yet, but it's certainly coming. The first part of the book is setting the stage. It begins in 1960 - so think post WWII, nuclear family, cold war, self medication. This is a book I'll be sure to read with a pen because I'm going to want to bring a lot of it back here.
Stay tuned . . . and pick up a copy!
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