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6th out of 13 books
—
23 voters
From Housewife to Heretic
From Housewife to Heretic
Within one month, Johnson lost both her husband and her church -- and found her place in history.
Paperback, 415 pages
Published
October 28th 1989
by Wildfire Books
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This book is out of print, which is a tragedy in and of itself. No copies at any of the independent book stores (what?). No copies at any of the libraries in the entire Salt Lake City system (you have got to be joking) and so I went online and ordered it from a more ethical version of Amazon.com. Now I want to stock every library and bookstore in the state with a copy.
Why did I not read this book 15 years ago? It would have opened my eyes as to why I always felt "less than", why I felt that I ne...more
Why did I not read this book 15 years ago? It would have opened my eyes as to why I always felt "less than", why I felt that I ne...more
Forgive the length of this review; I have a lot to say about “Feminism.” I started reading classic feminist literature in my teens (Susan Fauldi, Germaine Greer, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Betty Friedan, Naomi Wolf, Gloria Steinem, Simone De Beauvoir, Kate Chopin, Henrik Ibsen, Virginia Woolf, etc.). As an undergraduate, I minored in history and took several courses in women’s studies with particular emphasis in slavery, suffrage, and the women’s movement. I also took sociology/world...more
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I think this is an important book for every Mormon feminist to read. (Actually I wish every Mormon would read it; we'd get some more feminists if they did.) It is both inspiring and infuriating. It was often unpleasant to read what Sonia Johnson went through. I wanted to scream at the absurdity of what she experienced. I also felt sad to realize once again that my Church has been the cause of so much suffering. And even more sad to read this book 30 years later and realize how little has changed...more
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Well, don't I feel sheepish? I was all set to write Sonia Johnson off, to dismiss her and to laugh at her. You can't blame me entirely when you title a book 'From Housewife to Heretic' a name like that strikes me as about as melodramatic, about as outlandish as you can get. Too, I read her biography on wikipedia before I read the book and the facts of her life make her sound as if she really winds up going off the deep end.
I suppose I thought this would be one of those memoirs that is purely ax...more
I suppose I thought this would be one of those memoirs that is purely ax...more
... Wow.
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A fascinating look at the 1970's battle to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and the extensive effort by LDS Church went to block it. It was eerily reminiscent of last year's election season when the LDS church once again threw it's massive monetary and man-power against the Same Sex Marriage props on various ballots. Except, to my knowledge, no one was excommunicated over the SSM fight. It was intriguing, depressing, and enraging to read this first-hand account by Sonia about her feminist awake...more
As an Ex-Mormon, I have also seen and been subject to the church's political machinations (particularly with Prop 8 in California and the Defense of Marriage Act in Texas). Sonia's account was completely believable and very much in line with what I have experienced. Every Mormon should read this book and learn that real 'feminism' is not about hating men but simply desiring equal opportunities and respect for women. Men, you could score serious brownie points with the women in your life if you r...more
One thing I liked about the edition of the book that I read is the author's admission in the preface that she had learned a lot about living, specifically about feminism in the decade since the writing of the book and that the book covers just the awakening and beginning of the author's political and feminist consciousness.
That said, the story kept me turning its pages as I learned about the 1960's-1970's version of feminism for the white managerial classes. Johnson's writing style wraps you in...more
That said, the story kept me turning its pages as I learned about the 1960's-1970's version of feminism for the white managerial classes. Johnson's writing style wraps you in...more
I read this when it first came out in hardback (couldn't find that edition in the search engine). Didn't quite "get it" at the time.
Later, I got to hear Sonia Johnson speak in a workshop at Michigan Women's Festival in 1989. She's fabulous. One of the best feminist minds of my generation.
Later, I got to hear Sonia Johnson speak in a workshop at Michigan Women's Festival in 1989. She's fabulous. One of the best feminist minds of my generation.
A fascinating story about Sonia Johnson's dissent from the church over the Equal Rights Ammendment and the patriarchal structure of the LDS church. It's definitely her own story and she loses some credibility with her blanket statements. Heartbreaking and engrossing as an LDS woman to read.
I thought this book was very good. In about 1981 this Mormon woman was excommunicated from the Mormon church for her ERA activities. I learned a lot about the Mormon church.
To inaproposly quote Peter Travers (on Les Mis [2012]): "Damn its flaws, From Housewife to Heretic is terrific!"
That's all.
That's all.
I got halfway through the book and need to take a break, I love the author's personal story more than the politics part of it.
I appreciate where she's coming from and find her very brave in what she did. Her writing style was tedious at times though and I think the book would have been more powerful if it had been about 100 pages shorter.
Eye opening autobiography about one woman's excommunication from the LDS church based on her role in the feminist movement.
Other book recommendations in the "Mormon apostate tells all" genre: Secret Ceremonies, Deborah Laake and Leaving the Saints, Martha Beck.
Other book recommendations in the "Mormon apostate tells all" genre: Secret Ceremonies, Deborah Laake and Leaving the Saints, Martha Beck.
Sep 07, 2008
Rebeccacharell Palmer
added it
My great-aunt wrote this book. It has some very interesting radical feminist ideas and gave me insight into my family history. It also delves into the Mormon religion in interesting ways, but it is a little out there.
Nov 27, 2007
Caroline Bitter
added it
This is a story of a mormon women who was excommunicated from the church because she supported the ERA.
Interesting book. There is lots of material to ponder. Can relate to some of her perspective.
I recall reading this while sitting in my college library.
May 20, 2013
Anissa
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2013
Cindy
marked it as to-read
Apr 06, 2013
Maryann
marked it as to-read
Mar 30, 2013
Elizabeth
is currently reading it
Mar 23, 2013
Natalie
marked it as to-read
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