Growing Up Female in America: Ten Lives

by Eve Merriam

This multicultural anthology of excerpts from the journals, letters, and autobiographies of ten women portrays life as it was lived across America from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

324 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Born as Eve Moskovitz, American poet and writer

Reviews

[Chris Gleck]

This book is copyrighted 1971 and my paperback version was printed in 1973. I remember purchasing this new intending to broaden my knowledge of women's issues. Eve Merriam, the editor and a prominent feminist, compiled these writings from ten disparate women's lives to give women a voice and reveal women's history and experience in America. She selected a variety of women, but also selected only those that she could find original writing about their lives. The earliest woman was born in 1783 and the latest was born in 1890. These were all interesting to read, and the women, themselves, varied in their accomplishments. I suspect it was heavily edited, because they all seemed to be written in a modern voice. Frequently I find older writing to be somewhat difficult to read and that wasn't the case here. I will be recycling my old-style paperback.

[Yvensong · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in most anthology type books, I enjoyed reading some of the excerpts from the autobiographies of the women more than some of the others.

The main reason I picked up the book was to read what I could find on Susie King Taylor. Our local library only had this anthology.

Susie King Taylor was born a slave in Georgia in 1848, learned to read and write, illegally, at a young age. She escaped to freedom at the age of 14 and married soon after. She spent her life volunteering at regimental camps to during the civil war and teaching other blacks to read and write. Her autobiography was fascinating, eye-opening, and heart-breaking to read. Even more so, when one considers the current state of affairs.

Another really insightful excerpt was the autobiography of "Mother" Mary Jones, the woman who fiercely fought against child labor and the exploitation of miners and mill workers.

[Melissa Mannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Good introduction for women's studies.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten American Women's Stories: 10 lives Merrian Eve-Ed. 4 NF Biography 1700-1960 1st person stories: Eliza Southgate-1700s N. England girl, *Elizabeth Cady Stantan 1800 women's suffergette, Maria Mitchell 1800s Astrologer, Mary Ann Lankborough 1800s wife of conferate soldier under fire, Arvanzian angelin Cooper 1800s pioneer, Anna Howard Shaw 1800s, Susan King Taylor 1800s slave to teacher & social worker, "Mother" Mary Jones Labor organizer, Elizabeth Gertrude Stien1830-1950 Jewish social worker, 2018 2/11/2018 1/28/2018

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover touts this book as "One of the primary texts of the women's movement." It was published by Beacon Press in 1971. Somehow I missed it along the way, but nestled in among my "aspirational books". So glad I read it! Only three of the ten women are ones I already knew about. The others were super revelations. The women spanned from 1783 to 1960. Great and important stories, well written with context.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten very different lives, but each one wanting to be more than what society wants them to be. Very enlightening.

[James Piss · Rating 5 out of 5]

whoahh thats like. yougotta have a lotta lifes to grow up as aagirl. i nebver knew. or do you have to killtehn peiple? bad ass