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The Modern Scholar: Feminism and the Future of Women
Since the time of the abolitionists, no movement has so politicized social life in the United States as feminism. Responsible for wide-ranging legislation, such as women's right to vote and the right to an abortion, feminists have fought their way to the center of the country's political dialogue and made themselves a major presence there. But the road to such influence has not been easy.
From the battle over the Equal Rights Amendment to the continuing debates about abortion, feminists have often found themselves in the middle of the country's most hotly contested disputes. They have won many allies, but also many enemies. Yet even under the most intense political pressure, feminism has continued to grow. It has evolved from a women's movement concerned with the rights of mostly white, middle- and upper-class women to an ideology that embraces women from communities of color to, most recently, a movement of international solidarity that pleads the cause of oppressed women around the world, from those brutalized by the Taliban in Afghanistan to teenagers sold into slavery in the East Asian sex trade.
Feminists have long called attention to historical injustice and unfair labor practices. Now feminism has reached a position where it must decide not only how to redress the discriminations of the past but how best to shape the future of women.
From the battle over the Equal Rights Amendment to the continuing debates about abortion, feminists have often found themselves in the middle of the country's most hotly contested disputes. They have won many allies, but also many enemies. Yet even under the most intense political pressure, feminism has continued to grow. It has evolved from a women's movement concerned with the rights of mostly white, middle- and upper-class women to an ideology that embraces women from communities of color to, most recently, a movement of international solidarity that pleads the cause of oppressed women around the world, from those brutalized by the Taliban in Afghanistan to teenagers sold into slavery in the East Asian sex trade.
Feminists have long called attention to historical injustice and unfair labor practices. Now feminism has reached a position where it must decide not only how to redress the discriminations of the past but how best to shape the future of women.
- GenresNonfiction
Audible Audio
Published October 27, 2008
8 people want to read
About the author
Estelle B. Freedman
16 books37 followersEstelle Freedman is an American historian. Her research has explored the history of women and social reform, including feminism and women's prison reform, as well as the history of sexuality, including the history of sexual violence.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 6, 2019
Audio: My biggest disappointment is that when I bought this "audio book" I really thought it was the narration of the book No Turning Back. However, it is a lecture series that is meant to complement the book. I probably would have enjoyed reading the book along with the lectures, but just couldn't fit that into my time right now.
As you listen, it sounds like a lecture, which is a good thing. (As opposed to sounding like someone is reading a book, monotoned!) It covered a lot of material and was a good introduction to the history of feminism and I learned quite a bit.
Interesting things to note...
1. While the lecture series only pits egalitarian societies against patriarchal societies, she originally gives credence to a type of society where men and women are treated as equal yet have different roles. I would be interested to hear why feminism rejects this type of society and rather lumps it in the patriarchal category.
2. Freedman's bias began to show through when she talked about the ugliness of forced sterilization, yet she spoke highly of Margaret Sanger, never noting that Sanger was a proponent of forced sterilization and eugenics.
3. Finally, any time the author refers to anything having to do with a Biblical or Christian view of men and women, she gets it wrong. From the very beginning when speaking about the story of Adam and Eve to the very end. If one is going to be a professor teaching others about such things, it would be most beneficial to really try and understand what the Bible really teaches. I understand that even conservative Christians can disagree over what the Bible teaches about men and women, but she chose the most trite misrepresentations that put Christianity in a poor light that most, if not all, conservative Christians would disagree with. Doing this is not helpful to the discussion of Christianity and feminism.
There is so much more that was intriguing about the lecture series. I should really take the time to listen to my bookmarks and make notes about them.
As you listen, it sounds like a lecture, which is a good thing. (As opposed to sounding like someone is reading a book, monotoned!) It covered a lot of material and was a good introduction to the history of feminism and I learned quite a bit.
Interesting things to note...
1. While the lecture series only pits egalitarian societies against patriarchal societies, she originally gives credence to a type of society where men and women are treated as equal yet have different roles. I would be interested to hear why feminism rejects this type of society and rather lumps it in the patriarchal category.
2. Freedman's bias began to show through when she talked about the ugliness of forced sterilization, yet she spoke highly of Margaret Sanger, never noting that Sanger was a proponent of forced sterilization and eugenics.
3. Finally, any time the author refers to anything having to do with a Biblical or Christian view of men and women, she gets it wrong. From the very beginning when speaking about the story of Adam and Eve to the very end. If one is going to be a professor teaching others about such things, it would be most beneficial to really try and understand what the Bible really teaches. I understand that even conservative Christians can disagree over what the Bible teaches about men and women, but she chose the most trite misrepresentations that put Christianity in a poor light that most, if not all, conservative Christians would disagree with. Doing this is not helpful to the discussion of Christianity and feminism.
There is so much more that was intriguing about the lecture series. I should really take the time to listen to my bookmarks and make notes about them.
Displaying 1 of 1 review