The American Women's Movement, 1945-2000: A Brief History with Documents

by Nancy MacLean

The American women’s movement was one of the most influential social movements of the twentieth century. Beginning with small numbers, the women’s movement eventually involved tens of thousands of women and men. Longstanding ideas and habits came under scrutiny as activists questioned and changed the nation’s basic institutions, including all branches of government, the workplace, and the family. Nancy MacLean’s introduction and collection of primary sources engage students with the most up-to-date scholarship in U.S. women’s history. The introduction traces the deep roots of the women’s movement and demonstrates the continuity from women’s activism in the labor movement and New Deal networks, the black civil rights movement, and the peace movement to the height of Second Wave feminism and into the Third Wave. The primary sources reflect the social breadth and depth of the movement. Dispelling the misconception that the American women’s movement was solely a white, middle-class cause, the documents include the voices of women of all ages, classes, and ethnicities. Topics addressed range from wage discrimination, peace activism, housework and childcare, sexuality, and reproductive rights to welfare, education, socialism, violence against women, and more. Document headnotes, a chronology of the women’s movement, questions for consideration, a selected bibliography, and index support student learning, classroom discussion, and further research.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Feminism, School, Class

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2008

About the author

Nancy MacLean is the award-winning author of Behind the Mask of Chivalry (a New York Times “noteworthy” book of the year) and Freedom is Not Enough, which was called by the Chicago Tribune “contemporary history at its best.” The William Chafe Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University, she lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Abby Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a slay incorporation of documents i had to read of girl bosses for my women in modern america class
so many lesbians !!!
time to write my 4-5 page paper on the personal being political wish me luck
5 starts for a collection of girl bosses thank u Nancy maclean for giving me hope for the future

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nancy MacLean's The American Women's Movement, 1945-2000: A Brief History with Documents was read for WST 101 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies.

Because it was read throughout the semester, the following page numbers conclude what I actually read for the class: 9-40, 69-86, 99-106, 113-121, 128-139, 146-149, 155-157, 165-166, and 169-174.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great resource for high school students needing documents for research or study.

[Meow · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... I think this is a great little "view" into the American Women's Movement, with a few caveats. One, it is missing a few of the major writings; missing a passage from the Feminine Mystique seems kind of silly when you're presenting a book as a "starter" for students into understanding the AWM, as well as referencing it in the introduction. Two, while the chronological order does accomplish the goal of seeing the evolution, it does put some of the topics too separate from each other. And Three, it only contains two counter-revolution documents, both of which are very important, but seem out of place in the structure of the book. Overall, a great addition to studies of Feminism and Women's History, but not really meant to be or up to being a standalone guide.

[Suzy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for primary sources! Has a wide variety of different people's opinions on second wave feminism. Shows that second wave feminism was not for only one type of woman.