The Reconstruction of White Southern Womanhood, 1865-1895

by Jane Turner Censer

Censer, Jane Turner

Genres: History, American History

316 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Rosa King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always admired Scarlett O'Hara's relentless optimism when she said, "After all...tomorrow is another day." But I also wondered, how did women actually fare in the aftermath of the Civil War? Jane Turner Censer addresses this question in The Reconstruction of White Southern Womanhood: 1865-1895 from a well-researched and sourced perspective.

Censer explores the effects of emancipation and the renegotiation of domestic roles, the reorganization of households headed by women as a result of the war, and women forging new career paths toward personal and financial independence.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that while Censer researched many southern states, Virginia figured prominently among them. She included many sources from Fauquier County, one of my particular areas of interest and research.

I would recommend this book to readers interested in the role and development of women during the post-Civil War reconstruction years, for which Censer's work provides valuable insights.