Women in Modern America: A Brief History

by Lois W. Banner

Appropriate as a primary or supplementary text for courses in the History of Women in the U.S., the U.S. History Survey, 20th Century U.S. History, or as a supplement for many courses in sociology and political science. This book provides both pictorial and textual documentation of women's roles in the U.S. from 1890 to present. Banner's goals are to explore the reasons why feminism rose, fell, and then rose again; to examine the history of various groups of women; and to focus on the continuing struggle women face in claiming their rights.

Genres: History, Gender

Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

A founder of the field of women's history in the 1970s, Lois Banner is Professor of History Emerita at the University of Southern California. Banner graduated from UCLA, with a Master's Degree in European History and a Ph.D. from Columbia University in American history. Along with Mary Hartman, she founded the Berkshire Conference in Women's History, the biennial conference that has been held ever since and that is considered the major event in the field. She was the first woman president of the American Studies Association, and in 2006 she won the Bode-Pearson prize of the American Studies Association for Lifetime Achievement in the field. Professor Banner is also a past president of the Pacific Coast Branch, American Historical Association, and of the Coordinating Committee in Women's History of the American Historical Association. She has also been a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, of the Radcliffe Institute of Harvard College, and of the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

Reviews

[Sue Merrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the ups and downs of various women's movements from 1890s to 1984, when the edition I read was printed. I found it interesting how other events affected the women's movement such as prohibition and the great depression. But I should have realized that is true. Think how the misogyny of Donald Trump spurred the #Metoo reaction and all the women getting elected to Congress. Movements are reactionary. Good to see the progress that has been made but sad that is takes so long and shocking to realize women had many of the same problems with society more than 100 years ago. BTW: the author's name should be Lois at least on my copy.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is probably required reading for many women studies college classes. I would have been happy to be required to read this during school. It was actually very interesting. She made it both educational and interesting to read. The later years I felt were a little rushed but overall a very good book.

[Laura]

American women's history