The American Women's Movement

'At long last a collection that dispels the myth that feminism was a movement of white middle-class women only! Longtime activists from labour union, civil rights, and homophile movements played their part as did young women from different races, classes, and sexual preferences. Nancy MacLean conveys the diversity, dynamism, and development of the movement with an incisive introductory essay and compelling documents. Students and teachers alike will find much to consider and discuss.' - Nan Enstad, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

NANCY MACLEAN is Professor of History and African American studies at Northwestern University, USA.

PART I:INTRODUCTION: A MOVEMENT THAT CHANGED A NATION The Impact of Activism The Long Women's Movement The Chilling Effects of the Red Scare Civil Rights Organizing Offers a Way Forward The New Feminism of the 'Second Wave' Changing Culture and Policy The Conservative Backlash Carrying on in a Polarized Era American Feminists on a Global Stage PART II: THE DOCUMENTS Congress of American Women, 'The Position of the American Woman Today' (1946) Edith M. Stern, 'Women are Household Slaves' (1949) United Auto Workers, 'A Union Protects Its Women Members' (1955) Daughters of Bilitis, 'Purpose of the Daughters of Bilitis' (1955) Ella Baker, 'Developing Leadership among Other People' in Civil Rights (1960) Ethol Barol Taylor, "There was such a feeling of sisterhood' in Working for Peace' (1962) President's Commission on the Status of Women, 'Invitation to Action' (1963) Pauli Murray, 'Women's Rights Are a Part of Human Rights' (1964) National Organization of Women 'Statement of Purpose' (1966) Kathie Sarachild, 'A Program for Feminist 'Consciousness Raising" (1968) Margaret Cerullo, 'Hidden History: An Illegal Abortion' (1968) National Organization for Women, 'Why Feminists Want Child Care' (1969) Alice de Rivera, 'On De-Segregating Stuyvesant High School' (1969) The Feminists, 'Women: Do You Know the Facts about Marriage?' (1969) Gainesville Women's Liberation, 'What Men Can Do for Women's Liberation' (1970) Young Lords Party, 'Position Paper on Women' (1970) Pat Mainardi, 'The Politics of Housework' (1970) A Women's Health Collective, 'The Male-Feasance of Health' (1970) Susan Griffin, 'Rape Is a Form of Mass Terrorism' (1970) Radicalesbians, 'The Woman-Identified Woman' (1970) First National Chicana Conference, 'Workshop Resolutions,' (1971) Johnnie Tillmon, 'Welfare is a Women's Issue' (1972) Chicago Women's Liberation Union, 'Socialist Feminism: A Strategy for the Women's Movement' (1972) Phyllis Schlafly, 'What's Wrong with 'Equal Rights' for Women?' (1972) Susan Jacoby, 'Feminism in the $12,000-a-Year Family' (1973) Margaret Sloan, 'Black Feminism: A New Mandate' (1974) Letha Scanzoni, 'For the Christian, The Idea of Human Freedom Shouldn't be Threatening' (1976) Anonymous, 'Letter from a Battered Wife' (ca. 1976) Deirdre Silverman, 'Sexual Harassment Begins with Hiring Procedures' (1976) Combahee River Collective, 'A Black Feminist Statement' (1977) Men Allied Nationally for the Equal Rights Amendment, 'Ways Men Can Benefit' (1978) Mitsuye Yamada, 'Asian Pacific American Women and Feminism' (1979) Jerry Falwell, 'Rise up against the Tide of Permissiveness and Moral Decay' (1980) Bernice Johnson Reagon, 'Coalition Politics: Turning the Century' (1981) Yoichi Shimatsu and Patricia Lee, 'Dust and Dishes: Organizing Workers' (1989) Jyotsna Vaid, 'Seeking a Voice: South Asian Women's Groups in North America' (1989) Laurie Ouellette, 'Building the Third Wave: Reflections of a Young Feminist' (1992) 'PFLAG Supports Gay and Lesbian Children' (1994) Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 'Women's Rights Are Human Rights' (1995) Jennifer Baumgartner and Amy Richards, 'A Day without Feminism' (2000) Appendixes A Chronology of the American Women's Movement, 1945-2000 Questions for Consideration Selected Bibliography