America's Working Women: A Documentary History, 1600 to the Present
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Book Overview
A landmark work when it appeared in 1976, America's Working Women helped form the field of women's studies and transform labor history. Now the authors have enlarged the dimensions of this important anthology; more than half the selections and all the introductory material are new. Spanning the years from 1600 to the present, selections from diaries, popular magazines, historical works, oral histories, letters, songs, poetry, and fiction show women's creativity in supporting themselves, their families, and organizations or associations. Slave women recall their field work, family work, and sabotage. We see Indian women farming, and we also see the white culture coercing Indian women to give up farming. We see women in industry playing a central part in the union movement while facing the particular hazards of women's jobs and working conditions. New selections show the historical origins of today's important issues: sexual harassment, equal pay, sex work," work in the underground economy, work in the home, and shift work. With an expanded focus on women from all racial and ethnic backgrounds and regions, America's Working Women grounds us in the battles women have fought and the ones they are in the process of winning.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0393312623
ISBN13:9780393312621
Release Date:June 1995
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Length:404 Pages
Weight:1.29 lbs.
Dimensions:1.1" x 6.1" x 9.2"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Excellent materials
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
_America's Working Women_ is a magnificient and thorough anthology of the female experience in America. I was particularly impressed and pleased that not just European - American women were included, but also Native Americans, immigrants (just off the boat from where-ever), Asian - Americans, African - Americans, Hispanic - Americans ... it is very comprehensive in this regard.Baxandall also covers a wide variety of issues within women working - from colonial indentured servitude, to women in the early industrial revolution, to the rather significant part women played in the creation of labor unions (including an piece on sexism in the work place in the 1970's).As a history teacher, I am frequently frustrated at the relative lack of materials that have the authentic voice of women in history. _America's Working Women_ provides that voice (at long last). While I would imagine the book would be a bit dry for most to read cover to cover, it nonetheless has some remarkable documents detailing the struggle women have had for their place alongside men - first in the work place, and now (finally!) in the history books.
Every woman should have a copy
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
"America's Working Women" should be on a shelf in every woman's home. I am so impressed by the way Baxandall and Gordon use personal stories and wonderful narrative to illustrate the history of women in the labor force. Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah I have been constantly bombarded with the myth that my place was in the home and that it wasn't my responsibility to have a career. I was encouraged to abandon my career and take on "traditional" female roles. Deep down I knew otherwise, but I didn't have any evidence to support what I believed."America's Working Women" dispels the myths and imbues the soul with strength. I highly recommend it to anyone.
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