America's Working Women: A Documentary History, 1600 to the Present [Paperback]

Rosalyn Baxandall (Editor), Linda Perlman Gordon (Series Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Revised edition (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393312623
• ISBN-13: 978-0393312621
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every woman should have a copy, September 17, 1998

By 

Stephanie S. Evans "Stephanie S. Evans" (Salt Lake City, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America's Working Women: A Documentary History, 1600 to the Present (Paperback)

"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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent materials, August 30, 2003

By 

doc peterson (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: America's Working Women: A Documentary History, 1600 to the Present (Paperback)

_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.