Women of the Upper Class (Women In The Political Economy) [Paperback]

Susan Ostrander (Author)

Book Description

Series: Women In The Political Economy | Publication Date: 1984

Susan A. Ostrander is Professor of Sociology at Tufts University.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book, which steers clear of the society page report and the scandal sheet, is especially welcome. It gives us an objective picture of the kinds of lives upper-class women live, allowing us to see what the 'political economy' looks like from their unique perch and what their part is in maintaining it. A good corrective to the media image of upper-class women." --Jessie Bernard "As the first research based on systematic in-depth interviews with upper-class women, Ostrander's study offers us a rich and nuanced view of how these women understand their role in public life, their class position, their hopes and fears for their children, and their points of conflict with and accommodation to their husbands." --Contemporary Sociology "A major contribution to our understanding of both gender and class power." --G. William Domhoff, University of California "Women of the Upper Class is readable. Ostrander has a good sense of narrative, an accurate eye for detail, and a well-tuned ear for speech. She makes her arguments unobtrusively and, whenever possible, lets the women speak for themselves." --Mary Ellen S. Capek, The Women's Review of Books

From the Publisher

Although these women are economically and socially powerful, they are for the most part unliberated.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: Temple University Press (1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877224757
• ISBN-13: 978-0877224754
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars written in plain English by a professor, July 15, 2005

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Lover of Mysteries "avatar_of_ares" (Norridge, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women of the Upper Class (Women in the Political Economy) (Hardcover)

Great job of exploring the lives and problems of upper class women. My only complaint is that the book should be updated (though it doesn't seem dated at all) because it has a copyright of 1984. I have to wonder what, if anything, has changed since then. I love books written by academics that are written in plain English.

There are great tidbits about class scattered, or perhaps just tossed out, though out the book: like the fastest way to move up in class. You'll have to read the book because I won't give it away.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women of Class, December 10, 2008

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Bookworm2 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Women of the Upper Class (Women In The Political Economy) (Paperback)

Women of "class" refers to upper class women; it is only they who have it. They view themselves and their children as special and better than others. They are snobs and they know it. They don't want the masses to know it so they pacify them by their so called charity work. There charity work is done to raise money for museums, art institutes, hospitals, clinics, etc. They are careful not to perform any real social change, not wanting to "rock the boat" (Ostrander). They have a bit of unnecessary guilt because they're wealthy, but the shame serves no purpose, because there is no shame in being prosperous.

Ms. Ostrander showed supreme objectivity in her writing. The tone of her book is honest and a little sad. This is one of those rare books that is worth reading again and again.