Women's America: Refocusing the Past [Hardcover]

Linda K. Kerber (Editor), Jane Sherron De Hart (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0195121805 | ISBN-13: 978-0195121803 | Edition: 5

This is the most widely used anthology of American women's history. Organized chronologically, the book is divided into four sections which cover the span of women's experiences in the US from colonial times to the present. Each section begins with a short introduction by the editors which sums up the particular historicla era being covered and the scope of the documents which follow. The editors have carefully selected writings covering a range of aspects on the interaction of race, class, ethnicity, and gender in women's lives. Each of the roughly 90 essays and legal documents presented is prefaced with a brief headnote describing the piece's significance and historical context. This edition has been extensively revised and contains 34 new documents including several orignial essays written especially for this book. More material has been added about "anti feminist" women and about the impact of ethnicity in American culture. In addition, the bibliographic essay has been entirely rewritten to take into account the growing body of literature in the field.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Gets better and better with each new edition. Broad and deep, this rich selection of essays and primary documents has uncommonly helpful headnotes. A teacher's dream."--Gary B. Nash, University of California, Los Angeles

"The fields of women's history and gender studies are some of the most dynamic areas of current research and scholarship. Professors Kerber and DeHart have kept a pace with this evolution. The Fifth edition of Women's America, with over thirty new essays and documents, reflects some of the most exciting work in the field. Carefully selected primary documents give readers a sense of the flesh and blood realities that have defined the lives of women across racial, ethnic, regional and class lines for nearly four centuries. The perfect teaching tool."--Barbara Ransby, University of Illinois at Chicago

"Kerber and De Hart have dramatically improved what was already a very effective tool for introducing students to American women's history. The fifth edition of Women's America integrates the personal with the historical, captures the voices and issues of women from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds, and brings their history to life. Presenting some of the best writing in the field, it will stimulate lively discussion and debate on gender and diversity issues, past and present, and also add significantly to students' general understanding of American history."--Maureen Murphy Nutting, North Seattle Community College

"I have assigned every edition of Women's America since the first, and this is without question the best."--Daniel J. Wilson, Muhlenberg College

"This new edition is even better, reflecting growing knowledge about women as they defined and defied expectations, struggled and survived, and reshaped the possibilities of American life. The editors' Introduction and Conclusion do more than frame the rich offerings of the book. They offer bold and challenging interpretations that will revise our understanding of women's history."--Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz, Smith College

"Fabulous resource for a U.S. Women's History course--great combination of primary and secondary material. Great to have the new edition with updated topics."--Amy Sue Bix, Iowa State University

"Perfect balance of thoughtful essays and appropriate documents. I have used this for years and will continue."--Deborah A. Symonds, Drake University

"I need a book that recognizes processes of colionialism, colonization, imperialism, race relations, etc. in the WEST! (i.e. outside of the standard New England venue) To teach effectively here in CA, I need a book with a much broader, comparative perspective!"--Rebecca Mead, UCLA

"I need a book that recognizes processes of colonialism, colonization, imperialism, race relations, etc. in the WEST! (i.e. outside of the standard New England venue) To teach effectively here in CA, I need a book with a much broader, comparative perspective!"--Rebecca Mead, UCLA --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Linda K. Kerber, May Brodbeck Professor in the Liberal Arts, and Professor of History, University of Iowa. Jane Sherron De Hart, Professor of History, University of California at Santa Barbara.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 672 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 5 edition (November 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195121805
• ISBN-13: 978-0195121803
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,022,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Textbook I've Ever Read, April 30, 2006

By 

M. Rose - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women's America: Refocusing the Past (Paperback)

I originally purchased this book for a college course; now it sits on my bookshelf, never to be resold. I rarely have enjoyed reading for my classes, but this book not only captures the heart of the female struggles throughout history--it gives examples of the women who lived them.

This book presents the reader with an in-depth analysis of women's traditional roles and their active fight for change while explaining the conditions that determined the feminine experience in different historical periods. But the best benefit of the book was actually learning, and realizing, that the world that my generation (the 20 somethings) was born into is radically different from that of females 50, 40, 30, 20, and even 10 years before us. I realize now that many freedoms I take for granted should be cherished, and more freedoms should be fought for.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction to U.S. Women's History, February 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Women's America: Refocusing the Past (Paperback)

I have used various editions of this book for the past four years in teaching a women's history course at a college-preparatory, single-sex independent high school. I have found this to be an incredibly complete anthology and the new edition is even better than the previous ones. My only complaint about the new edition is that the editors -- both renowned historians in the field -- on a few occasions shortened the articles to the point that the context needed to understand them was missing. However, because of the brevity of the articles, it is the perfect anthology for an introductory course.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Women's History, December 19, 2009

By 

Sol Y Luna "Viento Y Lluvia" (Somewhere rainy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women's America: Refocusing the Past (Paperback)

I read about a quarter of this book for a Gender Studies and History class. This book comprises very little of the author's own interpretation of women in history and instead comprises more of many scholarly journals written by people who have studied women in American history. The book also has many interesting primary documents in its contexts like Anne Hutchinson's trial and documents for some of the first unions and societies for reform. Many of the journals were based on many interesting topics. I found that the journal about women and women relationships in the 1800s was very interesting and gave a clear insight into culture and acceptable behavior during the Victorian era. Though some of the journals were a bit dry, I am going to keep this book around for a good reference.