The Paradox of Change: American Women in the 20th Century (Paperback)

by William H. Chafe (Author) "HISTORIANS, by virtue of their focus on recognizable events and dates, sometimes become captives of a chronology that deceives more than it informs..." (more)
Key Phrases: new women workers, garment strikes, women war workers, New York, Woman's Party, New Deal (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Two decades of feminist scholarship as well as 20 years of changes wrought by the feminist movement have compelled Duke University professor Chafe to revise his classic and influential text, The American Woman: Her Changing Social, Economic, and Political Roles, 1920-1970 ( LJ 12/1/72). While the basic organizational structure of the original remains, he has expanded his focus on women's economic experiences and chronicled the decisive impact made by contemporary feminism on public policy issues. Themes like the "mommy track," the feminization of poverty, and the antifeminist challenge of the New Right draw appropriate attention. Conceptually, the most important revision is Chafe's admission that, since racial, ethnic, and class divisions separate women's experiences, it is no longer correct to speak of "the American woman." Highly recommended for history and women's studies collections.
- Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Provides a crisp overview of the present status of American women. This is the era that most texts are especially weak on, but students want to know about."--Anne M. Butler, Utah State University
"A very useful survey, which is especially strong in summarizing the literature of the past two decades."--David Stebenne, Ohio State University
"An excellent text exploring the boundaries of permissible/acceptable social change in America."--Richard K. Caputo, University of Pennsylvania
"Readable and thought-provoking....His revised work will undoubtedly, and deservedly, be read by a new generation of women's studies students."--Marilyn Yalom, Washington Post Book World
"A thoughtful re-evaluation of the same themes and issues first faced in the earlier study....[Offers] a very human conclusion to a synthesis of women's history in his century."--Choice
Praise for the First Edition: "Until Chafe's book, the period 1920-1970 has been a terra mythologica populated by stereotype and misremembrance....Chafe's thorough research now permits us to evaluate the changing contours of women's public roles in the twentieth century."--Virginia Quarterly Review
"An extraordinarily useful synthesis of material about the twentieth century woman."--Annals of the American Academy of Political Science
"A vast amount of carefully documented information in a readable form. Feminists will find evidence for their arguments in the study, students should be delighted with the generous and wide-ranging bibliography."--The Yale Review
"An excellent text, highly suitable for classroom use. It is scholarly and accessible."--Ronald A. Wells, Calvin College
"A coherent useful summary of twentieth century women's history valuable for supplement to text."--J. Horn, SUNY Brockport


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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; Later Printing edition (January 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195044193
• ISBN-13: 978-0195044195
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #695,328 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)