American woman/doll, laborer, assistant, hero

Author: (American) Gail Collins
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: American Women tells a story spanning over ten thousand years. The narrative weaves together a series of powerful anding characters—from women anxiously gazing out to sea from the deck of the Mayflower to the spirited egalitarianism of those who once challenged beauty pageants and the "bride market" for gender equality. Their actions range from brave to foolish, from humorous to pitiable. Yet, it is these women who shaped modern America and forged the ideas of contemporary American women. Gail Collins, a former editorial writer at The New York Times, draws from a wealth of historical records of ordinary American women and female elites, selecting the most compelling figures to depict the life journeys, goals, marriage views, gender dynamics, and work aspirations of American women.
The book begins with the wild Roanoke Island, where women came to the Southern United States to marry, only to face astonishingly high mortality rates that sometimes led to remarriage two or even three times—so-called "tobacco brides." The narrative then follows the experiences and efforts of women: enduring endless wars, settling the frontier, fighting for the right to vote, surviving the Great Depression, becoming "Rosie the Riveter," participating in the civil rights movement, and the rebellious spirit of the 1970s. American Women also explores how fashion trends, medical advancements, health standards, sexology theories, and social customs transformed the lives of American women, while shedding light on their evolving education, career, and political attitudes.
While maintaining a broad perspective, Gail Collins has not overlooked the significance of women's corsets and uncomfortable shoes. In the introduction to the book, Gail Collins writes, "The history of American women is a history of the fight for freedom. Yet, while American women have certainly resisted male oppression, their greater struggle has been to correct the long-standing, chaotic, and almost universally held—by both men and women—perceptions of women's roles."
The book contains several engaging stories, arranged chronologically to form a comprehensive picture of the experiences of American women. American Women is not only highly readable but also stands as a representative work of history.