This collection of essays explores the status of women as viewed in Western literature, philosophy and the performing arts.

A history of women in the Western world

According to Allen, motherhood and citizenship are terms that are closely linked and have been redefined over the past century due to changes in women's status, feminist movements, and political developments. Mother-child relationships were greatly affected by political decisions during the early 1900s, and the maternal role has been transformed over the years. To understand the dilemmas faced by women concerning motherhood and work, for example, Allen argues that the problem must be examined in terms of its demographic and political development through history. Allen highlights the feminist movements in Western Europe - primarily Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands, and explores the implications of the maternal role for women's aspirations to the rights of citizenship. Among the topics Allen explores the history of the maternal role, psychoanalysis and theories on the mother-child relationship, changes in family law from 1890-1914, the economic status of mothers, and reproductive responsibility.

Writing in an age when the call for the rights of man had brought revolution to America and France, Mary Wollstonecraft produced her own declaration of female independence in 1792. Passionate and forthright, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman attacked the prevailing view of docile, decorative femininity and instead laid out the principles of emancipation: an equal education for girls and boys, an end to prejudice, and the call for women to become defined by their profession, not their partner. Mary Wollstonecrafts work was received with a mixture of admiration and outrageWalpole called her a hyena in petticoatsyet it established her as the mother of modern feminism.

A history of European women's professional activities and organizational roles between 1789 and 1914.

"Eleanor Roosevelt never wanted her husband to run for president. When he won, she . . . went on a national tour to crusade on behalf of women. She wrote a regular newspaper column. She became a champion of women's rights and of civil rights. And she decided to write a book." -- Jill Lepore, from the Introduction "Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world," Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in It's Up to the Women, her book of advice to women of all ages on every aspect of life. Written at the height of the Great Depression, she called on women particularly to do their part -- cutting costs where needed, spending reasonably, and taking personal responsibility for keeping the economy going. Whether it's the recommendation that working women take time for themselves in order to fully enjoy time spent with their families, recipes for cheap but wholesome home-cooked meals, or America's obligation to women as they take a leading role in the new social order, many of the opinions expressed here are as fresh as if they were written today.

Combines a detailed social analysis of club militants with a "new cultural history" perspective.

The Coordinating Council for Women in History evolved from a cohort of women historians who turned their scholarly focus to the recovery of women's experiences. In so doing, they created and legitimated the field of women's history. The contributors to this volume, former CCWH officers, mark the 30th anniversary of the organization while commemorating three decades of feminist activism and scholarship. Recording the diverse paths women have taken to become historians, the essays contained in this book describe how a particular group of women negotiated the often competing demands of being a woman, a professional, and a political activist from the turbulent 1960s through the challenges of the 1990s. But beyond the celebration of personal and professional progress, this collection contributes to the emerging historiography of women's history and the literature on women in the professions. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.