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Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews Who Shaped America
A quippy and irreverent collection of illustrated profiles of the great American women who weren’t attractive, well-spoken, demure, or sinless enough to receive their rightful place in history, until now, from New York Times bestselling author Therese Oneill.Slut. Shrew. Sinful. Scold. The 19th- and early 20th-century American women profiled in this collection were called all these names and worse when they were alive. And that’s just fine. These glorious dames earned those monikers, and one hundred years later they can wear them proudly! They refused to conform to societal standards. They bucked everyday niceties and blazed their own trails. They were collectively unbecoming as women, but they forever changed what women can become. With irresistible charm and laugh-out-loud impertinence, New York Times bestselling author Therese Oneill chronicles the lives of eighteen unbecoming ladies whose audacity, courage, and sheer disdain for lady-like expectations left them out of so many history books. Curious readers will learn about forgotten heroines such -Dr. Mary Edwards who, despite being the only woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, was shunned and forgotten due to her insistence on wearing pants in public. -Elizabeth whose careful record of her own unjust incarceration in a 19th century madhouse by her husband (her not wanting to be Presbyterian anymore) led to nationwide law reforms to protect the rights of those with mental health issues. -Lilian best remembered for being the real-life mom of Cheaper by the Dozen but who probably should be remembered for scientifically removing the stigma of the sanitary napkin and designing the modern-day kitchen. -And many more! With dozens of illustrations and historical photographs throughout, Unbecoming a Lady shines a light on unforgettable, impressive women who deserve to be remembered.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
April 28, 2024
I probably went in with the wrong expectations: This is a rather cutesy take on women who refused to adhere to the standards of their time and societies, rendered in quippy language that quickly becomes a rather tiring shtick. Personally, I found the forced tone that is trying very hard to be witty (which is the prerequisite for making sure that it does not end up actually being witty), insufferable. Also, I'm pretty annoyed by the recent trend of "I support women's rights and wrongs", simply because it's so condescending and ultimately stabilizes the status quo that we as feminists should push to overcome: Some of the women here were pioneers AND terrible people, and that doesn't mean we should re-frame their bad traits as super quirky. On the contrary: We should take them seriously as complex beings, and saying, haha, she severely neglected her children, haha, she was a ruthless capitalist, is not doing the trick.
The world isn't ready to face flawed women, so we try to render them harmless. Don't do that to these women, they deserve to be taken seriously in all their messed-up glory. As a woman, I don't want society to support my wrongs, I simply want just as much respect as any man.
The world isn't ready to face flawed women, so we try to render them harmless. Don't do that to these women, they deserve to be taken seriously in all their messed-up glory. As a woman, I don't want society to support my wrongs, I simply want just as much respect as any man.
January 31, 2024
This book has an excellent concept hampered by a so-so execution. I've read Unmentionable, one of the author's other books, and came away from this one with similar impressions. Both books are very readable; in fact, the very chatty tone and bantery narration give the unavoidable impression that readability is the primary aim, which may disappoint readers hoping for something with a little more substance.
I enjoy reading profiles of interesting women who buck convention and I think that works that prevent their erasure from history are a good thing, but I hoped for something a little more toothsome than I got. The tone was so very glib and playful that I kept pausing as I was reading to wonder just who exactly the intended audience was. Was this meant to appeal to middle grade or young adult readers as a subversive history book? If so, the excessive informality made a little more sense, even if it still came across as trying a bit hard:
"It's 1903, so she can't mic drop. Old-timey director bullhorn drop. Aida out."
In some places the humor worked well, but there was too much of it and it detracted from the book. Then there's the inconsistent--at times outright baffling--messaging. I love the idea of profiling women who didn't fit in, but it doesn't necessarily follow from there that the narration should be harsh on women who had an easier time fitting in. One runs the risk of showcasing a string of triumphant "Not Like Other Girls" (TM) examples. In the course of profiling a woman who, along with the more famous Nellie Bly, pioneered the use of daring undercover assignments for investigative journalism, the author offers this aside, which left me scratching my head:
"(Other, more photogenic Stunt Girl reporters retired and married millionaires fifty years their senior. I'm not naming names, but if I were to do so, one name would rhyme with Smelly Thigh.)"
Really?
At one point, in a sentence referring to William Randolph Hearst, the author helpfully defines yellow journalism for the reader as "a judgy name to describe what was a new style of writing: telling a story with the rather tawdry aim of not being boring." Um. That's ...certainly a take.
I genuinely loved the characters profiled in Unbecoming a Lady, and I loved the fact that not all of the women whose stories the reader is introduced to are white. With that said, the super-glib, Cosmo Book Club tone meant that I'd be reluctant to quote anything I learned here without having first verified it against other sources. [Update to add: the author brought to my attention that the published version of the book includes a references/citations section at the end that wasn't part of my ARC and which sounds like it would be a delight to peruse and use for falling down rabbit holes on the internet. Update: Damn it --this was my mistake. I just checked, and the ARC does have it and I just totally missed it. It's thorough!]
I think this serves very nicely as an introduction to historical figures the reader has very likely never heard of and as a jumping-off point for looking up more information about the women whose stories are included here. I found the content and aims of the book to be worth 4 stars, while the writing, at least for this reader, was just okay--I'll settle for 3 overall.
The last section reflects on the rigid and often contradictory expectations society has for women, and it makes for a strong finish. I liked this line, which I hope made it intact into the final publication:
"When the world tells you that you don’t fit, agree most cheerfully with the world. They’re right. You are one of the lucky ones."
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an independent review. Quotes from the book are from an uncorrected proof and may not be final.
I enjoy reading profiles of interesting women who buck convention and I think that works that prevent their erasure from history are a good thing, but I hoped for something a little more toothsome than I got. The tone was so very glib and playful that I kept pausing as I was reading to wonder just who exactly the intended audience was. Was this meant to appeal to middle grade or young adult readers as a subversive history book? If so, the excessive informality made a little more sense, even if it still came across as trying a bit hard:
"It's 1903, so she can't mic drop. Old-timey director bullhorn drop. Aida out."
In some places the humor worked well, but there was too much of it and it detracted from the book. Then there's the inconsistent--at times outright baffling--messaging. I love the idea of profiling women who didn't fit in, but it doesn't necessarily follow from there that the narration should be harsh on women who had an easier time fitting in. One runs the risk of showcasing a string of triumphant "Not Like Other Girls" (TM) examples. In the course of profiling a woman who, along with the more famous Nellie Bly, pioneered the use of daring undercover assignments for investigative journalism, the author offers this aside, which left me scratching my head:
"(Other, more photogenic Stunt Girl reporters retired and married millionaires fifty years their senior. I'm not naming names, but if I were to do so, one name would rhyme with Smelly Thigh.)"
Really?
At one point, in a sentence referring to William Randolph Hearst, the author helpfully defines yellow journalism for the reader as "a judgy name to describe what was a new style of writing: telling a story with the rather tawdry aim of not being boring." Um. That's ...certainly a take.
I genuinely loved the characters profiled in Unbecoming a Lady, and I loved the fact that not all of the women whose stories the reader is introduced to are white. With that said, the super-glib, Cosmo Book Club tone meant that I'd be reluctant to quote anything I learned here without having first verified it against other sources. [Update to add: the author brought to my attention that the published version of the book includes a references/citations section at the end that wasn't part of my ARC and which sounds like it would be a delight to peruse and use for falling down rabbit holes on the internet. Update: Damn it --this was my mistake. I just checked, and the ARC does have it and I just totally missed it. It's thorough!]
I think this serves very nicely as an introduction to historical figures the reader has very likely never heard of and as a jumping-off point for looking up more information about the women whose stories are included here. I found the content and aims of the book to be worth 4 stars, while the writing, at least for this reader, was just okay--I'll settle for 3 overall.
The last section reflects on the rigid and often contradictory expectations society has for women, and it makes for a strong finish. I liked this line, which I hope made it intact into the final publication:
"When the world tells you that you don’t fit, agree most cheerfully with the world. They’re right. You are one of the lucky ones."
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an independent review. Quotes from the book are from an uncorrected proof and may not be final.
April 27, 2024
The title drew me to this book, I simply had to give it a read. The audiobook is only 4ish hours long so I finished it all in one go. It was really interesting, and surprisingly funny. Both of the narrators did an amazing job, but the one that was doing the "narrator" or author's voice put so much effort into it, that it felt like Therese Oneill was telling me all this herself.
I enjoyed learning about all of these women, some familiar to me, some not, and in such a creative way too. I wish the book was longer so even more lesser known women could be covered. It was also very diverse which is always a plus.
Also, I had no idea this was the same author who wrote this and her other books, I'll absolutely be reading them now.
I enjoyed learning about all of these women, some familiar to me, some not, and in such a creative way too. I wish the book was longer so even more lesser known women could be covered. It was also very diverse which is always a plus.
Also, I had no idea this was the same author who wrote this and her other books, I'll absolutely be reading them now.
April 24, 2024
4.5 Stars!
A quick and funny little history of some women who caused trouble and lived outside of the confines women of their time were expected live. Some women I had heard of and some were new to me. I liked the mix of women in this book. It was multi racial and the causes ranged from women's right to vote & wear pants to women fighting against lynching and designing menstrual pads. All important things in their own way.
If you enjoyed Therese Oneill other book Unmentionables than I think you'll enjoy this one. I need to read her book Ungovernable. These are fun and quick ways to learn about Women's History. Even if you don't normally enjoy History you will definitely enjoy these books.
A quick and funny little history of some women who caused trouble and lived outside of the confines women of their time were expected live. Some women I had heard of and some were new to me. I liked the mix of women in this book. It was multi racial and the causes ranged from women's right to vote & wear pants to women fighting against lynching and designing menstrual pads. All important things in their own way.
If you enjoyed Therese Oneill other book Unmentionables than I think you'll enjoy this one. I need to read her book Ungovernable. These are fun and quick ways to learn about Women's History. Even if you don't normally enjoy History you will definitely enjoy these books.
August 28, 2025
This book is a fun read about women in the 19th century and early 20th century that rebelled against the idea that they should know their place. These women were activists and businesswomen who were depicted in a Punch magazine cartoon as exhibits in a proposed "Chamber of Female Horrors" I did not know some of these women like the founder of the Lane Bryant,and Poker Alice Stubbs. What they fought against were acceptable then but horrify us today: lynching, little civil rights for women, no votes for women, and racism. Carrie Nation's extremism and the religious hucksterism of Aimee Semple McPherson should not have been included because they may be notable but not laudable.
February 21, 2024
Let's get one thing straight! I'm no humanitarian. I'm a hellraiser!
There was no chance I was seeing this title and not reading this, are you kidding me?
And even though it clearly could've been just a title grab (I have been burned before), it absolutely paid off in Trivia Dividends. We all know how much I love useless trivia. Here's what I learned:
* Cake walk is not just a reference to the ridiculous carnival game. It (seemingly) originated in the days of slavery, possibly as a way to mock uppity white assholes and their fancy dances. Of course, those uppity assholes took it, minstrel'ed it, and made it their own, but a bad ass woman named Aida Overton Walker flipped the minstrel on its head and made a name from it. AMAZING.
* The creator of Lane Bryant was a Jewish, Lithuanian immigrant who made clothing for pregnant women (who were supposed to stay inside while pregnant because gUHross) and who, when applying for a bank loan, spelled her name wrong. Her husband was an engineer who helped her design clothing for women whose bodies were
"Irrational, outside of the norm, and in the eyes of clothing manufacturers, in need of rationalization and correction."
* I've never read the book nor seen the movie Cheaper By the Dozen, but apparently the mother its based on was a bad ass who told menstrual pad creators to stop being stupid and make things women didn't hate to buy more than they already did.
* The founder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church was a woman who got hit in the head with a rock as a child and thereafter had visions of God, who told her how the church should be run.
* Carrie "Death to the alcoholics" Nation basically invented battered women's shelters.
* I'm not going to tell you who my top quote in this review is from. You need to go find her story.
I vagued these as much as I could because seriously, y'all need to go read this book. My Badass Women Cup floweth over and I have so many more women to learn about now.
Go forth and find out for yourselves.
There was no chance I was seeing this title and not reading this, are you kidding me?
And even though it clearly could've been just a title grab (I have been burned before), it absolutely paid off in Trivia Dividends. We all know how much I love useless trivia. Here's what I learned:
* Cake walk is not just a reference to the ridiculous carnival game. It (seemingly) originated in the days of slavery, possibly as a way to mock uppity white assholes and their fancy dances. Of course, those uppity assholes took it, minstrel'ed it, and made it their own, but a bad ass woman named Aida Overton Walker flipped the minstrel on its head and made a name from it. AMAZING.
* The creator of Lane Bryant was a Jewish, Lithuanian immigrant who made clothing for pregnant women (who were supposed to stay inside while pregnant because gUHross) and who, when applying for a bank loan, spelled her name wrong. Her husband was an engineer who helped her design clothing for women whose bodies were
"Irrational, outside of the norm, and in the eyes of clothing manufacturers, in need of rationalization and correction."
* I've never read the book nor seen the movie Cheaper By the Dozen, but apparently the mother its based on was a bad ass who told menstrual pad creators to stop being stupid and make things women didn't hate to buy more than they already did.
* The founder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church was a woman who got hit in the head with a rock as a child and thereafter had visions of God, who told her how the church should be run.
* Carrie "Death to the alcoholics" Nation basically invented battered women's shelters.
* I'm not going to tell you who my top quote in this review is from. You need to go find her story.
I vagued these as much as I could because seriously, y'all need to go read this book. My Badass Women Cup floweth over and I have so many more women to learn about now.
Go forth and find out for yourselves.
February 11, 2024
This is a pretty good book of essays in various women throughout history that didn’t fit the mold at the time and they still may not today. This book is very light hearted and full of humor not all of it well placed. There were plenty of times I laughed but also there were a few moments the jokes landed flat. And as is the tendency for books like these the further gets out from publication the more dated it's could feel because of the type of humor.
This is a good primer of USA women of the past. So many of these stories leave you wanting to know more about these interesting women and luckily there is a reference list in this book. I am still going through it finding which ones my library has and which ones I have to find elsewhere.
This is a good primer of USA women of the past. So many of these stories leave you wanting to know more about these interesting women and luckily there is a reference list in this book. I am still going through it finding which ones my library has and which ones I have to find elsewhere.
February 28, 2024
This was so good! Do you like history? Do you like reading about badass and interesting women? Do you like visuals? If you answered yes to any or all of these, this book is definitely for you.
July 10, 2024
A fun/snarky read. The tone can be a little much sometimes (as mentioned by other reviewers). But a decent, light introduction to some women who influenced history but are often overlooked in historical accounts. This book does have a recommended reading list if you want to read more serious accounts of the lives of these women. It definitely piqued my interest in a few.
For a more serious/academic read in this vein I would recommend "Out of the Shadows: Six Victorian Women In Search of a Public Voice" by Emily Midorikawa, which goes more in depth into the lives of some of the women featured in "Unbecoming a Lady."
For a more serious/academic read in this vein I would recommend "Out of the Shadows: Six Victorian Women In Search of a Public Voice" by Emily Midorikawa, which goes more in depth into the lives of some of the women featured in "Unbecoming a Lady."
September 26, 2024
I enjoyed this audiobook and found it to be a fun and bit different way too look at historic people. 3.5 stars not quote a 4 stars or more as I find it sometimes difficult to give more stars when it dosent feel very in depth.
July 27, 2024
Audiobook (4 hours) narrated by Betsy Foldes Meiman, and Chanté McCormick
The narration and audio were OK, without any distortion or erroneous noise.
NOTE: I would highly recommend that you go with either the print version or select both the print and the audiobook version with the intent to see the illustrations and historical photos. Unless you have a visual sight issue that disallows you from being able to see the illustrations and photos, I feel like I missed out on a large part of the book.
Also at the end of the print issue there are a ton of sources, as I heard 23 pages worth, to be able to see additional information for any of the women who you may be a bit more curious about.
A huge props to the author for including extensive information for the readers of her book.
While things have changed over time, through hard fought work and dedication, women have gained rights as compared with the times that the women in this novel lived in. Unfortunately we have also lost rights, and currently in the US, there have been some political remarks associating the worthiness of women to the amount of children that she has bore and raised. We also have the privilege of having articles written of extremely accomplished women, that may include her accomplishments but surely will include the outfit she was wearing to the interview, including the designers, possible makeup brands and also the cheaper versions if we want to dress like her, but on a budget. I cannot recall any time where mainstream news articles of influential Men, include their clothing choices, razor preferences and where we can purchase the off brands.
I am sad that we already should know the names and accomplishments of the women in this book, but because of how they look, where they came from, and that they are women, what they did wasn't appropriately credited to them. In some cases, companies made and continue to make profit off of the work of these women who few people have heard of or if they have, they know of other aspects, as is the mother in Cheaper by the Dozen, who is known as the mom. She was so much more than a mother. The book was written by two of her 11 children.
Therese Oneill has done a wonderful job of pulling women from history who were intentionally forgotten. The title of the book is spot on, as this is what some of these women were seen as. Sure, some of the delivery is a bit harsh, but I would probably feel some sort of way after spending countless hours researching these great, creative minds and seeing how they were treated and addressed as, over and over again.
I appreciate Therese Oneill for uncovering the lives of some of our hidden treasures.
Recommend. (see note in italics, above)
The narration and audio were OK, without any distortion or erroneous noise.
NOTE: I would highly recommend that you go with either the print version or select both the print and the audiobook version with the intent to see the illustrations and historical photos. Unless you have a visual sight issue that disallows you from being able to see the illustrations and photos, I feel like I missed out on a large part of the book.
Also at the end of the print issue there are a ton of sources, as I heard 23 pages worth, to be able to see additional information for any of the women who you may be a bit more curious about.
A huge props to the author for including extensive information for the readers of her book.
While things have changed over time, through hard fought work and dedication, women have gained rights as compared with the times that the women in this novel lived in. Unfortunately we have also lost rights, and currently in the US, there have been some political remarks associating the worthiness of women to the amount of children that she has bore and raised. We also have the privilege of having articles written of extremely accomplished women, that may include her accomplishments but surely will include the outfit she was wearing to the interview, including the designers, possible makeup brands and also the cheaper versions if we want to dress like her, but on a budget. I cannot recall any time where mainstream news articles of influential Men, include their clothing choices, razor preferences and where we can purchase the off brands.
I am sad that we already should know the names and accomplishments of the women in this book, but because of how they look, where they came from, and that they are women, what they did wasn't appropriately credited to them. In some cases, companies made and continue to make profit off of the work of these women who few people have heard of or if they have, they know of other aspects, as is the mother in Cheaper by the Dozen, who is known as the mom. She was so much more than a mother. The book was written by two of her 11 children.
Therese Oneill has done a wonderful job of pulling women from history who were intentionally forgotten. The title of the book is spot on, as this is what some of these women were seen as. Sure, some of the delivery is a bit harsh, but I would probably feel some sort of way after spending countless hours researching these great, creative minds and seeing how they were treated and addressed as, over and over again.
I appreciate Therese Oneill for uncovering the lives of some of our hidden treasures.
Recommend. (see note in italics, above)
June 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Unbecoming a Lady.
When a woman does not conform to societal and cultural norms, when they're not prim and proper, when they dare to speak their mind, they're called many things.
Slut. Shrew. Bitch. Just to name a few.
In this collection of great American women who defied norms and were more than the stereotypical 'lady,' the author introduces the readers to these amazing individuals who are anything than 'ladylike.'
I loved the author's witty and playful tone, the narrative was easy to read, and I love the illustrations!
it always helps to place a face to the women you're learning about.
The only person I was familiar with was Victoria Woodhull, but I learned so much more including the founder of Lane Bryant.
I don't read a lot of nonfiction but these types of collections are right up my alley; I'm learning as I'm being entertained and the narratives are enjoyable and fun to read.
Looking forward to the author's next collection of profiles!
When a woman does not conform to societal and cultural norms, when they're not prim and proper, when they dare to speak their mind, they're called many things.
Slut. Shrew. Bitch. Just to name a few.
In this collection of great American women who defied norms and were more than the stereotypical 'lady,' the author introduces the readers to these amazing individuals who are anything than 'ladylike.'
I loved the author's witty and playful tone, the narrative was easy to read, and I love the illustrations!
it always helps to place a face to the women you're learning about.
The only person I was familiar with was Victoria Woodhull, but I learned so much more including the founder of Lane Bryant.
I don't read a lot of nonfiction but these types of collections are right up my alley; I'm learning as I'm being entertained and the narratives are enjoyable and fun to read.
Looking forward to the author's next collection of profiles!
December 17, 2025
mm so cute to write a book about misogyny and then doing the misogynistic thing where you don't take women seriously and think they are "girl bosses" and "baddies" instead of complex human beings and so all their actions are justified!
just really jarring to see the tone of this book being so incredibly social media quirky, think "i support women's wrongs" trend. and let's not even talk of the attempted humor and wit. i say attempted and i mean it. not a single quip was funny and the witty attempts are painfully embarassing to sit through.
these are good stories, and a good concept but it needs a proper author, not an author who is obnoxiously online. if this author has people who care about her, they need to make her stop. she might have some talent but writing is not one of them (unless she's probably interested in writing tmz gossip columns, which sound right up her alley).
just really jarring to see the tone of this book being so incredibly social media quirky, think "i support women's wrongs" trend. and let's not even talk of the attempted humor and wit. i say attempted and i mean it. not a single quip was funny and the witty attempts are painfully embarassing to sit through.
these are good stories, and a good concept but it needs a proper author, not an author who is obnoxiously online. if this author has people who care about her, they need to make her stop. she might have some talent but writing is not one of them (unless she's probably interested in writing tmz gossip columns, which sound right up her alley).
September 30, 2025
1.5 Stars, rounded up
Quippy, quirky stories that are more cutesy than informative. A disappointing read. I wanted more bite out of this one.
Quippy, quirky stories that are more cutesy than informative. A disappointing read. I wanted more bite out of this one.
Read
May 4, 2024this was quite enjoyable -- and very educational! Just as today, there were very unconventional women back in the day who managed to make huge differences. In particular, popular history paints Carrie Nation as a no-good, busybody, fun-policing, B**CH. Therese Oneill shows the origin of her pain and how it spurred her to take the actions she did. All too often, history and popular culture insists women are either on a pedestal or they're lower than the low. The truth is that women can be both, either, neither. We're just humans after all.
I urge anyone interested in American history to take a peek at this volume for a side of the story you won't get in school.
I urge anyone interested in American history to take a peek at this volume for a side of the story you won't get in school.
April 30, 2025
I'm rounding this up from 3.5 stars. The attempt at being modern-hip-in your face-attitude/vernacular I find off-putting, but the presentation of this collection of fascinating women remains a first rate dip into history. I wasn't aware of most of them, and I appreciate giving more historical publicity to those who deserve it, especially the ones ignored or maligned in the dusty pages of long ago.
September 22, 2024
I love women
March 8, 2025
The women discussed were interesting, but the writing was not for me. I don't need the wink, wink, nudge, nudge type of humor on every single page.
June 16, 2024
Interesting history told with a bit of snark...right up my alley.
Poker Alice Stubbs was my favorite story.
Poker Alice Stubbs was my favorite story.
July 27, 2024
While I wish the vignettes were a little more fleshed out, this is a fantastic overview of many women you may either have only heard the wrong things about or never heard of at all. Written with Oneill's customary sarcasm, it's a beautiful example of both creative nonfiction and the fact that you truly can't keep a good woman down - no matter how hard society may try.
May 10, 2024
This is a collection of essays of American women who were remarkable, while being deemed unbecoming in their olden times. They're not very palatable in ours either, as evidenced by so few sustaining their infamy. It's short, yet informative and entertaining in the way that an encyclopedia or trivia book was in the times without internet during a train or flight journey. I would have liked to read more about Indian women who had a similar experience, but that's a personal wish. Loved the title, humor, and attached images. Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC of this book! :D
June 22, 2024
I love the topic of this book, but the execution was way too cutesy for me. Every time I try to read books on “badass women in history,” I don’t understand why most of them are written in such an infantalizing style. This one was no exception as it took such interesting women and reduced them down to quirky caricatures which distracted from me enjoying this book, as it felt like I was being talked down to with this constant condescending tone that, like, I get it, is trying to be funny and ironic, but it’s just too much. These were real people, not cartoon characters. Not my cup of tea.
March 5, 2024
This was terrific fun! It’s a really delightful riff on the “girlbosses of history” genre which focused on women who were maligned or ignored in their time for not measuring up to the dominant standards. The resulting book is funny, vivid and immensely readable while being extremely well-researched - just like Oneill’s two prior books.
November 11, 2023
Excellent essays on notable women in history. More thorough review to come.
May 26, 2025
This was a fast, easy read and very interesting and educational on a perennial and frankly important topic - womens' roles, capabilities and rights. The approach the author takes to deliver this important information reminds me very much of one of my favorite songs in one of my favorite musicals (Singin' in the Rain) "Make 'Em Laugh".
The book profiles a number of women who were trailblazers in a number of ways, roles, places and times. I had heard of a couple of the women in the book, but most of them were completely unknown to me and I found it simply fascinating to learn about them and their determination to make their own ways in societies and times that were determined to stop them.
The author is a wonderful writer and really uses her talent - and her notable sense of humor - to make the book feel very conversational and engaging as she tells the stories of the women. She absolutely gives these women their due and you certainly can appreciate their skill, determination and "F-you-ness" in how they went about living their lives. Not all of them - really almost none of them - are what society would deem acceptable. But then, that's exactly the point of the book which is to bring to the reader's attention women who refused to conform and nevertheless managed to accomplish laudable things while - sometimes entirely unintentionally - advancing women's rights.
I found this a really interesting, educational but still entertaining book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about unorthodox but impressive women.
The book profiles a number of women who were trailblazers in a number of ways, roles, places and times. I had heard of a couple of the women in the book, but most of them were completely unknown to me and I found it simply fascinating to learn about them and their determination to make their own ways in societies and times that were determined to stop them.
The author is a wonderful writer and really uses her talent - and her notable sense of humor - to make the book feel very conversational and engaging as she tells the stories of the women. She absolutely gives these women their due and you certainly can appreciate their skill, determination and "F-you-ness" in how they went about living their lives. Not all of them - really almost none of them - are what society would deem acceptable. But then, that's exactly the point of the book which is to bring to the reader's attention women who refused to conform and nevertheless managed to accomplish laudable things while - sometimes entirely unintentionally - advancing women's rights.
I found this a really interesting, educational but still entertaining book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about unorthodox but impressive women.
May 8, 2025
2.25/5
A little too feminismy for me. My eyes glazed over a few times. I also laughed out loud a couple of times. Had some interesting history in it.
The portion about Lane Bryant I found interesting. Particularly how well she seemed to have treat her employees. A little bit of googling shows that their scores on glass door and similar sites aren't great. I tried to find out where their clothes were manufactured. There's an article from 2011 that mentions if you search "Made in the USA" it'll bring up made in the USA items. I went to their site and did so (my wife demanding to know why I was looking at plus sized women in their under garmets...women, am I right?). It brought items up, but no where did it say "Made in the USA." One would think they'd scream it from the rooftops, in today's world where in every shadow and murky corner a tariff lurks, waiting to strike. So, I assume, that ship has sailed.
All this is to say, I found the part about Lane Bryant's founder, interesting. Shame her company doesn't seem as well off as she left it, from the standards I consider important in a business. Could be financially, I didn't check.
Okay book.
A little too feminismy for me. My eyes glazed over a few times. I also laughed out loud a couple of times. Had some interesting history in it.
The portion about Lane Bryant I found interesting. Particularly how well she seemed to have treat her employees. A little bit of googling shows that their scores on glass door and similar sites aren't great. I tried to find out where their clothes were manufactured. There's an article from 2011 that mentions if you search "Made in the USA" it'll bring up made in the USA items. I went to their site and did so (my wife demanding to know why I was looking at plus sized women in their under garmets...women, am I right?). It brought items up, but no where did it say "Made in the USA." One would think they'd scream it from the rooftops, in today's world where in every shadow and murky corner a tariff lurks, waiting to strike. So, I assume, that ship has sailed.
All this is to say, I found the part about Lane Bryant's founder, interesting. Shame her company doesn't seem as well off as she left it, from the standards I consider important in a business. Could be financially, I didn't check.
Okay book.
August 12, 2025
I love a good feminist piece of literature, and when I saw the title of this book I just knew I had to read it! This book is a compilation of short profiles about historical American women who bucked gender norms and chose the unconventional route for their lives. The book is written pretty informally, which makes it much easier to read, but that could be a con for those looking for a complete and professional biography on each of these women. (There is a "Further Reading" section at the back of the book for those looking for more information on these women, so this book serves as more of an introduction to each woman.) It's a short book at only about 200 pages, and a quick read. I finished it in a few hours, and now I have a few more random fun facts to add to my trivia arsenal!
May 31, 2024
In Unbecoming a Lady, Therese Oneill tells the stories of some of the most outrageous women in American history. When I picked this volume up, I recognized some of the names and hoped I would know more; I didn't. Some of the women here were totally unknown to me, but fascinating. Oneil covers trend setters, rebels, revolutionaries, and reformers. She also puts particular focus on the outrageous. For this reason, my lack of knowledge left me wondering how it could be that I didn’t know about these people!
I have both a BA and MA in history and have taught history for 30 years. I actively seek overlooked groups of people and examples of classes of people who typically get left out of our history texts which are still too "great leader" oriented. It is the regular people who do the work and, in many cases, affect the real change in our world. It is convenient to label an age and identify it with a political or military leader, but in many cases, that isn't the real story. In sketching the lives of these women, Oneill tells the real story.
I enjoyed this book and will read more on many of these women, if I can find more.
I have both a BA and MA in history and have taught history for 30 years. I actively seek overlooked groups of people and examples of classes of people who typically get left out of our history texts which are still too "great leader" oriented. It is the regular people who do the work and, in many cases, affect the real change in our world. It is convenient to label an age and identify it with a political or military leader, but in many cases, that isn't the real story. In sketching the lives of these women, Oneill tells the real story.
I enjoyed this book and will read more on many of these women, if I can find more.
November 2, 2024
This was OK. 5 stars for content, 3 stars for presentation. I learned about a couple of rabble rousers I hadn't previously known [good], but they were presented in such an uneven fashion that sometimes I was bored [bad]. However, big props to the editors for including many women of color, who often get short shrift. At any rate, the tone is cheeky and it's a quick read so probably worth your while!
December 11, 2025
A collection of bite-sized histories featuring women who absolutely did not play by the rules. The tone is witty, the stories are captivating, and each mini-biography leaves you shaking your head at what women were battling 100+ years ago. We've come a long way but there's still more to go. Breezy writing and an excellent choice of trailblazers.
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