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Bethann
New Novel, “Bethann,” Celebrates Feminism
Bethann Dunlap and her mother were feminists who fought for equal rights. They refused to accept the atrocities the male world tried to impose on them. They refused to be considered second class citizens because they were single mothers. They believed that equality for women is progress for all.
Set in the world of male-dominated, highly competitive, and sometimes-cutthroat world of New York City publishing, “Bethann” follows in the long feminist traditions of Erin Brockovich, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), and Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen).
”Bethann” is the story of Bethann Dunlap, a young girl from Brooklyn, New York who is orphaned by age seventeen. Financially destitute, and without any family or friends for help or support, she must learn how to overcome her devastating situation and survive economically and emotionally in a sexually prejudiced society.
This is the story of middle twentieth century discrimination against women and single mothers, and what the Dunlap women did to fight against inequities. Bethann Dunlap is the embodiment of a woman who refused to be a conquered victim.
This book is for any single mother because of divorce, death, or by choice, or for any woman who has ever fought for respect and equality.
In America, in the 1950s:
A woman could be fired for being pregnant.
Single mothers were often coerced into putting their newborn up for adoption.
Single mothers were often denied employment.
Single pregnant women were often denied entry in college.
The year 1971 marked one small step for women, and one giant leap against sexual discrimination when the Supreme Court ruled that an employer violates Title VII when it refused to hire women with young children while hiring men who are similarly situated.
In 1974, a young Professor Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued her case before the Supreme Court. Professor Ginsburg maintained that Corning Glass Company violated the Equal Pay Act by paying women less than men for the same work.
In 1975, Professor Ginsburg successfully argued that it was unconstitutional for public employers to require women to take an unpaid maternity leave after the first trimester of pregnancy.
Over the years, Professor Ginsburg, and others, stood before the mighty nine and successfully convinced them that:
It was unconstitutional for women to serve as jurors, only if they volunteered.
It was unconstitutional to set the age of majority for women at eighteen and for men at twenty-one, based on the assumption that women needed less education.
Gender based distinctions in the payment of social security survivor benefits was based on archaic assumptions regarding a female’s dependency.
Unemployment benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program had to be changed because the program provided benefits to families with unemployed fathers, but not to those with unemployed mothers because the presumption was that fathers are primary breadwinners while mother’s employment was secondary.
In the late 1960s when the Virginia Slims ad executive coined the slogan, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” there should have been a big and bold tag line: “You’ve come a long way, but not far enough.”
The greatest weapon available for women to fight sexual discrimination is to recognize that it exists. It’s time for every woman to ban together to make any form of sexual discrimination unconstitutional and illegal.
Veteran author, N.R. Mitgang, has written for the stage and television, and is the co-author of “The Mirror Lied” and “Mr. Bojangles.”
AMAZON:
Paperback Book: $14.99
http://www.amazon.com/Bethann-Love-cr...
Kindle: $6.99
http://www.amazon.com/Bethann-Love-cr...
Bethann Dunlap and her mother were feminists who fought for equal rights. They refused to accept the atrocities the male world tried to impose on them. They refused to be considered second class citizens because they were single mothers. They believed that equality for women is progress for all.
Set in the world of male-dominated, highly competitive, and sometimes-cutthroat world of New York City publishing, “Bethann” follows in the long feminist traditions of Erin Brockovich, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), and Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen).
”Bethann” is the story of Bethann Dunlap, a young girl from Brooklyn, New York who is orphaned by age seventeen. Financially destitute, and without any family or friends for help or support, she must learn how to overcome her devastating situation and survive economically and emotionally in a sexually prejudiced society.
This is the story of middle twentieth century discrimination against women and single mothers, and what the Dunlap women did to fight against inequities. Bethann Dunlap is the embodiment of a woman who refused to be a conquered victim.
This book is for any single mother because of divorce, death, or by choice, or for any woman who has ever fought for respect and equality.
In America, in the 1950s:
A woman could be fired for being pregnant.
Single mothers were often coerced into putting their newborn up for adoption.
Single mothers were often denied employment.
Single pregnant women were often denied entry in college.
The year 1971 marked one small step for women, and one giant leap against sexual discrimination when the Supreme Court ruled that an employer violates Title VII when it refused to hire women with young children while hiring men who are similarly situated.
In 1974, a young Professor Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued her case before the Supreme Court. Professor Ginsburg maintained that Corning Glass Company violated the Equal Pay Act by paying women less than men for the same work.
In 1975, Professor Ginsburg successfully argued that it was unconstitutional for public employers to require women to take an unpaid maternity leave after the first trimester of pregnancy.
Over the years, Professor Ginsburg, and others, stood before the mighty nine and successfully convinced them that:
It was unconstitutional for women to serve as jurors, only if they volunteered.
It was unconstitutional to set the age of majority for women at eighteen and for men at twenty-one, based on the assumption that women needed less education.
Gender based distinctions in the payment of social security survivor benefits was based on archaic assumptions regarding a female’s dependency.
Unemployment benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program had to be changed because the program provided benefits to families with unemployed fathers, but not to those with unemployed mothers because the presumption was that fathers are primary breadwinners while mother’s employment was secondary.
In the late 1960s when the Virginia Slims ad executive coined the slogan, “You’ve come a long way, baby,” there should have been a big and bold tag line: “You’ve come a long way, but not far enough.”
The greatest weapon available for women to fight sexual discrimination is to recognize that it exists. It’s time for every woman to ban together to make any form of sexual discrimination unconstitutional and illegal.
Veteran author, N.R. Mitgang, has written for the stage and television, and is the co-author of “The Mirror Lied” and “Mr. Bojangles.”
AMAZON:
Paperback Book: $14.99
http://www.amazon.com/Bethann-Love-cr...
Kindle: $6.99
http://www.amazon.com/Bethann-Love-cr...
344 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2014
246 people want to read
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