Fifty Years of Exponent II

by Katie Ludlow Rich, Heather Sundahl, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (afterword)

On a sweltering day in June 1974, a group of housewives, graduate students, and young professionals gathered in the Boston suburbs. Their to produce the first issue of Exponent II, a “humble yet sincere” newspaper “poised on the dual platforms of Mormonism and Feminism.” They viewed their work as an act of devotion, not rebellion, and were naïve of the cold reception they would soon receive from LDS Church leaders. Nevertheless, the paper became a national platform connecting Mormon feminists. It provided a vital space for them to question and integrate different aspects of their dual—and sometimes dueling—identities. From the Equal Rights Amendment to queer identity, Exponent II has hosted some of the most urgent conversations of its time while also embracing life’s dailiness.

This comprehensive history and anthology celebrate five decades of Exponent II. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, the authors chronicle the organization’s evolution from a kitchen-table-style newspaper to a quarterly magazine, blog, and annual retreat. Its transformative impact on the lives of its participants stands as a testament to the power of connection, resilience, and community over ideological purity.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Feminism, Mormonism, History

425 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2024

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stand on their shoulders. I’m excited to get to know my sisters and my history.
___________

I am a Mormon. A woman. A feminist. A seeker. A thinker. A reader. A writer. A creative. And so grateful to be all of those. Basically Exponent II is made for me. I’ve dabbled on the blog for years, now I finally subscribe to the quarterly print publication. I don’t know why it took me until now?? I kept asking myself why as I’ve been reading this beautiful book of history, context, and excerpts from 50 years of Exponent II. Up late every night, feeling found and seen.

Thank you, generations of other Mormon women, feminists, seekers, thinkers, readers, writers, and creatives. I’m so grateful.
____________
75 Kinda-Hard Book 7!!
And Book 24/24 for 2024.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical book is beautifully written about a topic I love and women I know. It was a joy to read, and the words of Mormon women linger still, changing me with their stories. From the introduction to the narrative history to the photos and art to the essay and poetry selections to the #hearLDSwomen selections and the Afterward by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, the pages of 50 Years of Exponent II add “to the body of evidence of what it is like to be a Mormon woman” (xviii).

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This history is as rigorous as it is heart-filled. I’m so, so grateful to have this piece of important history on my bookshelf. I can’t overstate what a gift this book is to this community and the history of feminism. Each page is filled with gems, love, and incredible stories with big, universal themes that resonate in a thousand ways. I’m changed forever because I read Fifty Years of Exponent II. I recommend this book with my whole heart.

[Amy Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see myself in this history of Mormon feminists. I am so touched by the individual stories included in this book. I love how it’s organized by the time period of each editors’ tenure. Rich and Sundahl do a fantastic job condensing the history of this women’s organization with their brilliant but not too complicated writing.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best way to see life from another's point of view is to read their stories.

[Exponent II · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Exponent II blogger Lavender:

As a Mormon Feminist, healed and held by the words published in the Exponent II magazine and blog, I feel the soul of Exponent through the words of its history as I read them in Rich’s and Sundahls’ book 50 Years of Exponent II. From the introduction to the narrative history to the photos and art to the essay and poetry selections to the #hearLDSwomen selections and the Afterward by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, the pages of 50 Years of Exponent II add “to the body of evidence of what it is like to be a Mormon woman” (xviii).

This book celebrates feminine joy, friendship, perseverance, and tension as it examines the Mormon Feminists behind the creation, publication, and transformation of all facets of Exponent II. In a religious tradition that consistently neglects to preserve Mormon women’s words, the words and pages and history in this book feel sacred to me.

50 Years of Exponent II explores and highlights the “dual platforms of Mormonism and feminism” (62) and Exponent II’s role in this intersection of identities. While this book recognizes the beauty and passion in its duality, it also highlights the painful reality in LDS culture that feminism and Mormonism are dueling identities as well. Consequently, Exponent II was created and is maintained by Mormon Feminists who live with this internal dueling. The book demonstrates again and again that Exponent staff and writers “confront unsettling intersections of their dueling identities as feminists and Mormons” (26). This aspect of the book is relatable and inspiring as it uncovers stories left out of our incomplete Mormon history and brings clarity and meaning to my LDS journey.

There is an extensive list of Mormon Feminists from the past fifty years who have found their way to Exponent II, and they are written into 50 Years of Exponent II with tender consideration. Whether by name or spirit, this book humanizes Mormon Feminists and brings their hearts, friendships, and griefs to the archives of history. It highlights educated and ambitious women whose intellectual and philosophical stamina did not get in the way of Exponent II’s goal: to share women’s voices.

Mormon women are not a monolith and this book magnifies that truth. One of my favorite parts of 50 Years of Exponent II is the archive section where essays, poems, and blog post selections are included. The older pieces, published in the ’70s and ’80s, before I was born, are haunting to read as I recognize many of the same themes, anguish, and issues Mormon Feminists write on the blog today. And while there are similarities throughout the years, the array of diverse experiences of Mormon Feminists is incredible.

The pieces selected for the book were carefully curated, and I enjoyed reading and rereading each one. The essay “Shadow of His Wings” by Deborah from 2009 made me cry, “Minus Motherhood,” an essay by Karen Rosenbaum from 1999, made me smile, and “Love Making,” a poem by Ann Gardner Stone from 2000, made me reach for my partner. That these words, written by Mormon women, can speak to my heart from the past is a sacred tribute to this book and the legacy of Exponent II. Rich and Sundahl’s book is a gift, pulling the past into the present and allowing us to learn from our foremothers and build on their words and ideas.

Recently, Melissa Inouye, a few days before her death, declared that the LDS church needs to work harder to “preserve the words of dead Mormon women.” Exponent II has done and continues to do this, and not just for dead women but for living women as well – most of the women mentioned in 50 Years of Exponent II are still alive! I hope everyone on the wide range of Mormonism, and those interested in Mormon history, reads this book that preserves the words of Mormon women and brings to life the past 50 years of Exponent II.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been tangentially aware of Exponent II for years, but hadn't read a publication until picking up this book. When I finished, I immediately subscribed to the magazine.

Rich and Sundahl deliver a compelling history of the organization. I loved that initial archival discovery of the The Women's Exponent and that burst of insight that this small group of women in Boston could resurrect this feminist publication. I cringed at the myopic LDS leaders who clashed with them over those early publications. I cheered that these women persisted and developed traditions at the annual retreats, of which we got to glimpse a few anecdotes and incriminating photos. The launch of the Exponent II blog in the mid-aughts brought a wave of nostalgia for the Bloggernacle of my young adult years, even though at that time I was a regular reader of Mormon Feminist Housewives. I was stunned by the embezzlement that threatened the Exponent's solvency and grateful they found a way to carry on.

And then, the real treasure of this book: selected articles, poems, and blog posts from 50 years of Exponent II publications. Susan Howe's poem "Wind" captures an environmental angst that is increasingly relevant these decades later. In Laurel Ulrich's "Ode to Autumn", I saw echoes of my own transformation from a book-loving child to a parent of book-loving children. Margaret Blair Young's "Looking Back: Reflections on Presidents Benson's Talk" argues that a woman can find joy in motherhood despite the making of beds and not because of it. Diane McKinney Kellogg's "Birth Control: My Choice, Your Choice" will forever change how I think about LDS polygamy. Carrel Sheldon's "Unheard" and Heather Sundahl's "Baby Killer" demonstrate that the LDS policy exceptions to abortion are not as clear-cut as some might assume. Margaret Olsen Hemming's "Claiming Space: A Spiritual Autobiography" was so captivating I immediately sent it to my daughter, thinking she might see a kindred spirit.

Overall, I'm impressed by the quality and constancy of Exponent II and its editors, authors, and readership. I'm hoping it's around for another 50 years!

[Ramona Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me kows I hate history. And reading about history is just of a tedious situation for me. When Heather Sundahl and Katie Ludlow Rich said they were writing a book about Mormon history I have to admit I did an eyeroll because it just didn't seem like my sort of book. However, when I received a copy in the mail I found myself addicted to reading about the early Exponent history. I even forgot I had contributed to the book so it was great to see my words in print.
What these two amazing women have done should be on every feminist Mormon coffee table, in every book club and in every conversation.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sometimes struggle with written histories; they can feel like a real slog, even if the subject is important. Not this book! I'm someone who loves a real peek behind the curtain, and while 50 Years of Exponent II is not an exposé, it does spill some excellent tea about these Mormon feminists and the LDS church's reaction to their faithful, scrappy, unapologetically feminist paper. Smartly written, engaging, and meticulously researched, 50 Years of Exponent II is inspiring and compelling. If you're interested in Mormon history, feminist history, or both, this book is a must-read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful review of the 50 years of Exponent II, both how the organization worked behind the scenes and evolved as well as samples of the articles, essays, and blog posts over the 50-year history.

[Josiah Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What hath a small group of dedicated Mormon women wrought?

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was a superbly curated collection of writings from Exponent's history, as well as a solid institutional history. The editors struck the perfect balance of providing the cultural context the works were published within without getting bogged down in details, and showed Exponent again and again thoughtfully elevating women's diverse perspectives and experiences as they joined these conversations. I loved this collection.