A History of U.S. Feminisms

by Rory Dicker

The History of U.S. Feminism is an introductory text designed to be used as supplementary material for first-year women’s studies students or as a brush-up text for more advanced students. Covering the first, second, and third waves of feminism, The History of U.S. Feminism provides historical context of all the major events and players since the late nineteenth century through today.

The chapters cover first-wave feminism, a period of feminist activity during the nineteenth and early twentieth century which focused primarily on gaining women's suffrage; second-wave feminism, which started in the ’60s and lasted through the ’80s and is best understood as emphasizing the connection between the personal and the political; and third-wave feminism, which started in the early ’90s and arose in part from a backlash against the movements propagated by the second wave.

Genres: Feminism, History, Nonfiction, Politics, Gender, United States, Womens

180 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2008

About the author

A native of New York State, Rory Dicker completed her undergraduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee. After teaching for several years at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, she returned to Nashville, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. She teaches classes about women and literature, feminist pedagogy, and the history of American feminisms at Vanderbilt University, where she is the Director of the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center.

Reviews

[kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

“These days, liberation takes other forms: Some women want to free themselves from body ideals that deny the female body’s fullness and curves; other women seek freedom from patriarchal religious structures that do not give women any voice; still others wish to liberate themselves from the demand that women be able to “do it all,” as if they were some kind of superhero.”

I read A History of U.S. Feminisms for my Issues in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies class, so I’m not going to review. I did really enjoy this one, though!

[S. Wigget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good and diverse overview of the various waves of the Women's Movements in the United States. It's introductory and short, but it has a bibliography and will inspire the reader to read more books on the subject.

[Asmaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

[Kimba Tichenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books offers a concise and accessible introduction to the history of feminism in the United States. In 180 pages, Rory Dicker covers three waves of feminism: the issues each wave addressed, their accomplishments and failures, as well as the conflicts that divided the movements. Obviously in 180 pages, many things are left out, while other things are under covered. For example, the author does not address impact of the 1920s red scare on first wave feminism -- a topic that Kristen Marie Delegard addresses at length in her book, "Battling Miss Bosheviki: The Origins of Female Conservatism in the United States." And although the author does discuss at length feminism failure to bridge racial and class divides, black feminist authors such as bell hooks and Audre Lorde receive minimal attention. Still, this book would serve as an excellent textbook for a high school or lower division undergraduate course on the history of feminism in the United States. The writing style is engaging, so that this introductory text does not read like a dry textbook. Additionally, the length of the text gives an instructor the option to incorporate a variety of primary source readings; to aid in the selection of additional readings and resources, the author includes references to additional texts and documentary films on each wave of feminism. Thus, the book would also be of interest to anyone who would like to learn more about feminism outside the classroom setting. The book includes a variety of open-ended questions that encourage students and other readers to analyze how they understand feminism and its impact on American society: What is feminism? Can men be feminists? How do media representations of feminism shape our understanding?

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Marko Bojkovský · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok prikaz istorije američkog feminizma. Knjiga je kratka i samim tim površna, prilagođena studentima.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, solid overview of the history of the Women's (or as we learn it was once called, "Woman") Movement in the United States from the mid-19th century. Those very familiar with the history of feminism and its internal conflicts may not learn as much, but it is nice to have it all in once place and overall I thought the treatment of divisions within the movement was very balanced. Also served as an interesting reminder of all the rights we take for granted as universal human rights that were once only available to a few.

[K.m. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covers a lot of ground (3 waves of feminism) in a succinct, informative guide. Good suggested readings, filmography, etc. Although it attempts to expand into areas beyond the fairly well-beaten track of white, privileged feminist history (from Susan B. Anthony to consciousness raising and beyond), this guide provided only brief references to the intersections of race, class, sexuality, age, gender,etc within the umbrella of U.S. feminism.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well would you look at that! Yet another book I didn't finish because I got extremely lazy and decided to stop doing the readings for class *shrug*
Don't get me wrong this book was fantastic, I just am losing steam at the end of the quarter. Sweet summer vacation is two weeks away and I've officially checked out, mentally.

[RJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up and put down this book so many times. It took me over a year to read 200 pages.

This is what I would expect a student to return to me in an introductory women’s studies class. It’s topical. And white. SO white. She reprints a racial slur published by two other white women? Why? Why is that necessary? Answer: it’s not. This is A History of U.S. White Feminism and I urge any individual in a teaching position to refrain from ever using this unless you’re comfortable with leading an outdated class. Black feminists, Indigenous feminists, Mexican feminists, Latinx feminists have all been doing work within this country during the time frame this book covers but they’re just a footnote, or used to make a point, oooor not even mentioned whatsoever. Nothing more than a paragraph. Do better white women!

[Elettra Arazatah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear and concise overwiew that is useful outside of the US as inevitably first and second wave feminism have started there, influencing the rest of the world.
Having a clear chronological order, and being able to put into an historical frame ideological questions that have come up on feminism over the years is really helpful even (and maybe even more so), if you have a good understanding of feminism already.
For the third wave it's pretty dated, but it's a short chapter at the ended and it doesn't detract at all.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love clear-cut books, in chronological order with names, dates, and pics. This is kind of an academic text, what it’s excellent to understand from the general context to some specific details, beginning in the early 19th century until 2015.
To me, it was pretty interesting to realize what was happening in the States and compare it with Latin America; at the beginning with a huge gap, and now, getting it closer.

[Mandy Mauerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for my sociology course on women's studies. Very informative. Talks about all the struggles not just for women in society but also within the women's movement. Follows the wave analogy and structures the book by the waves while still including the inbetween happenings. Great book to highlight intersectionality.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview for people learning about the history of feminism for the first time! Since this book was published in 2016, the third wave section seems a little lacking (Brett Kavanaugh, #metoo, women's march, 2018 midterms, etc.) but that is no fault of the book. Just timing.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped me gain a basic understanding of the origins of feminism and the various waves. I feel like I now understand feminism in past contexts and how past contexts have shaped the current debate.

[Sandra Rahimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good summary for those who don't know the history of feminism in America.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a wonderful, comprehensive but simple history of feminism. It will definitely increase my knowledge and effectiveness into my recent foray into protesting and activism.

[Spencer Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very straight to the point history of feminism. Answers many basic questions, and gives good examples of important people, places and events that were catalysts in the social movements.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful in tracing the three waves of feminism, and exploring their continuities. Yet certainly not unbiased, even from within the third wave feminist camp.

[Samantha Linde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok didn’t fullllly finish it but I couldn’t. It’s great because it’s so informative but it’s very textbooky. In fact I bought it as a textbook for a women’s studies class in college

[Taylor]

Very informative!!

[Sarah ^~^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

KATRINA KATRINA KATRINA

[fayth]

i read this for a GWS class and it was super interesting and a good read

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rachopin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read with clear timeline and events, but boring

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and concise read! I especially enjoyed the last bit discussing third wave feminism.

[Mia]

I read this for a freshman gender studies elective in college

[Talya Matz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of feminism throughout history. Dicker takes a white centered approach which I find problematic. The mention of women of color and feminist of color theory is an usually posed as an afterthought, which reflects its postionality throughout the waves of feminism, but Dicker now has the opportunity to center this exclusion and I feel that she instead contributed to it.

[Karen]

* Understanding Oppression: Women's Rights (Then and Now)

A History of U.S. Feminisms by Rory C. Dicker | an introductory text that will be used as supplementary material for first-year women’s studies students or as a brush-up text for more advanced students. Covering the first, second, and third waves of feminism, A History of U.S. Feminisms will provide historical context of all the major events and figures from the late nineteenth century through today. #feminist #history

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is truly meant for new feminists who wish to read a general history of the feminism's three waves or those looking for a quick refresher of key historical moments and movements within feminist history. It lacks the true intersectionality expected in modern day feminism, but as purely a way to brush up on mainly white and non-queer feminist history- it does the job.