The Women Who Broke All the Rules: How the Choices of a Generation Changed Our Lives

by Susan Evans Ed.D., Joan Avis

Life turns out in ways you never expected. The eighteen million women born in the first years of the baby boom grew up anticipating a life of rules--go to college, get married, have a family. But when the time came, the cultural, social and political tumult of the late 1960s catapulted them into options that no previous generation had even considered. The Women Who Broke All the Rules is the first book to celebrate the ordinary but extraordinary women who made decisions that have changed every woman's life. Against extreme odds and without role models, these women made unprecedented life choices--in marriage, childbearing, education and work. By breaking every rule in the "good girl" handbook, they defined new ways for adult women to live. You will recognize yourself, your family and your friends in these pages.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Womens, Cultural

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book back in 1999 when it was written by a couple of co-workers. I wasn’t into reading non fiction books so it sat on my shelf.
I enjoyed reading about the generation of women 20 years older than me & it would be interesting to see where these women are 20 years after the book came out. The authors are both retired, one living in Mexico the other in Berkeley, but I have no idea what they are doing!

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly I'm not the target audience for this book. To me it seemed like an endless pile of new age, consciousness raising platitudes. Further, I did not get the idea that the surveys truly contributed to the body of the book in any substantial way. I'm not sure why I finished the book but I did. To be sure, the target audience may very well find value here where I couldn't.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors have embarked on a research project that involves interviewing women born between 1945 and 1955 about their experiences as the first generation of liberated women. Their sample is mostly white, mostly straight, middle- to upper-middle-class and as such comes of as pretty homogeneous. The stories these women tell about their life journeys have very similar themes. Few consider themselves "pioneers" but they are all torchbearers and risk-takers, making up their own rules as they go through life, and rejecting the old ones. The book highlights this by naming an "old rule" and following it with a "new truth" that these women have discovered.
As a young person who is also a feminist, it is important to remember how much is owed to this generation. Opportunities have been offered, and doors opened up for my generation due to these women and their hard work. I, for one, am so grateful.

[Mary Banken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been sitting in my to-be read stack for 10 years. I'm glad I finally read it. Basically an academic study of "ordinary" women from the baby boomer generation.... Women in their forties when this study was done. Interesting reflections, interesting opportunity to look back on an era...these women are now in their sixties so it is time for a follow-on study. What are the impacts of living in a generation in which old rules no longer apply? Living a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants make-it-up-as-you-go life.... Ya that rings true.

[Becki Basley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very insightful book and described my mother born in 1953 to almost a tee. She had me at 19 went back to school when I was five to study engineering divorced my dad when I was 6 went on to have 3 other kids two marriages and a 20+ year career with the US COrps of engineers most of that as a single mom. I have always thought of her as a woman ahead of her time and now I see that her generation of woman is all recognized as pioneers awesome

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book is a bit out of date, it was a really interesting analysis of the baby boomer generation. The authors reviews a series of interviews with women who were young enough during the 60s to still have lives resembling blank slates, but old enough to pave the way for the rest of us. The best thing about this book was that it spurred on conversations with women I know in that generation.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting examination of the opportunities opened to the generation of women born between 1945 and 1955, and how their responses shaped today's reality, which my generation tends to take for granted.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for women. While it isn't exactly a page turner it was a great read. I have a significant respect for the women who blazed the trail for me and the single, independent life I lead and love.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young women - read this!!! you are standing on the shoulders of strong, intelligent, active women!

[Susannah]

Good to read for perspective, but heavy on the feminist bent, naturally.