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Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality: 1920-2020
“An essential history of the struggle by both Black and white women to achieve their equal rights.”—Hillary Rodham Clinton
The Nineteenth Amendment was an incomplete victory. Black and white women fought hard for voting rights and doubled the number of eligible voters, but the amendment did not enfranchise all women, or even protect the rights of those women who could vote. A century later, women are still grappling with how to use the vote and their political power to expand civil rights, confront racial violence, improve maternal health, advance educational and employment opportunities, and secure reproductive rights.
Formidable chronicles the efforts of white and Black women to advance sometimes competing causes. Black women wanted the rights enjoyed by whites. They wanted to protect their communities from racial violence and discrimination. Theirs was not only a women’s movement. White women wanted to be equal to white men. They sought equal legal rights, political power, safeguards for working women and immigrants, and an end to confining social structures. There were also many white women who opposed any advance for any women.
In this riveting narrative, Dr. Elisabeth Griffith integrates the fight by white and Black women to achieve equality. Previously their parallel struggles for social justice have been presented separately—as white or Black topics—or covered narrowly, through only certain individuals, decades, or incidents. Formidable provides a sweeping, century-long perspective, and an expansive cast of change agents. From feminists and civil rights activists to politicians and social justice advocates, from working class women to mothers and homemakers, from radicals and conservatives to those who were offended by feminism, threatened by social change, or convinced of white supremacy, the diversity of the women’s movement mirrors America.
After that landmark victory in 1920, suffragists had a sense of optimism, declaring, “Now we can begin!” By 2020, a new generation knew how hard the fight for incremental change was; they would have to begin again. Both engaging and outraging, Formidable will propel readers to continue their foremothers’ fights to achieve equality for all.
The Nineteenth Amendment was an incomplete victory. Black and white women fought hard for voting rights and doubled the number of eligible voters, but the amendment did not enfranchise all women, or even protect the rights of those women who could vote. A century later, women are still grappling with how to use the vote and their political power to expand civil rights, confront racial violence, improve maternal health, advance educational and employment opportunities, and secure reproductive rights.
Formidable chronicles the efforts of white and Black women to advance sometimes competing causes. Black women wanted the rights enjoyed by whites. They wanted to protect their communities from racial violence and discrimination. Theirs was not only a women’s movement. White women wanted to be equal to white men. They sought equal legal rights, political power, safeguards for working women and immigrants, and an end to confining social structures. There were also many white women who opposed any advance for any women.
In this riveting narrative, Dr. Elisabeth Griffith integrates the fight by white and Black women to achieve equality. Previously their parallel struggles for social justice have been presented separately—as white or Black topics—or covered narrowly, through only certain individuals, decades, or incidents. Formidable provides a sweeping, century-long perspective, and an expansive cast of change agents. From feminists and civil rights activists to politicians and social justice advocates, from working class women to mothers and homemakers, from radicals and conservatives to those who were offended by feminism, threatened by social change, or convinced of white supremacy, the diversity of the women’s movement mirrors America.
After that landmark victory in 1920, suffragists had a sense of optimism, declaring, “Now we can begin!” By 2020, a new generation knew how hard the fight for incremental change was; they would have to begin again. Both engaging and outraging, Formidable will propel readers to continue their foremothers’ fights to achieve equality for all.
526 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 20, 2022
In her book Formidable Elisabeth Griffith writes an engaging, readable, multi-racial, inclusive overview of women's history in the U.S. covering the last 100 years. She includes moments to celebrate and moments we need to reckon with. "It took formidable women against formidable opponents, taking a long time to reach these victories." The power of this work is that it acknowledges that women are a complex group, that each sub-group may have different goals, and that the achievements thus far are the cumulative efforts of thousands of women, many who are named in this chronicle.
Here are just a few tidbits that were new to me and that I found interesting:
Mississippi, the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, ratified in 1984.
Until 1960, Asian women in New York City had to register annually at the police department, producing proof of literacy in English.
Pediatricians seceded from the American Medical Association (AMA) and formed the American Academy of Pediatricians in 1921 when the AMA would not endorse legislation to train visiting nurses, license midwives, and establish maternity clinics in rural areas.
During FDR's 12 years as president, Eleanor hosted 348 press conferences inviting only women journalists, forcing news outlets to hire women correspondents.
In 1979 Louisiana became the last state to repeal head and master laws, property laws that permitted a husband to have the final say regarding all household decisions and jointly owned property without his wife's knowledge or consent.
A poll conducted in 2020 by the Fund for Women's Equality found that 80% of Americans think the Equal Rights Amendment was passed.
One takeaway for me is that these successes have come from the deep commitment of many women who have devoted much of their lives to achieving them and that continued progress will require strong and steady efforts.
As Griffith concludes: “Until activist allies can increase their political power, secure racial justice, safeguard reproductive rights, insure equal economic opportunities, provide affordable childcare, and address historic inequities, the work of the women’s movement is not only incomplete, but at risk.”
Here are just a few tidbits that were new to me and that I found interesting:
Mississippi, the last state to ratify the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, ratified in 1984.
Until 1960, Asian women in New York City had to register annually at the police department, producing proof of literacy in English.
Pediatricians seceded from the American Medical Association (AMA) and formed the American Academy of Pediatricians in 1921 when the AMA would not endorse legislation to train visiting nurses, license midwives, and establish maternity clinics in rural areas.
During FDR's 12 years as president, Eleanor hosted 348 press conferences inviting only women journalists, forcing news outlets to hire women correspondents.
In 1979 Louisiana became the last state to repeal head and master laws, property laws that permitted a husband to have the final say regarding all household decisions and jointly owned property without his wife's knowledge or consent.
A poll conducted in 2020 by the Fund for Women's Equality found that 80% of Americans think the Equal Rights Amendment was passed.
One takeaway for me is that these successes have come from the deep commitment of many women who have devoted much of their lives to achieving them and that continued progress will require strong and steady efforts.
As Griffith concludes: “Until activist allies can increase their political power, secure racial justice, safeguard reproductive rights, insure equal economic opportunities, provide affordable childcare, and address historic inequities, the work of the women’s movement is not only incomplete, but at risk.”
January 4, 2023
An excellent and informative narrative about the achievements women have made in the last 10 decades, and the remaining gaps in gender equity we have yet to close in America.
I learned so incredibly much reading this novel and was able to tie together historical events that I had not previously known were related.
I learned so incredibly much reading this novel and was able to tie together historical events that I had not previously known were related.
February 9, 2025
Reading this book rn is darkly ironic but fascinating
October 14, 2022
Kudos on the extensive research and the concept. A one hundred year history of women in this country should have been fascinating. But this book was bogged down in extensive detail. I felt like I was reading a textbook and found myself skimming over long lists of people who accomplished or were involved in some way. I think her point that we have come a long way since 1920 but we still have a long way to go.
December 20, 2022
Very good and detailed book. It's also one where it helps especially to pay close attention to the title. Yes, it's about American women - but it's not just about the women's movement. It's about women involved in various fights for equality. If you're not careful, you'll think the forays into civil rights or the gay rights movement are veering off-topic. No, actually the book does a good job covering lots of ground.
The main issue I have with the book - and the reason why I give it "only" four stars instead of the full five - is it's a little too Washington DC-focused. Often the book feels like things only matter to women if it's legislation passed by Congress or decisions rendered by he Supreme Court. And hey - that stuff matters! Absolutley, it does. But the book feels more like a political history than a woman's history oftentimes, especially in the back half.
Some things learned: Polling places changed from salloons to schools with the 19th Amendment's passage. 1920: few immigrant women or southern women voted. Griffith notes that 111 women died per 1,000 live births in 1920 - numbers that sound so high I kinda want to double check that. (The level was the highest among industrialized nations, she notes). The Sheppard-Towner Act passed in 1921 in part due to fear of women voters (it was the first government welfare bill to provide matching federal funds to train visitn gnurses and establish clinics in rural areas). There was initially a strong class divide among women with regard to ERA, fearing it would hurt pension, child support, and penalties for men who raped and/or deserted women. You had the first Miss American paegent in 1921. Birth control began to gain acceptance then. In 1932, the federal government passed an edict that if both halves of a married couple worked for the government, they'd fire one (usually the woman) to spread jobs around to more households. You had the AAGPBL in WWII. Women finally gained equal pay and rank in the military. The 1950s saw a rise in the cult of domesticity as the nuclear family was scene as the solution to the nuclear age. There were twice as many working women in 1960 as in 1940. McCarthy had a "Lavender Scare" against gays. Public disapproval for pre-marital sex fell from 68% to 49% from 1969 to 1973. ERA got unanimous votes from state legislatures in Nebraska, and West Virgina, among other states. States ratifying it by year: 21 in 1971, 9 in 1973, 3 in 1974, 1 in 1975, 1 in 1977 (IN) - and that's it. Newsweek was sued for sexual discrimination. Betty Friedan was concerned that gay rigths and abortion would sink the movemetn. Phyllis Schafley's STOP-ERA stood for Stop Taknig Our Priviledges. Virginia Slim's catchphrase caught on. A gender gap in voting emerged by 1980. Democrats create Emily's List. The Hlil/Thomas hearings had 14 senators -all men. The number of women senators tripled in 1993: from 2 to 6. Ginsberg was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a 96-3 vote. The Family and Medical Leave Act required companies with 50+ people to give 12 weeks unpaid leave after birth/adoption/foster car placement, family illness, or military duty. The Violence Against Women Act was the first federal law to acknowledge domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes. There was the 1999 Women's World Cup. Male manufacturnig jobs were down while female-coded service industry jobs were up. By 2000, women were the main breadwinner in 40% of families, and 30% wree co-earners. The wage gap was 77:100 by the late 20th century, though arguably just 94:100 when accounting for various factors. In tech, female programmers were down, with coding the girl ghetto. In 1984, the terms date rape and glass ceiling were coined. You have the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009 (the first law Obama signed). In 2009 for the first time, there were more women with jobs than men. Women were allowed in combat. Sheryl Sandberg wrote "Lean In' and then came the blowback that ti was naive, for wealthy white women only and nothing for laborers. Soap operas came to an end. There's the Hobby Lobby case and the fight for access to contraception. There's #MeToo with Fox News, Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein and many many more. You have a Wall of Moms at a #BLM protest. In 2019, a re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act failed. Now, 70% of high school valevictorians are women, as are most college and post-graduate students. There are still substantial sexual harrassment issues in STEM fields. Woman are 1/6 of the active militayry. Also, one-sixth of all adults born 1965-80 identify as LGBTQ. 86% women age 44 in 2020 were moms.
Lots of good info, but I stand by my main critique listed above.
The main issue I have with the book - and the reason why I give it "only" four stars instead of the full five - is it's a little too Washington DC-focused. Often the book feels like things only matter to women if it's legislation passed by Congress or decisions rendered by he Supreme Court. And hey - that stuff matters! Absolutley, it does. But the book feels more like a political history than a woman's history oftentimes, especially in the back half.
Some things learned: Polling places changed from salloons to schools with the 19th Amendment's passage. 1920: few immigrant women or southern women voted. Griffith notes that 111 women died per 1,000 live births in 1920 - numbers that sound so high I kinda want to double check that. (The level was the highest among industrialized nations, she notes). The Sheppard-Towner Act passed in 1921 in part due to fear of women voters (it was the first government welfare bill to provide matching federal funds to train visitn gnurses and establish clinics in rural areas). There was initially a strong class divide among women with regard to ERA, fearing it would hurt pension, child support, and penalties for men who raped and/or deserted women. You had the first Miss American paegent in 1921. Birth control began to gain acceptance then. In 1932, the federal government passed an edict that if both halves of a married couple worked for the government, they'd fire one (usually the woman) to spread jobs around to more households. You had the AAGPBL in WWII. Women finally gained equal pay and rank in the military. The 1950s saw a rise in the cult of domesticity as the nuclear family was scene as the solution to the nuclear age. There were twice as many working women in 1960 as in 1940. McCarthy had a "Lavender Scare" against gays. Public disapproval for pre-marital sex fell from 68% to 49% from 1969 to 1973. ERA got unanimous votes from state legislatures in Nebraska, and West Virgina, among other states. States ratifying it by year: 21 in 1971, 9 in 1973, 3 in 1974, 1 in 1975, 1 in 1977 (IN) - and that's it. Newsweek was sued for sexual discrimination. Betty Friedan was concerned that gay rigths and abortion would sink the movemetn. Phyllis Schafley's STOP-ERA stood for Stop Taknig Our Priviledges. Virginia Slim's catchphrase caught on. A gender gap in voting emerged by 1980. Democrats create Emily's List. The Hlil/Thomas hearings had 14 senators -all men. The number of women senators tripled in 1993: from 2 to 6. Ginsberg was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a 96-3 vote. The Family and Medical Leave Act required companies with 50+ people to give 12 weeks unpaid leave after birth/adoption/foster car placement, family illness, or military duty. The Violence Against Women Act was the first federal law to acknowledge domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes. There was the 1999 Women's World Cup. Male manufacturnig jobs were down while female-coded service industry jobs were up. By 2000, women were the main breadwinner in 40% of families, and 30% wree co-earners. The wage gap was 77:100 by the late 20th century, though arguably just 94:100 when accounting for various factors. In tech, female programmers were down, with coding the girl ghetto. In 1984, the terms date rape and glass ceiling were coined. You have the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009 (the first law Obama signed). In 2009 for the first time, there were more women with jobs than men. Women were allowed in combat. Sheryl Sandberg wrote "Lean In' and then came the blowback that ti was naive, for wealthy white women only and nothing for laborers. Soap operas came to an end. There's the Hobby Lobby case and the fight for access to contraception. There's #MeToo with Fox News, Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein and many many more. You have a Wall of Moms at a #BLM protest. In 2019, a re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act failed. Now, 70% of high school valevictorians are women, as are most college and post-graduate students. There are still substantial sexual harrassment issues in STEM fields. Woman are 1/6 of the active militayry. Also, one-sixth of all adults born 1965-80 identify as LGBTQ. 86% women age 44 in 2020 were moms.
Lots of good info, but I stand by my main critique listed above.
November 8, 2023
You know what's always shocking about reading history books? That absolutely nothing has changed. A history of literally over 100 years of US government and law and we're still arguing about the same things: equal pay, social justice and reform, abortion, racism, and still with the same status quo in power destroying laws and creating suffocating ones to make sure no one succeeds.
We take 1 step forward before 100 back, all archived in quick social bites in "Formidable", about a long history of oppression and revolt from the suffragettes until now.
I mean, there were only dozens of women in Congress in 1994, that's only over 20 years ago for goodness sakes. And while discussing the fight for equality, author Elisabeth Griffith makes sure to distinct how early rights for women didn't include black or brown women, how in modern times, Insurgent darling Clarence wasn't exactly a shoo-in for a Justice (harassment as well as not sound of mind), what derailed the 2016 campaign, how politics ruined everything.
There's plenty of heroes here: Sally Ride, Rosa Parks.
It all ties into the fight for equality which even for those championing it are sometimes at odds.
This book, though, is a thoughtful, concise look at history in a well achieved conversational tone, but it will still make you wonder how we've come so far but still have so FAR to go in the fight for equality and respect. It's very factual and doesn't take sides, really, it simply presents the history as is and it is about resilience which after centennial plus should prove by now - we ain't going nowhere status quo, so move aside. Come for the history lessons, stay for the call to action.
We take 1 step forward before 100 back, all archived in quick social bites in "Formidable", about a long history of oppression and revolt from the suffragettes until now.
I mean, there were only dozens of women in Congress in 1994, that's only over 20 years ago for goodness sakes. And while discussing the fight for equality, author Elisabeth Griffith makes sure to distinct how early rights for women didn't include black or brown women, how in modern times, Insurgent darling Clarence wasn't exactly a shoo-in for a Justice (harassment as well as not sound of mind), what derailed the 2016 campaign, how politics ruined everything.
There's plenty of heroes here: Sally Ride, Rosa Parks.
It all ties into the fight for equality which even for those championing it are sometimes at odds.
This book, though, is a thoughtful, concise look at history in a well achieved conversational tone, but it will still make you wonder how we've come so far but still have so FAR to go in the fight for equality and respect. It's very factual and doesn't take sides, really, it simply presents the history as is and it is about resilience which after centennial plus should prove by now - we ain't going nowhere status quo, so move aside. Come for the history lessons, stay for the call to action.
March 16, 2023
If you like Women's history, this is the book to read. Women's struggles for equality still has a long way to go, especially in today's social and political climate. Getting more women to run and win in elections at all levels in government is crucial. Also, seeing women in powerful, high level is also important. Let's keep fighting for women's rights!
June 3, 2023
Packed with clear and concise history, this is easy to read, very informative, at times incredibly uplifting, at times incredibly depressing. We've come a long way, but have a long way to go. I encourage anyone even mildly interested in women's history and the ongoing struggle to be seen as equal people deserving of rights to read this book.
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November 12, 2023This is comprehensive and interesting. It reads a bit like a compelling textbook, so it's a bit like drinking out of a fire hose. I recommend it, though. I plan to get the audio version so that I can listen in bits. And probably repeat. I appreciate that she has paid careful attention to issues around race and class.
July 5, 2025
What are! The other covers a 100 year. That begins after the passage of the 19th amendment. Allowing women the right to vote. She details how even though that right was granted so many years ago, there are still many, many and qualities that exist between women and men and between women of color and white women.
October 24, 2023
While this was a good history of the United States from the 1920s onward, I felt that it tended to lose focus on women. The history ended up being very broad and statistical. It was very thorough and complete, but it wasn't what one would think of as a fun or enjoyable read.
July 10, 2024
a useful chronology of the feminist movement. it focuses mostly on major players, but does mention the issues most important to each phases of the movement. definitely not a theory book, but a good intro to feminist history
March 2, 2023
Fantastic book an impressive history, research, and author Elisabeth Griffith.
July 17, 2023
✨f**k the patriarchy✨
October 30, 2023
Poorly written book, really just a chronicle, which does not do service to the importance of its topic
April 12, 2025
A necessary book for these times. A fact-filled and compelling story of the fight for equality, humanity, freedom, equity, and survival.
April 25, 2025
interesting book on women's history.
July 6, 2025
This book was so interesting!!!! I definitely need to reread it to absorb more information 😅
July 17, 2025
Definitely a big bite to swallow kind of read, but SO worth it. I learned so many valuable feats for women throughout time.
January 2, 2023
This is a must read for all. The author goes through significant events in the fight for women's equality from 1920-2020. I think it should be read and then kept in the home for reference. It only doesn't get 5 stars because at times it reads like a list, and in depth discussions are largely absent. Still a fantastic history book about the women's rights movement.
July 31, 2023
Elisabeth Griffith synthesizes American women’s political history from the Nineteenth Amendment through the COVID-19 pandemic. both stunning and subtle, Formidable is noteworthy for its inclusion of information, high quality of writing, and intellectual humility. Formidable lives up to its title.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews