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Cowgirls: Women of the American West
American lore has slighted the cowgirl, although at least one can still be found in nearly every ranching community. Like her male counterpart, she rides and ropes, understands land and stock, and confronts the elements. The writer and photographer Teresa Jordan traveled sixty thousand miles in the American West, talking with more than a hundred authentic cowgirls running ranches and performing in rodeos. The result is a fascinating book that also situates the cowgirl in history and literature. A new preface and updated bibliography have been added to this Bison Book edition.
309 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 20, 2023
This was an interesting account of the cow girls of the old west. They used to do the same work as cow boys and get equal pay. I wonder what happened to that idea.
August 12, 2014
This was a dated but especially detailed to minutia non-fiction that let ranch women "cowgirls" tell their own life stories. Most of the women lead rancher life full boat for goodly portions of the 20th century. Most in huge and isolated environments located in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho and other cattle country Western USA locations. Many of them commanded huge tracts with 500 plus cattle for decade after decade. Not entirely alone, but always in clear primary direction. In fact, one of the best chapters was by a woman with the surname Musgrave, who had some excellent page after page experience/advise about directing men as a "boss" and operating amongst them as a full activity owner. Loved that one, it was 5 star in her observations. In any era, this is no small feat.
What comes across so strongly is the self-identity core of these women. And pure physical durability. In this venture, male and female, the injury quotient being considerable. And "the horse fell on me" or "fell on him" also not an uncommon ending.
So many of these women had fathers who worked with them, just as if they were sons. That also was a very common pattern. But not always the case, at all. Not all disparaged a wifely role or a girlish look on occasion, but most of them were far, far more enthralled by the wind in their hair and the outside work. Nearly all expressed disdain for inside work.
It's an interesting look at a niche fairly overlooked. These women make the "woman in sport" (WBA, Soccer) look like girly girls.
What comes across so strongly is the self-identity core of these women. And pure physical durability. In this venture, male and female, the injury quotient being considerable. And "the horse fell on me" or "fell on him" also not an uncommon ending.
So many of these women had fathers who worked with them, just as if they were sons. That also was a very common pattern. But not always the case, at all. Not all disparaged a wifely role or a girlish look on occasion, but most of them were far, far more enthralled by the wind in their hair and the outside work. Nearly all expressed disdain for inside work.
It's an interesting look at a niche fairly overlooked. These women make the "woman in sport" (WBA, Soccer) look like girly girls.
November 14, 2022
The cowgirls interviewed were women that I look up to and want to be...my Heroes! They were strong and tough, but not hard. They lived a very interesting life and it just makes me more excited about this life I'm living and makes me want to try harder and do better. I loved this book!
February 10, 2026
Cowboys are popular heroes in Westerns, novels, but, where are the cowgirls? They do exist and have since pioneers and homesteaders started settling the plains and southwest. Why don't we know about them?
Women went west for many of the same reasons as men did. They did the same kind of work as well as the domestic tasks society seems to demand of them. Meet some of the modern ones who were rancher's daughters, had cowgirl mothers, married ranchers or homesteaded alone, joined the rodeo.
Although the book centers on interviews, it refers back in quotes to older accounts of being a cowgirl. Things have changed since 1980, but ranch work still needs doing and some women are willing, able and eager to do it. Hero cowboys may make exciting movies or books, but both working cowboys and cowgirls are the real heroes and this book explains why.
I found I tended to read one interview entry at a time, although they are easy reading. There is a bibliography at the end tempting the reader to read more of the books quoted. there are many pictures of the cowgirls at work.
Women went west for many of the same reasons as men did. They did the same kind of work as well as the domestic tasks society seems to demand of them. Meet some of the modern ones who were rancher's daughters, had cowgirl mothers, married ranchers or homesteaded alone, joined the rodeo.
Although the book centers on interviews, it refers back in quotes to older accounts of being a cowgirl. Things have changed since 1980, but ranch work still needs doing and some women are willing, able and eager to do it. Hero cowboys may make exciting movies or books, but both working cowboys and cowgirls are the real heroes and this book explains why.
I found I tended to read one interview entry at a time, although they are easy reading. There is a bibliography at the end tempting the reader to read more of the books quoted. there are many pictures of the cowgirls at work.
April 13, 2021
Such an interesting read since I have not had exposure to a ranch or cowgirl experience. I liked the way the author shared a variety of stories from so many different cowgirls. pg 279: "If cowgirls found they forever needed to justify their position in the woman's sphere, they felt more comfortable in the world of men. In woman's sphere, they had to apologize for what they weren't; in man's sphere they earned an honest respect for what they were..." It was interesting though how many cowgirls stated they have little sympathy for "this Women's Lib stuff" when from my perspective they were living the 'stuff'. The author did note in the epilogue, however, that she saw "attitudes toward the Women's Movement change...during the course of this project."
January 15, 2026
“Some people respect me and some people don’t. Some people like me; others don’t. It’s not the average thing for a woman to run a ranch, and there are a lot of people who think because it’s not being done there must be something wrong with it. But a lot of it depends on the woman and who she has working for her” (113).
October 25, 2017
Took me a bit to get into it. However, about 3 chapters in I fell in love. It wasn't a quick or easy read. I had to let some of the women's stories sink in before I could go ahead. There was a lot of food for thought and I have deeper appreciation for what they did and why.
December 9, 2020
I just love that the Cowgirl/ Female Rancher is so beautifully recognized here!
May 13, 2023
My favorite book.
September 16, 2025
The editing was a mess, but otherwise a real gem. Treasured this book from cover to cover.
November 8, 2010
We've all heard about cowboys and seen the cowgirls in the movies, women who didn't much except wait for the cowboy to do whatever he was going to do. 'Taint so. Bronc riding, roping, busting broncs, raising cattle, riding range, these women did it all, do it all. From the rodeo gals from the early 1900's to current ranch hands and owners, Ms. Jordan as stories of them all. It's a great read about a segment of both women's history and American history that has been overlooked too long. (Has photographs too!)
October 28, 2016
A mix of oral history and non-fiction research, this book made me miss my own ranching days as a girl. It is a dated piece (1980s) but it offers readers a deeper glimpse into the women of the west and how they have been treated by men (government, husbands, ranch hands, foremen, etc). There was an underlining discussion of women's lib and biased inheritance taxes, but at the end of the day the women prove that if you can work out with the men you were respected as a man. Because gender doesn't divide on the ranch, work ethic does.
December 31, 2013
A very enjoyable read, talks about all kinds of cowgirls - ranch hands, rancher's wives that actively help on the land because they want to, rodeo girls, women that ranch on their own. This is the what I was looking for when I went looking for 'cowgirl' books.
The bibliography in the back has lead to me to additional books that I'm also enjoying, and the descriptions she gives of them are useful and interesting.
The bibliography in the back has lead to me to additional books that I'm also enjoying, and the descriptions she gives of them are useful and interesting.
September 15, 2008
This was a book club pick and I didn't finish it. I did find the stories interesting and informative of the time period and life on a ranch, but it dragged on and it only held my attention for about 100 pages. If you were a cowgirl/ranch lover yourself, you may find this book inspiring and want to read all the stories, but after a hundred pages, I was done.
July 4, 2016
From the uncomplicated cover to the black and white photos and Courier New font, Cowgirls looks and feels dated but is in fact a seminal work in western non-fiction; an experienced, commercial-grade editor, however, wouldn't have allowed novice structure and presentation oversights to obscure such meaningful snapshots of Americana
December 20, 2013
A great book to read slowly and savor. Just when I think I have it tough (I really don't), I read one of these stories and get grounded again. The bibliographical references are wonderful! Now I have many other books to look for and enjoy.
March 3, 2008
real ranch women, not rodeo queens!
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March 5, 2010Fascinating interviews with women ranchers.
August 30, 2013
women in history
November 17, 2015
In Western history women are not talked about very much. This book is about the women who worked on the ranches of Wyoming, Montana and the real West.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews